How to Get Ordained
A Full Guide for Getting Ordained Online
Updated April 14th, 2023
Who can officiate a wedding ceremony
When planning a wedding, couples have many choices for who can officiate their ceremony:
Professional Officiants
Religious Leaders (such as Priests, Ministers, Rabbis, or Imams)
Tribal Leaders or Shamans
Government Officials (such as judges or justices of the peace)
Friends or Family Members
Why consider having a friend/family member officiate your wedding
Not only is this a more budget-friendly option, but it’s also such a great way to personalize your wedding ceremony. Who better to help you tell the story of your relationship than someone who has been there for some (or all) of it?
When considering who to ask to officiate your wedding, think about someone who knows you both and can properly speak to who you are as a couple! The most common officiants chosen by our couples have been parents, siblings, friends, or other close family members.
How to have a friend/family member officiate your wedding
Depending on the state in which you are getting married, your friend or family member may need to get ordained. This will allow them to perform a legally-binding ceremony. Fortunately, it’s super easy to get ordained online and in this article we’ll walk you through everything you need to know.
How to get ordained online
Make sure online ordination is allowed in your state and find out about any additional requirements. Some states, such as our home state of Colorado, make it very easy for wedding officiants, while states such as Nevada have much stricter rules. In the following sections, we’ll dive deeper to learn more about laws in each state!
Choose the organization for your ordination. There are a wide variety of options, and we recommend looking through a few of them to find an organization that aligns with your beliefs.
Apply for your ordination. In most cases, it’s as simple as filling out a form and submitting it for approval. Many forms will just require your name, email, and address. Others may ask for more details about your intentions and beliefs.
Receive your documents. Some states may require that you have physical proof that you are ordained, while others don’t. Most organizations will either send you a digital certificate for free or allow you to purchase the physical documents and additional credentials if necessary.
Register as an ordained officiant with the state, if necessary. On average, this process takes 7-30 days depending on the state. More details on each state’s officiant registration requirements can be found at the bottom of this post.
States that require officiants to register with the government
1. Arkansas - Easy
2. Delaware - Easy
3. Hawaii - Easy
4. Louisiana - Easy
5. Massachusetts - Easy
6. Minnesota - Easy
7. Nevada - Difficult
8. New Hampshire - Easy
9. New York - Easy
10. Ohio - Easy
11. Puerto Rico - Easy
12. Vermont - Easy
13. Virginia - Difficult
14. Washington DC - Easy
15. West Virginia - Easy
How much does it cost to get ordained online?
It will depend on the organization that you choose! Many are completely free while others have a small fee. If your state requires officiants to have additional credentials (such as a letter of good standing or a Minister license), these are add-ons that you can purchase.
How long does it take to get ordained online?
It will depend on the organization that you choose! Some just require that you fill out a form and you will immediately receive your credentials. Other organizations require approval which can take a couple of weeks. If you’re in a time crunch, you may want to consider an organization that offers immediate approval and documentation sent to your email. Read the next section to see some of those options!
How old do you have to be to get ordained online?
In most states, you have to be 18 in order to legally officiate a wedding. However, Minnesota requires that all officiants be over the age of 21.
