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Colleen Olafson – Marriage Commissioner

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Last reviewed: August 10, 2026 | Winnipeg | Wedding Officiants |

Business status: Active.

Last reviewed: August 10, 2026. Business status: Active.

Colleen Olafson is a Manitoba Marriage Commissioner and Winnipeg wedding officiant who creates personalized ceremonies for couples marrying in Winnipeg and surrounding Manitoba communities. Her official site identifies her as an independent commissioner, so couples who book her work directly with Colleen rather than a rotating team.

Appointed as a Manitoba Marriage Commissioner in 1993, Colleen says she has officiated more than 2,100 wedding ceremonies. Her approach centres on giving couples choices about the words and elements included, then confirming the ceremony content in advance. Last reviewed: August 10, 2026.

Services and specialization

Colleen’s wedding service is centred on officiating personalized legal wedding ceremonies. Her official wedding page says she does not use one standard ceremony for every couple: clients can choose wording, include their own ideas and provide information that helps make the ceremony personal to them.

The official site also identifies wedding vow renewals, committal ceremonies and legal-only ceremonies as wedding-related services. For couples planning a symbolic church or destination event later, Colleen describes an option for completing the legal marriage ceremony first.

She offers rehearsal attendance to help organize and choreograph the ceremony. Where a friend or relative obtains a one-time marriage commissioner licence, her site says she can help with ceremony writing, rehearsal guidance and ensuring paperwork is completed and sent to Vital Statistics after the ceremony.

Personalized legal wedding ceremonies
Wedding vow renewals and committal ceremonies
Legal-only marriage ceremonies
Rehearsal organization and choreography
Support for friend- or relative-led ceremonies where applicable

Service area and who it may suit

Colleen is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her official site says she provides wedding officiating in Winnipeg and surrounding Manitoba towns and venues. This makes her most relevant to couples planning a Manitoba ceremony; travel time and expense fees may apply outside Winnipeg.

Her stated process may suit couples who want to participate in shaping the ceremony language, including couples who have found readings, traditions or other ideas they would like to include. The site says she is open to ceremonies across a variety of belief systems and cultural backgrounds, and identifies her as an LGBTQ ally.

The official wedding page says pets can be included in the ceremony. Couples planning an outdoor ceremony or an event at a hotel, restaurant, park or dedicated venue should still confirm site rules and setup requirements with the venue and officiant.

Based in Winnipeg, with service in surrounding Manitoba communities
Personalization-led planning process
Couples may include selected wording and their own ceremony ideas
The official site addresses same-sex ceremonies, cultural traditions and pets

Confirmed strengths and practical limitations

A documented strength is Colleen’s stated experience: her official site says she was appointed in 1993 and has officiated more than 2,100 wedding ceremonies. Another is her stated transparency around personalization. The site says couples will know in advance what will be said during the ceremony and that she will not go off-script with her own joke.

Her published process includes a confirmation email and a Zoom conversation around three months before the ceremony to begin discussing ceremony details. She also says she coordinates ceremony cues with photographers and musicians or DJs, which can be useful where timing and transitions matter.

There is no published availability calendar, no complete list of travel charges and no public maximum booking distance. Those are practical points to confirm, particularly for a date outside Winnipeg or a ceremony that includes a rehearsal.

More than 2,100 wedding ceremonies reported on the official site
Appointed Manitoba Marriage Commissioner in 1993
Couples choose ceremony wording and review what will be said in advance
No public availability calendar or full out-of-town travel-fee schedule found

Pricing

Current pricing is not explicitly published. Colleen’s official wedding page still displays fees specifically labelled as 2025 fees, so they should be treated as historical reference rather than a current quote for a 2026 or later wedding.

The page lists $425 plus GST for designing and officiating a ceremony in Winnipeg, $225 for rehearsal attendance to help organize and choreograph the ceremony, and $230 for a legal-only ceremony before a later symbolic event. It says travel time and expense fees apply outside Winnipeg, without stating a fixed amount.

The same page requests a non-refundable $225 e-transfer retainer to hold the ceremony date and time, with the balance due one week before the ceremony. Ask for written confirmation of the current total, GST, travel cost and payment terms before booking.

2025 Winnipeg ceremony fee displayed: $425 plus GST
2025 rehearsal-attendance fee displayed: $225
2025 legal-only ceremony fee displayed: $230
Outside-Winnipeg travel fee: amount not published
Published retainer: $225, described as non-refundable

Contact and booking

The confirmed official contact page directs couples to email colleen@colleenolafson.ca, call or text 204-479-0501, or use the online contact form. The site says that, if she is available, she would like to share the occasion with the couple.

For an efficient inquiry, provide the ceremony date, start time, Winnipeg or Manitoba location, whether the event is legal-only or a full ceremony, and whether rehearsal attendance is wanted. This gives Colleen the information needed to confirm availability, travel requirements and current pricing.

The legacy street address and phone number supplied with the earlier listing are not used here. The confirmed official site provides a current phone contact but does not publish a postal business address, so no address is listed.

Email: colleen@colleenolafson.ca
Call or text: 204-479-0501
Online contact form available on the official website

What couples should confirm

Before paying a retainer, confirm that Colleen is available for the exact date and start time, whether the ceremony location is within Winnipeg or subject to travel fees, and the complete price including GST. If the event includes a rehearsal, ask whether the displayed rehearsal fee applies to the location and schedule.

Discuss the desired level of personalization, readings, cultural or faith elements, pet participation, music cues and any role for a photographer, DJ or musician. If a friend or relative will lead the ceremony, verify current licensing and paperwork requirements directly with Manitoba Vital Statistics because administrative requirements can change.

Finally, request the current written terms for the retainer, balance deadline, cancellation and rescheduling. The official site publishes the retainer and balance timing, but it does not set out a full cancellation or rescheduling policy.

Exact availability and ceremony time
Travel fee and total price including GST
Rehearsal scope and logistics
Current retainer, cancellation and rescheduling terms
Venue requirements and friend/relative officiant arrangements

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Frequently asked questions

Is Colleen Olafson a legal marriage commissioner in Manitoba?

Yes. Her official site identifies her as a Manitoba independent Marriage Commissioner and says she was appointed in 1993.

Can couples personalize their wedding ceremony?

Yes. Colleen says couples can choose the words spoken during the ceremony, include their own ideas and provide information to help personalize it. She says clients will know in advance what will be said.

Does Colleen officiate outside Winnipeg?

Her site says she officiates in surrounding Manitoba towns and venues. It also says ceremonies outside Winnipeg have a travel time and expense fee; ask for the amount for your location.

What does a Winnipeg wedding ceremony cost?

Current pricing is not explicitly published. Her official wedding page displays a 2025 fee of $425 plus GST for designing and officiating a ceremony in Winnipeg; confirm the current price for your date.

Can a friend or relative officiate with Colleen’s support?

Her site says she can help when a friend or relative obtains a one-time marriage commissioner licence, including paperwork support, ceremony-writing help or rehearsal guidance. Confirm current provincial requirements directly with Manitoba Vital Statistics.