Chris Blake

Last reviewed: August 1, 2026. Business status: Active.

Last reviewed August 1, 2026. Chris Blake is a licensed Humanist and Stratford wedding officiant who creates secular marriage ceremonies. His current official website presents him formally as Christopher Blake and identifies the operating name as True Minds Celebrations, o/a Christopher Blake. The site’s use of both Christopher and Chris, its Stratford location and its detailed wedding content establish the current identity. The former listing website is unrelated to this officiant and should not be used for contact or booking.

Chris works with couples to shape a ceremony around their relationship, values and preferred atmosphere while incorporating the elements required for a legal Ontario marriage. His documented process includes an introductory meeting, questions about the couple, a draft ceremony, collaborative revisions and completion of the legal paperwork after the wedding. The information below summarizes what the official site confirms and highlights the practical details couples still need to request directly.

Services and specialization

Chris provides licensed marriage officiant services centred on personalized, secular Humanist ceremonies. The official site says that Humanist ceremonies can be formal or casual, simple or elaborate, and may incorporate a couple’s story, values, music, readings, family participation and selected rituals. It also describes these ceremonies as welcoming to couples regardless of faith, ethnicity, sexual orientation or cultural heritage.

The ceremony-format page identifies optional elements such as personal vows, readings, ring exchanges, family participation and rituals including handfasting, sand blending and ring warming. Chris also offers a simple legal ceremony, described as a “You and Two” option for the couple and two witnesses. That service can be relevant to an elopement or to couples completing Ontario legal formalities before a destination celebration.

• Personalized secular wedding ceremonies
• Simple legal ceremonies with two witnesses
• Help refining personal vows
• Optional readings, music, rituals and guest participation
• Legal document completion and marriage registration
• Rehearsal attendance when necessary

How the ceremony is planned

Chris’s published process begins with an in-person or virtual meeting about wording, readings, music, rituals, participants and the desired tone. If the couple proceeds, a deposit paid by e-transfer secures the date. He then sends notes and relationship questions, uses the answers to prepare a draft and works with the couple by email or online to refine it.

The final script is scheduled to be agreed upon 30 days before the ceremony. Chris says he may help each partner with personal vows separately so their content remains a surprise while staying balanced. He also states that he reconfirms by text on the wedding morning, arrives at the ceremony site 90 minutes early and submits the completed marriage paperwork afterward.

• Initial meeting available in person or virtually
• Draft script based on the couple’s plans and relationship
• Collaborative revision process
• Final script targeted 30 days before the wedding
• Balance due two weeks before the ceremony

Service area and who it may suit

The official website places Chris in Stratford and lists Stratford, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Goderich, Hamilton, Burlington and Niagara among the areas where he performs marriages. Requests beyond those places may also be considered. Couples should provide the exact venue when asking for availability because distance can affect logistics and possible travel charges.

This service may suit couples seeking a non-religious ceremony with more personalization than a standard civil service. The simple quick ceremony may instead suit couples who want only the legal minimum, including those arranging a separate destination celebration. The site says most ceremonies run approximately 20 to 30 minutes, but shorter and longer formats are possible.

• Based in Stratford, Ontario
• Named service areas extend across southwestern Ontario and into Hamilton, Burlington and Niagara
• Travel beyond the listed areas is by request
• Both full personalized ceremonies and short legal formats are documented

Confirmed strengths and practical limitations

A documented feature of Chris’s service is the structured writing process: consultation, relationship questions, a draft and revisions. His official biography also records professional experience in acting, public speaking, event planning and writing. These are relevant background details rather than independent endorsements. The site further confirms that he is a licensed officiant and that he completes and registers the marriage paperwork.

Important limitations are the absence of a complete public postal address and of accessible current price amounts. The official footer gives only Stratford, Ontario, Canada, so the address field has been left blank. Rehearsal attendance is described as available when necessary, and travel costs may apply depending on location. Couples should therefore treat rehearsal inclusion, travel charges and final package contents as matters to confirm.