Where to Get Ordained Online
American Marriage Ministries
Click here to view their website
Affiliation: Non-Denominational
Cost: Free
Openly LGBTQ-affirming
Time Required: Only minutes
Title: Minister
Age: 18+
Universal Life Church
Click here to view their website
Affiliation: Non-Denominational
Cost: Free
Openly LGBTQ-affirming
Time Required: Only minutes
Title: Minister
Age: 18+
Spiritual Humanism
Click here to view their website
Affiliation: Humanist
Cost: Free
Openly LGBTQ-affirming
Time Required: Only minutes
Title: Ordained Clergy Person
Age: 18+
The Church of Bacon
Click here to view their website
Affiliation: Atheist
Cost: Free
Openly LGBTQ-affirming
Time Required: Up to 10 days
Title: Your choice
Age: 18+
Church of the Open Road
Click here to view their website
Affiliation: Non-Religious
Cost: $20
Openly LGBTQ-affirming
Time Required: 12-48 hours
Title: Minister
Age: 18+
Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
Click here to view their website
Affiliation: Non-Religious
Cost: $59
Time Required: 1-2 weeks
Title: Minister
Age: 18+
Open Ministry
Click here to view their website
Affiliation: Non-Denominational
Cost: Free
Time Required: Only minutes
Title: Minister
Age: 18+
Church of the Latter-Day Dude
Click here to view their website
Affiliation: Non-Religious
Cost: Free
Time Required: Only minutes
Title: Minister
Age: 18+
What happens before the ceremony
In addition to making sure you’ve followed the legal steps to legally ordain your first wedding, you’ll have to write the ceremony! There are many scripts that you can find inspiration from online, but we highly encourage you to write a ceremony that is personalized to the couple! This will not only add so much more depth to the ceremony, but also make it more enjoyable for the couple and guests.
How to write an amazing ceremony
Start by having a conversation with the couple. Discuss how long they envision their ceremony being, if they would like any specific readings (whether those are religious or non-religious), if they will be reading their own vows, and if they plan to incorporate anything special into their ceremony (such as a unity ceremony, a reading by a guest, or even separate vows to their children).
Take time to learn the couple’s story. Some of our favorite ceremonies have included personalized details about the couple. How did they meet? What first drew them to each other? What are the big moments from their relationship (moving across the country together, starting new jobs, etc.)?
Begin drafting the ceremony. There are so many templates online that can help you write your ceremony. Use those to give you structure and then fill it with readings or details that are personalized to the couple! Also, not every ceremony needs to be completely sentimental, feel free to include some lighter moments as well!
Practice practice practice. Once your script is complete, take the time to practice it out loud. This will give you confidence and help edit and refine. It can even be helpful to practice in front of someone else.
Who files for the marriage license?
It is the couple’s responsibility to file for their marriage license and pick it up. The officiant is not needed for this step of the process.
Where do you get a marriage license?
Where you get a marriage license will depend on your state, but it is often at a government office, such as the courthouse, the county clerk’s office, or the probate court. Some locations allow you to walk-in, while other locations will require appointments. The cost of the marriage license will vary based on your state but typically falls between $5 and $120.
For example, in Colorado, you can pick up your marriage license at any county clerk office in the state and the cost is $30.
What is a waiting period?
Each state will have its own rules for when a marriage license can be used. Some states have a waiting period, which means that couples have to wait a certain number of days between when they file for their marriage license and when they have their ceremony.
In states such as Colorado, there is no waiting period. So couples can file for their marriage license and sign it on the same day. In other states such as Wisconsin, couples must wait 3 days between when they file for their marriage license and when they sign it.
Marriage licenses do have some flexibility. So even if your state does not have a waiting period, you can still pick up your marriage license early. For example, in Colorado, marriage licenses are valid for 35 days, meaning couples have 35 days between when they file and when they actually sign it before it expires. In Wisconsin, marriage licenses are valid for 60 days before it expires. More details on each state’s waiting period can be found at the bottom of this post.
Interested in learning more about what a small wedding ceremony looks like?
Check out our Elopement Ceremony Guide
Feeling overwhelmed with writing your own wedding ceremony?
Check out Provenance’s custom ceremony builder
Helpful tips for officiating your first ceremony
Be confident! The couple chose you for a reason and everyone is cheering you on. It’s okay to be nervous, but know that you are prepared and you will do great.
Most often the very first words you should say aloud are, “You may be seated.” This is the most common mistake that new officiants make. They get wrapped up in starting the ceremony, and while you might think that eventually people would realize and sit down on their own, that’s often not the case. People will literally stand for the entire ceremony sometimes!
Step to the side while the couple says their vows. If the couple decides to read their own vows to each other, we recommend that officiants step at least a few feet to the side. This allows the couple to have a more intimate moment for themselves, and also has the benefit of looking better in their photos. In your written speech, leave a line break and then put a note to yourself to step aside to help you remember.
