Wedding Officiant

1. Wedding Officiant How to Become One and the USA laws

2. Module 1 Basics of How To Become a Wedding Officiant

3. A wedding officiant is a person who is acting of the law and certifying a marriage license for a local jurisdiction. This is also the person who performs the wedding ceremony and joins the couple in marriage. Typically, an officiant is ordained by a religious organization to perform the ceremony as a representative of the organization. Many engaged couples want a friend or family member to be the officiant at their wedding to create a more personal ceremony. Becoming an officiant can be an easy process if you do the necessary research. There is only 4 States that let you do a ceremony as a Notary and those are Nevada, Maine, South Carolina and Florida.

4. Check your state’s laws. A wedding officiant is fulfilling the legal duty of certifying a marriage license so it’s important to understand the law in your state. Visit your state’s Secretary of State website to see which laws apply. (On Module 2 there is some links) • Some states are very lenient with who can become an officiant, but others require officiants to be a practicing minister with a congregation. • Some states will impose a fine for any marriages officiated illegally. • Visit your local county clerk’s office. Some counties within a state have different requirements for wedding officiants than others, so it’s a good idea to find out what your county laws are as well

5. Read through your state’s marriage license. As the officiant of a wedding, it is your job to ensure the people getting married understand what the marriage license means. Thoroughly read through the marriage license and make sure you understand it enough to explain what it means. • Below is an Example of the Florida Marriage License, please check with your state or ask your client to send you the License through a picture.

6. Read through your state’s marriage license. As the officiant of a wedding, it is your job to ensure the people getting married understand what the marriage license means. Thoroughly read through the marriage license and make sure you understand it enough to explain what it means.

7. Module 2 State laws as a wedding officiant – getting ordained

8. Pick a religious organization to get ordained through. Being ordained means to be appointed as a member of clergy in a religious organization. This makes a person an official representative of the religious organization. Becoming ordained through a religious organization is an important part of becoming a wedding officiant, and it’s required by law in many states. Many religious organizations will ordain you online, and some will even do it free online. Make sure your state will recognize online ordinations before you choose this route. • Some jurisdictions will not recognize ordinations through certain religious organizations so check your local laws to ensure your ordination will be recognized. • If you want to perform weddings in multiple states, you may have to get ordained from several different organizations depending on the local laws in each state.

9. Basics State Laws: Links below per State Please check your Secretary of State Website to get more information. Alabama: http://sos.alabama.gov/ Alaska: http://alaska.gov/ Arizona: https://www.azsos.gov/ Arkansas: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/ California: http://www.sos.ca.gov/ Colorado: http://www.sos.state.co.us/ Connecticut: http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/site/default.asp Delaware: http://sos.delaware.gov/ District of Columbia: https://os.dc.gov/ Florida: http://dos.myflorida.com/ Georgia: https://georgia.gov/agencies/georgia-secretary-state Hawaii: https://portal.ehawaii.gov/

10. Idaho: http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ Illinois: https://www.illinois.gov/Pages/default.aspx Indiana: https://secure.in.gov/sos/2363.htm Iowa: https://sos.iowa.gov/ Kansas: http://kssos.org/ Kentucky: http://kentucky.gov/government/Pages/AgencyProfile.aspx?AgencyTitle=Secretary+of+State Louisiana: http://www.sos.la.gov/Pages/default.aspx Maine: http://www.maine.gov/sos/ Maryland: http://www.sos.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx Massachusetts: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ Michigan: http://www.michigan.gov/sos Minnesota: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/ Mississippi: http://www.sos.ms.gov/Pages/default.aspx Missouri: http://sos.mo.gov/

11. Montana: http://sos.mt.gov/ Nebraska: http://www.sos.ne.gov/dyindex.html Nevada: http://nvsos.gov/sos/ New Hampshire: http://sos.nh.gov/ New Jersey: http://www.state.nj.us/state/ New Mexico: http://www.sos.state.nm.us/ New York: https://www.dos.ny.gov/ North Carolina: http://sosnc.com/ North Dakota: http://sos.nd.gov/ Ohio: http://www.sos.state.oh.us/ Oklahoma: https://www.sos.ok.gov/ Oregon: http://sos.oregon.gov/Pages/index.aspx Pennsylvania: http://www.dos.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx Rhode Island: http://sos.ri.gov/ South Carolina: http://scsos.com/ South Dakota: https://sdsos.gov/ Tennessee: http://sos.tn.gov/