• Confirmed: licensed Humanist officiant
• Confirmed: collaborative ceremony-writing process
• Confirmed: legal paperwork is completed and registered
• Not published: complete postal address
• Not published: current fee amounts or package totals
• Needs confirmation: date availability, travel terms and rehearsal inclusion

Pricing

Prices are not published on the current official pages reviewed. The process page refers couples to a fees page, but no current dollar amounts were available from the accessible first-party material. Third-party prices should not be treated as Chris’s current quote.

The official process does confirm that a deposit paid by e-transfer secures the date and that the balance is due two weeks before the ceremony. It also warns that travel costs may apply when a rehearsal is required, depending on its location. Couples should request a written quotation showing the ceremony fee, deposit amount, taxes, travel, rehearsal charges and any conditions for rescheduling or cancellation.

• Request a current written quote
• Confirm the deposit amount and refund terms
• Ask whether HST is included
• Confirm travel and rehearsal charges
• Check what script development and vow assistance include

Contact and booking

Couples can contact Chris through the form on his official website, by email at chris@christopherblake.ca or by phone at 226-261-1694. The website states that he responds to initial enquiries within 24 hours, although couples should allow for seasonal workload and follow up if their date is time-sensitive.

An initial enquiry should include the wedding date, venue and municipality, anticipated ceremony time, preferred format and whether a rehearsal is wanted. Couples considering the quick legal option should also indicate whether they already have two adult witnesses and an Ontario marriage licence. A date is described as booked only after the parties decide to proceed and the deposit is sent.

• Official contact form: christopherblake.ca/contact/
• Email: chris@christopherblake.ca
• Phone: 226-261-1694
• Provide the venue and date when requesting availability

What couples should confirm

Before booking, confirm that Chris is available for the full venue timeline rather than only the ceremony start. Ask for the current fee, a clear list of inclusions and any travel charge for your municipality. If a rehearsal matters, verify whether Chris will attend, how long it lasts and whether it is priced separately.

Couples should also discuss the desired balance of secular language, family traditions and any readings or blessings contributed by guests. Confirm deadlines for questionnaires, vows and script approval, as well as responsibility for obtaining the Ontario marriage licence. For a destination wedding or simple legal ceremony, clarify which event is the legal marriage and how the later symbolic ceremony will be presented.

• Current availability and booking deadline
• Total fee, taxes, deposit and payment schedule
• Travel radius and mileage charges
• Rehearsal availability and cost
• Ceremony length and degree of customization
• Marriage-licence and witness responsibilities
• Accessibility, audio and venue coordination needs
• Cancellation, postponement and substitute-officiant terms

Continue planning

• browse the Canada wedding directory
• explore the wedding bridal guide

Frequently asked questions

Is Chris Blake licensed to perform marriages in Ontario?

Yes. His official site identifies him as a licensed Humanist officiant authorized to solemnize marriages in Ontario. It also says he completes the legal paperwork and registers the marriage after the ceremony.

Does Chris Blake perform religious wedding ceremonies?

His own ceremonies are Humanist, secular and non-religious. The site says couples may ask a family member or friend to contribute a blessing or religious reading, but Chris is not obliged to include language that conflicts with Humanist principles.

Can couples write their own vows?

Yes. Chris’s legal FAQ confirms that couples may write personal vows, while his planning process says he may help each partner refine them separately.

How long is a ceremony with Chris Blake?

The official FAQ says most ceremonies last about 20 to 30 minutes. The simple legal option can take only a few minutes, while a customized ceremony may vary with readings, rituals and participation.

Does Chris Blake attend wedding rehearsals?

His process page says he attends a rehearsal when necessary, either during the week before the wedding or the day before. Travel costs may apply depending on the rehearsal location, so inclusion and price should be confirmed.

Sources checked

• Home — Christopher Blake
• About Chris — Christopher Blake
• My Process — Christopher Blake
• Wedding Ceremony Format — Christopher Blake
• Simple Quick Ceremony — Christopher Blake
• FAQ — Christopher Blake
• Legal — Christopher Blake
• Contact — Christopher Blake

Phone: 226-261-1694

Website: https://www.christopherblake.ca/