Step to the side for the first kiss. Like with their personalized vows, stepping aside during the first kiss will look great in photos. The best way to approach this is actually to step aside before you even say the final line of your ceremony, pronouncing the couple as married and inviting them to kiss. That way the photos aren’t of you running out of the shot once you’ve already said the line.
What happens after the ceremony
Now is when the legal part comes in! After the ceremony, you’ll need to gather with the couple and their witnesses (if required) to sign the marriage license. Typically, the marriage license will include information on how to properly fill it out, or the official who picks it up may communicate the steps to the couple, but you can also look it up online beforehand.
The marriage license will ask you to list your title, this with depend on where you received your ordination, but typically it will be Minister. Some marriage licenses may also ask you to list your religious denomination or church affiliation. This will also depend on where you received your ordination and will be best answered by that organization!
Depending on your state, in addition to the officiant, 1-2 adult witnesses will also be required to sign the marriage license.
Returning the signed marriage license
Once the marriage license has been fully filled out and signed, it needs to be returned to the office where it was issued in order for it to be filed. In some states, it is the responsibility of the couple to do this and in other states, it is the responsibility of the officiant. Often, marriage licenses can be easily mailed back to the issuing office. If you decide to mail the marriage license back, we recommend sending it with tracking.
The amount of time to have to return the signed marriage license will depend on the state, but we recommend returning it as soon as you can. More details on each state’s marriage license return requirements can be found in the next section.
Officiant and Marriage License Regulations by State
This list is updated as of April 2023. Always be sure to check with your state to make sure you are up-to-date with all rules and regulations!
Alabama
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 30 days
License Return: Before Expiration
Required Witnesses: None
Alaska
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 3 Days
License Expiration: 90 Days
License Return: 7 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: 1 Adult
Arizona
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 1 Year
License Return: 10 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: 1 Adult
Arkansas
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: Yes
Where to Register: County Clerk
Difficulty: Easy - Time: Up to 30 Days
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 60 Days
License Return: Before Expiration
Required Witnesses: None
California
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 90 Days
License Return: 10 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: 1 Adult
Colorado
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 35 Days
License Return: 63 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Connecticut
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 65 Days
License Return: Before Expiration
Required Witnesses: None
Delaware
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: Yes
Where to Register: Clerk of the Peace
Difficulty: Easy - Time: Up to 30 Days
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 1 Day
License Expiration: 30 Days
License Return: Before Expiration
Required Witnesses: 2 Adults
District of Columbia
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: Yes
Where to Register: Marriage Bureau
Difficulty: Easy - Time: Up to 30 Days
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: No Expiration
License Return: 10 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Florida
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period Residents: 3 Days
Waiting Period Non-Residents: None
License Expiration: 60 Days
License Return: 10 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Georgia
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: No Expiration
License Return: 10 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Hawaii
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: Yes
Where to Register: Vital Records Office
Difficulty: Easy - Time: Up to 14 Days
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 30 Days
License Return: Before Expiration
Required Witnesses: None
Idaho
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 1 Year
License Return: 30 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Illinois
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 1 Day
License Expiration: 60 Days
License Return: 10 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Indiana
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 60 Days
License Return: 30 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Iowa
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 3 Days
License Expiration: 6 Months
License Return: 15 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: 1 Adult
Kansas
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 3 Days
License Expiration: 6 Months
License Return: 10 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: 2 Adults
Kentucky
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 30 Days
License Return: Before Expiration
Required Witnesses: 2 Adults
Louisiana
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: Yes
Where to Register: Parish Clerk of Court
Difficulty: Easy - Time: Up to 30 Days
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 1 Day
License Expiration: 30 Days
License Return: Before Expiration
Required Witnesses: 2 Adults
Maine
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 90 Days
License Return: 7 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: 2 Adults
Maryland
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 2 Days
License Expiration: 6 Months
License Return: 5 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Massachusetts
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: Yes
Where to Register: Secretary of the Commonwealth
Difficulty: Easy - Time: Up to 2 - 4 Weeks
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 3 Days
License Expiration: 60 Days
License Return: Before Expiration