12. Texas: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/ Utah: https://www.utah.gov/government/secretary-of-state.html Vermont: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/ Virginia: https://commonwealth.virginia.gov/ Washington: https://www.sos.wa.gov// West Virginia: http://www.sos.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx Wisconsin: http://www.sos.state.wi.us/ Wyoming: http://soswy.state.wy.us/

13. Module 3 Different types of wedding ceremonies and vows

14. Different Types of Wedding Ceremonies Religious Ceremony A religious ceremony takes place in a house of worship where the bride or groom is a member of the congregation. The reception usually occurs immediately after the exchanging of vows, either in the church's banquet room or at a separate location. Couples must still obtain a civil marriage license from their local courthouse or county clerk’s office for the union to have legal standing. Civil Ceremony A civil ceremony wedding is typically held in a courthouse, city hall or judges' chambers and is officiated by a Justice of the Peace, a judge or a mayor. The secular ceremony is brief, with simple vows and just a handful of guests. A simple or elaborate reception can follow the ceremony.

15. Formal Wedding Holding tightly to age-old traditions, a formal wedding conforms to exacting social expectations, including an elaborately decorated ceremony and reception, numerous attendants and ushers, engraved stationery, an assigned seating chart and dozens of etiquette rules. An expensive event, this type of wedding usually has more than 200 guests in attendance. Informal Wedding Couples who choose to have an informal wedding have the freedom to customize every aspect of their marriage ceremony and wedding reception. They usually hold on to several important traditions, create a mashup of both traditions or come up with something completely new. Although not as elaborate, an informal wedding typically has a more intimate feel. Destination Wedding Usually held in a great location, destination weddings has been very popular during the past decade. Since a destination event requires travel, the wedding festivities are intimate with typically fewer than 20 people. Couples love the all-inclusive package that enables them to combine the marriage ceremony with the honeymoon.

16. Cruise Wedding A type of destination wedding, cruise marriage ceremonies are officiated by the ship's captain or a clergy member at port. Onboard wedding planners and event coordinators help customize every last detail of the intimate event. Many cruise ships now provide webcams so you can televise the big moment to those at home who could not attend. Eloping Elopingconjures up vivid Hollywood images of passionate love and wild romantic gestures of running away together to get married. Although most brides fantasize about eloping at least once during the wedding planning process, very few actually choose this easier and cheaper route. In Las Vegas, the top U.S. destination for elopements, couples are married in quick, quirky ceremonies and often celebrate the night out on the town. Group Wedding Also known as a mass marriage ceremony, the group wedding involves numerous couples who legally tie the knot at the same time. Typically hosted by wedding venues and cities, group weddings are an attractive option for couples on a budget who want to celebrate their love in a very public way. The venue also serves as the reception site where newlyweds receive an individual cake and champagne toast.

17. Double Wedding Normally consisting of best friends or siblings, a double wedding includes two couples participating in a single marriage ceremony. Each couple participates in their own set of wedding rites, usually with the eldest bride going first. The other bride and groom generally serve as attendants. Military Wedding Formal and steeped in tradition, a military wedding requires full dress uniform for enlisted personnel. The couple has their choice of marrying in a chapel on base or participating in a civil ceremony. Rituals vary between the U.S. Armed Forces branches but most incorporate the stunning salute of the Saber Arch that the newlyweds pass under. Proxy Wedding Very rare these days, a proxy wedding takes place when the bride or groom cannot actually attend the ceremony, usually due to serving overseas in the military. Only four U.S. states currently allow proxy marriages, including California, Colorado, Texas and Montana, although the stringent laws vary greatly. Same Sex Wedding Whether you are planning a civil union or commitment ceremony, same sex weddings are usually intimate, personalized gatherings. Where legal, marriage vows can be exchanged in a civil or religious ceremony. If the couple does not belong to a church that has given its blessing to gay and lesbian marriages, an informal ceremony usually takes place in a rented venue or a relative's home.