How to plan an Ontario wedding with guests from Michigan
Border documents, crossings, timing and small details that make American guests feel looked after.
7 min read · By the Everest team · Updated October 2026
If you are marrying in Windsor-Essex or Chatham-Kent with guests coming from Michigan, the most important step is telling every American guest early to carry a passport, passport card, NEXUS card or enhanced driver’s licence, because they will need one to get back into the United States. After that, plan around border wait times and share clear driving and hotel details.
- Main crossings: Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel (Detroit to Windsor), Blue Water Bridge (Port Huron to Sarnia).
- Windsor to Chatham is about an hour on Highway 401.
- Send invitations 10 to 12 weeks ahead so guests can sort documents.
Who this is for: couples in Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton with family or friends in Detroit, Port Huron and the rest of Michigan.
What documents do Michigan guests need to cross the border?
American adults should carry a WHTI-compliant document: a US passport, passport card, NEXUS card or enhanced driver’s licence. The State of Michigan issues enhanced driver’s licences, which work at land crossings.
According to the Canada Border Services Agency, a passport is the recommended document for entering Canada. US Customs and Border Protection requires one of the WHTI documents above for US citizens returning by land, so a regular driver’s licence alone is not enough for the trip home.
| Guest | What to bring |
|---|---|
| US citizen adult | Passport, passport card, NEXUS or enhanced driver’s licence |
| US citizen under 16 | Proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate; a passport is easiest |
| Children travelling without both parents | A signed consent letter from the absent parent is strongly advised |
| Green card holder or other nationality | Passport plus status documents; check if a Canadian eTA or visa is needed |
Rules can change, so ask guests to confirm on the CBSA and CBP websites before they travel.
Which border crossing should guests use?
Guests from Detroit and the southern suburbs usually cross into Windsor; guests from the Thumb, Flint or northern Michigan often use the Blue Water Bridge at Port Huron and Sarnia.
- Ambassador Bridge: Detroit to Windsor, then Highway 401 east toward Chatham.
- Detroit-Windsor Tunnel: downtown Detroit to downtown Windsor.
- Blue Water Bridge: Port Huron to Sarnia, then Highway 40 south toward Chatham.
From Windsor, Chatham is about an hour’s drive; from Sarnia, about an hour and ten minutes. Our Windsor-Essex wedding venue page has more on the drive.
How much time should guests allow for the border?
Tell guests to add at least an extra hour on top of the drive. Border waits vary widely by day and time, and Friday afternoons and holiday weekends are usually the busiest.
What rules do American guests often miss?
Most surprises come from small differences between the two countries. A quick note on your wedding website prevents them.
- Cannabis: it is illegal to carry cannabis across the Canada–US border in either direction, even though it is legal in both Ontario and Michigan.
- Drinking age: Ontario’s legal drinking age is 19, so some younger American guests can be served here who could not be at home.
- Gifts and alcohol: wrapped gifts and alcohol must be declared; guests should not wrap gifts until they arrive.
- Phones: remind guests to check roaming on their US plan.
- Money: credit cards work almost everywhere; a little Canadian cash helps for tips and parking.
What should the couple do for cross-border guests?
Give guests the information early, in one place. These steps cover most of it:
- Flag documents on the save-the-date. Passports can take months to renew.
- Send invitations 10 to 12 weeks out. See when to send wedding invitations.
- Book a hotel block. Share room rates, cut-off dates and the drive from the border.
- Post a travel page. Crossings, live wait-time links and a map, on your wedding website.
- Plan the ride home. Shuttles or taxis to the hotel so nobody drives after drinking.
Our guest travel and hotels page lists nearby hotels in Chatham.
Quick answers
Can Americans drive to Canada with just a driver’s licence?
A regular driver’s licence is not enough for US citizens to return to the United States by land. They need a passport, passport card, NEXUS card or enhanced driver’s licence.
Does Michigan have enhanced driver’s licences?
Yes. Michigan issues enhanced driver’s licences, which are accepted at US land and sea crossings as proof of identity and citizenship.
How far is Chatham from Detroit?
Chatham is about an hour’s drive from Windsor along Highway 401, plus the time to cross from Detroit at the Ambassador Bridge or the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.
Can American guests bring wine as a wedding gift?
Guests can bring a limited amount of alcohol into Canada if they declare it and meet the age and allowance rules. Leave bottles unwrapped until after crossing.
Do US guests need travel insurance for a Canadian wedding?
It is a good idea. Many US health plans offer limited coverage abroad, so guests should check before they travel.
Planning in Chatham-Kent?
Everest sits about an hour from Windsor and close to Chatham hotels, which makes it an easy meeting point for Michigan and Ontario families. Come see it before you send the save-the-dates.
