CALGARY (660 NEWS) – The Government of Alberta has changed the rules on who is allowed to officiate weddings.

The government is introducing a pilot project which will allow any Canadian to act as a wedding commissioner for one day.

The guidelines state the person as to be at least 18-years-old and can’t charge a fee to perform a marriage. The temporary commissioner also can’t represent themselves as a permanent marriage administrator or solicit the business.

Under the old rules, the government needed written approval for anyone else to preside over a wedding if no other legally approved officiant was available.

Clergy or representatives with a religious organization can’t be appointed as a marriage commissioner as they follow under different rules for performing religious marriage ceremonies.

There is no cost to apply for a marriage commissioner but the process could take up to one week to complete.

A representative for the Minister of Service Alberta said the government will evaluate the pilot project in the spring to determine the next steps.