Required Witnesses: None
Michigan
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 3 Days
License Expiration: 33 Days
License Return: Before Expiration
Required Witnesses: Two Adults
Minnesota
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: Yes
Where to Register: Local County Registrar
Difficulty: Easy - Time: Up to 30 Days
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 6 Months
License Return: 5 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: Two Adults
Mississippi
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: No Expiration
License Return: 5 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Missouri
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 30 Days
License Return: 15 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Montana
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 1 Year
License Return: 10 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Nebraska
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 1 Year
License Return: 15 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: 2 Adults
Nevada
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: Yes
Where to Register: County Clerk
Difficulty: Difficult - Time: Up to 4 - 6 Weeks
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 1 Year
License Return: 10 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: 1 Adult
New Hampshire
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: Yes
Where to Register: Secretary of State
Difficulty: Easy - Time: Up to 14 Days
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 90 Days
License Return: 6 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
New Jersey
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 3 Days
License Expiration: 6 Months
License Return: 5 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: 2 Adults
New Mexico
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: No Expiration
License Return: 90 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: 2 Adults
New York
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: Yes
Where to Register: NYC Clerk Marriage Bureau
Difficulty: Easy - Time: Same Day
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 1 Day
License Expiration: 6 Months
License Return: 5 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: 1 Adult
North Carolina
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 60 Days
License Return: 10 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: Two Adults
North Dakota
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 60 Days
License Return: 5 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: Two Adults
Ohio
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: Yes
Where to Register: Secretary of State
Difficulty: Easy - Time: Up to 2 - 3 Days
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 60 Days
License Return: 30 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Oklahoma
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 30 Days
License Return: Before Expiration
Required Witnesses: Two Adults
Oregon
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 3 Days
License Expiration: 60 Days
License Return: 5 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: Two Adults
Pennsylvania
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 3 Days
License Expiration: 60 Days
Signed License Return: 10 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Puerto Rico
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: Yes
Where to Register: Demographic Registry Office
Difficulty: Difficult - Time: Same Day
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: No Expiration
License Return: 10 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Rhode Island
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 90 Days
Signed License Return: Before Expiration
Required Witnesses: 2 Adults
South Carolina
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 1 Day
License Expiration: No Expiration
License Return: 15 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
South Dakota
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 90 Days
License Return: 10 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Tennessee
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 30 Days
License Return: 10 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Texas
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 3 Days
License Expiration: 90 Days
License Return: 30 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
US Virgin Islands
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 8 Days
License Expiration: No Expiration
License Return: 10 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Utah
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 32 Days
License Return: 14 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: Two Adults
Vermont
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: Yes
Where to Register: Vermont Judiciary
Difficulty: Easy - Time: Up to 7 Days
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 60 Days
License Return: 10 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Virginia
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: Yes
Where to Register: Superior Court
Difficulty: Difficult - Time: Varies
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 60 Days
License Return: 5 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: None
Washington
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 3 Days
License Expiration: 30 Days
License Return: 30 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: 2 Adults
West Virginia
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: Yes
Where to Register: Secretary of State
Difficulty: Easy - Time: Up to 7 Days
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 60 Days
License Return: Before Expiration
Required Witnesses: None
Wisconsin
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: 3 Days
License Expiration: 60 Days
License Return: 3 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: 2 Adults
Wyoming
Officiant Registration Requirements
Online Ordination Legal: Yes
Officiant Registration Required: No
Marriage License Requirements
Waiting Period: None
License Expiration: 1 Year
License Return: 10 Days from Signing
Required Witnesses: 2 Adults
Looking for more guidance about officiating a wedding in your state? American Marriage Ministries has helpful FAQs and step-by-step guides for getting ordained in each state!