We received an inquiry this week from a minister who was getting ready to perform her very first marriage ceremony this coming weekend. Getting asked to perform a wedding for the first time progresses very quickly from “Sure, I’ll do it!” to “Yipes, what do I actually do?” First Things First Here is the million-dollar question: are you ordained to perform wedding ceremonies? If you don’t know what ordination is, I’ll give you a quick explanation. Ordination is the process through which you receive legal authorization to perform marriage ceremonies. Every state in the United States requires you to have legal authorization, without exception, before you perform a wedding. You…
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Choosing The Perfect Song For Your First Dance
We had gone through all the prep work — putting together lists, getting a variety of opinions, listening to dozens of songs — on the way to writing an article about the perfect song for the first dance. We had checked off all the boxes: It had to be memorable. It had to be meaningful. It had to be special. As I said, we had it all ready to go. …And then we read this article from our friends at You & Your Wedding, in which they not only list 100 amazing potential first dance songs, but then break it down into categories (“The Sway,” “High-Energy Swing,” “Something Latin,” etc.) and…
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California Ordination, Marriage License and Ceremony Information
Adapted from information provided by the State of California Department of Public Health, this article covers the most common situations involving the state’s marriage laws, and some of the complexities as well. And if you are interested in becoming ordained as a wedding officiant to perform marriage ceremonies in California — a very uncomplicated process — please click here. This article will provide you with general information regarding the requirements for the issuance and registration of both public and confidential marriage licenses in California, as well as answer many frequently asked questions regarding the laws pertaining to marriage licenses and ceremonies in California. If you are getting married in California, for…
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State of the Union: Serving As A Marriage Officiant In Rhode Island
This article is part of a series for ministers on performing marriage ceremonies in the United States and elsewhere. In this article, we focus on the magnificent state of Rhode Island and its rules and regulations. Rhode Island has some of the most breath-taking scenery and some of the most picturesque places to have a wedding ceremony anywhere in the world. If you are legally ordained as a ceremonial minister, it’s also a very uncomplicated place to perform marriages. According to Rhode Island law, everyone who is or has been the minister of any society professing to meet for religious purposes, or incorporated for the promotion of such purposes, and holding stated and regular…
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State of the Union: Serving As A Wedding Officiant In New York
This article is part of a series for ministers on performing marriage ceremonies in the United States and elsewhere. In this article, we focus on New York State, as well as New York City, which has its own specific set of rules and regulations. We often hear from ministers and officiants that are concerned about the complexities of performing marriage ceremonies in New York. While it may seem complex on the surface, it’s actually fairly simple and straightforward — as long as you follow the rules. Basically, you must be legally ordained before performing a wedding ceremony in New York. If you are currently ordained and in good standing with the…
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Renewing Your Ordination Term: The Why and The How
Another question that we on the WedMinTeam at FNC are often asked is (1) why do I have to renew my ordination term as a wedding officiant, and (2) how do I renew my ordination term? The simple answer to 1 (the “why”) is that ordination isn’t for life. While some churches (and we all know who we’re talking about here) offer “lifetime ordination,” no real church or religious order grants unconditional ordination as a ceremonial minister for eternity. What happens if you change your mind about your beliefs or your calling twelve years from now? Should we still consider you ordained? What about your personal information in our incredibly…
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Can A Ship Captain Perform A Marriage Ceremony?
There are certain questions we receive day in and day out, generally about whether a ceremonial minister who lives in one state (let’s say Texas) can legally perform a wedding in another state (let’s say Hawaii*), but one that pops up occasionally is also one that can be quite perplexing. So … can a ship’s captain perform a marriage ceremony? The simple answer is yes, as long as he or she is legally ordained by a church or religious organization. Earning the position of ship’s captain does not automatically give you the right and responsibility to serve as a wedding minister. The more complicated answer is maybe, depending on where the…
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Making Beautiful Music … and Marriages, Too
We’ve heard and read countless stories over the years about wedding ministers that failed to show up for the ceremony. Not just late, but not at all! For a bridal couple that has gone through months and months of planning for their perfect ceremony — having chosen the venue, the wedding dress, written their vows — and then not have the officiant show up to perform the ceremony can be tragic. It’s always good to have a back-up plan in place, just in case. Of course, if the wedding is taking place at a church or chapel, then there is usually an assistant pastor or minister on hand to step…
