How To Become A Wedding Officiator

A marriage can be performed by any officiator who has the legal authority as designated by state law. Some states allow for individuals to be deputized to perform marriage ceremonies for the day of the wedding, allowing you to have a close friend or relative perform your ceremony. Normally, the county commissioner deputizes a person to perform a marriage for a specific time period. There are also online services like Universal Life Church which allow someone to be ordained minister so that they can perform a wedding ceremony. The only states that do not allow someone to be ordained online is North Carolina and Virginia. Below are state requirements for solemnizing a marriage.

[Alabama - Iowa] [Kansas - Oregon] [Pennsylvania-Wyoming]

Alabama

Any licensed minister and judicial officer or judge may perform a marriage

Alaska

A marriage may be solemnized by any minister, rabbi, or congregation that does not have a regular minister or judicial officer that has jurisdiction in that area

Arizona

Marriage may be performed legally by a person who is a judicial official in Arizona or a minister who has the authority to perform a marriage

Arkansas

A wedding can be performed by a licensed minister recorded in the county where the marriage will be recorded or a justice of the peace. The marriage license has to be recorded 60 days from the date of the wedding.

California

A person authorized to officiate the wedding may be a licensed minister, judicial official or legislator within that district. Out-of-state clergy may perform marriages in California. In the state of California, the commissioner also can deputize a friend or family member to perform a wedding.

Colorado

A wedding ceremony may be performed by a judge, court official, or any authorized minister recognized by a religious denomination. Colorado allows for the two parties to solemnize their own wedding without an officiant.

Connecticut

Any clergymen or judge legally may perform a marriage ceremony

Delaware

Any judge, state or country representative, or ordained or authorized clergyman may solemnize a marriage

District of Columbia

Any judicial magistrate or any minister authorized by the District of Columbia (DC) may perform a wedding. The marriage license has to be returned to the Columbia Court of General Sessions within 10 days.

Florida

Any ordained minister or clergyman, judicial official, or congregation that does not have a regular minister or notaries public of the “State of Florida” may perform the marriage ceremony.

Georgia

Marriages may be performed legally by a person who is a judicial official or a minister who has the authority to perform a marriage

Hawaii

Any person who receives a license to perform a wedding by the State of Hawaii is allowed to perform the marriage. For further information about obtaining a marriage performer, please contact the “The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau” website or call them at (808) 924-0266.

Idaho

A marriage ceremony may be solemnized judge , mayor or person that has the religious authority.

Illinois

The wedding may be performed by a judicial representative, county clerks with 2 million or more inhabitants, or any authorized licensed minister. The wedding officiator may complete the form within 10 days after the marriage is solemnized and return it to the county clerk.

Indiana

Wedding ceremony may be performed by a judicial representative, city representative who are authorized to perform a marriage, or any ordained minister of a religious organization.

Iowa

The marriage may be solemnized by any religious leader or judicial officer

[Alabama - Iowa] [Kansas - Oregon] [Pennsylvania-Wyoming]

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