Published Wednesday, Nov. 23rd, 2022 Written by Jessica Levey
Learn who can legally officiate a wedding in your state and how to know if a wedding officiant meets the requirements to perform your marriage ceremony, including which states allow online ordination, types of American Marriage Ministries minister credentials, and minister certification / licensing in each state. Want to know if your marriage will be legal? Here’s what to look for when choosing a friend to officiate or hiring a professional.
Wedding officiants handle important details on the wedding day and make your ceremony legal: Your officiant writes your wedding ceremony script, performs the ceremony, and signs your marriage license. In some states, your officiant also returns your license to the county clerk. That’s why it’s very important to choose a wedding officiant that’s legally authorized to officiate weddings in your state: If your officiant hasn’t completed the required steps to legally perform a ceremony in your state, your marriage may not be valid. Related: 5 Great Reasons to Ask a Friend to Officiate Your Wedding Since every state has its own legal requirements for wedding officiants, how do you tell if your wedding officiant is legally allowed to marry people there? How do you know for sure your wedding will be legal? There are three simple steps you can take to ensure the legal standing of your officiant. We’ll cover each one in detail below.
