Long Islanders Voted Reverend Terri Lynn Herbst Best Officiant On Long Island
Reverend Terri Lynn Herbst232 Smith St., Massapequa Park. 516-798-4181. revterrilynn.com
Your wedding should be as unique as the individuals you are, with the characteristics that only you and your intended can bring to this union. Reverend Terri Lynn Herbst understands that, and as a wedding officiant, works to honor that uniqueness by making your wedding ceremony as personal and individualized as you are.
License To Marry In New York
After you’ve contacted your marriage authority, you should visit our online store to purchase whatever documentation will be required. We typically advise ministers in New York to get an Ordination Package. Please attempt to leave at least 3 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your order, to ensure that you receive all of your materials in advance.
Please note that ministers who plan to perform a wedding in New York City are required to register with the city. If you plan to perform a wedding in New York City, you need to purchase a New York City Wedding Officiant Package. If you are mailing your application, the authorities in New York require a minimum of 30 days to process your minister registration, so purchase and submit this paperwork as soon as possible. Walk in submissions are processed same day.
Getting Ordained In New York
Regardless of where in the state you are officiating the ceremony, the first step is to become a marriage officiant with the Universal Life Church. Just complete the free online ordination application found here on our website the entire process takes only a few minutes. Legally licensed ministers of the ULC perform marriages all across the state of New York on a regular basis. Soon you will be officiating a wedding too click the button below to get started.
Recommended Reading: What Wedding Band Looks Best With Solitaire
Why Hire An Officiant
Hiring an experienced professional to write and perform your marriage ceremony is one of the best decisions you can make when planning a wedding. Most engaged couples haven’t seen many wedding ceremonies, and often don’t understand the important role that the officiant plays in setting the tone for the entire wedding day.
A professional officiant or marriage celebrant has experience and knowledge that enables them to craft a wedding ceremony script that reflects your personalities and relationship, and also creates the perfect atmosphere for your ceremony. When you see an experienced officiant deliver an amazing ceremony with “all the feels,” that’s no accident – it’s the result of their specialized knowledge, preparation, and talent.
The best advice for finding and selecting the right officiant for your ceremony is …
Step : Get Ordained With American Marriage Ministries
Lets start with the ordainment process. According to Nassau County Clerks website, a member of the clergy or minister who has been officially ordained and granted authority to perform marriage ceremonies from a governing church body in accordance with the rules and regulations of the church body may perform wedding ceremonies.
You can get to become a minister with AMM. The process is free and takes just a few minutes!
Read Also: Wedding Planning Spreadsheets
Keep Official Copies Of Your Ministry Credentials
Whether registration is required of you or not, it is a good idea to keep personal records of your official Ministry Credentials. Proof of your ordination is essential in the event that the couple or government officials request to see proof of your status as an ordained minister.We encourage you to order your for your official ministry credentials. Your package includes your Ordination Certificate and Letter of Good Standing. Your Letter of Good Standing is signed by a church officer, dated, and notarized.
Two Capital Region Divorce Family Law Attorneys Weigh In
Instagram photo submitted by to #TUBestShot.
Whether you’re a die-hard “Friends” fan or a casual consumer of the hit TV show, there is no denying how sweet it was when Joey officiated not one but two of his friends’ weddings.
So we can see why you’d want your own loved one to help you and your soon-to-be spouse say, “I do.” It’s a personal touch on a deeply personal day.
There are several ways to get ordained online but the most popular is the Universal Life Church, a non-denominational religious organization founded in 1962 under the doctrine, “Do that which is right.” The church says it has ordained 20 million people in nearly six decades, most of whom signed up in order to be a wedding officiant.
“Unlike traditional religious organizations, we don’t require years of training or expensive courses to become a member of the clergy. Becoming ordained is free and can be done entirely online,” ULC’s website states.
But is it legal?
To get to the bottom of things, the Times Union spoke to two local attorneys who specialize in divorce and family law: Eric Tepper, who is the chair of the State Bar Association’s Family Law Section and a partner at the Glenville firm Gordon, Tepper & DeCoursey, and Leyla A. Kiosse, who is the president of the Capital District Women’s Bar Association and a partner at the Albany firm Tabak & Kiosse.
So, what does the law say?
So, does ULC fall into either category?
What do the courts say?
Don’t Miss: Google Wedding Spreadsheet
Step : Prepare For The Ceremony In Nassau County
Now that the easy part is out of the way, we can help you prepare for the wedding ceremony itself. Being asked to officiate a ceremony is an honor, but can feel like a lot of pressure. You will appreciate our wedding training pages, which are a library of information to help you prepare for your first ceremony and ensure that it goes smoothly.
Here you can find everything from sample wedding ceremony scripts, to brainstorming prompts, tips for preparation, and more.
Questions To Ask Your Wedding Officiant
During this face-to-face time, we suggest asking any and all questions you have concerning the marriage officiants part in your wedding. Some suggestions:
- Are you available for our wedding day and location?
- What is the best way to contact you?
- How much do you charge?
- Is there any flexibility with the format of the ceremony?
- Can other people speak during the ceremony?
- Can you work within our theme?
- Will you be attending the rehearsal?
- How will you be dressed during the ceremony?
You can even ask if they have any video from weddings they have officiated before. This is also a good time to ask about their history and experience.
Wedding officiants aren’t just there to preside over the ceremony. Theyll also advise you on how and when to apply for your marriage license, suggest readings for the ceremony and answer any questions you might have about the process. Whether you’re looking for someone to talk at length about the commitment you are making, or for someone who will keep their speeches short and sweet, witnessing your marriage commitment is the whole reason everyone has come together. While planning the reception holds a great deal of excitement, finding the right wedding officiant will make the most important part of the wedding your ceremony all the more special. Just don’t forget to have your officiant sign your marriage license at the end of the day!
Don’t Miss: Does Randy Fenoli Have A Partner
Where To Get A Marriage License On Long Island And In The City Of New York
While NYC accepts a single form of ID, being a Passport or Drivers License, please remember that Nassau and Suffolk Counties require 2 forms of ID. First category is a Birth or Baptismal Certificate, Second is a Passport or Drivers License. And of course if either of you has ever been married before, proof of termination of the previous marriage .
How To Officiate A Wedding In New York
Contact your local City/Town Clerk’s office. Introduce yourself as a minister officiating a wedding, and ask them what documents they will need from you. Please note: in order to perform a wedding in New York City, ministers are required to complete a registration process. If the marriage will take place in New York City, you must purchase a New York City Wedding Package, containing all necessary documentation. Be advised that authorities in New York require a minimum of 30 days to process registration by mail. For our ministers elsewhere in the state, registration is generally not required. However, since officials may still ask to see a copy of your credentials, we recommend ordering a Classic Wedding Kit.
Select your county to view contact information for each office:
The New York state flower, the Rose
Also Check: Randy Fenoli And His Partner
How To Get Ordained In New York To Officiate
New York is a state unlike any other, not just generally speaking, but specifically as it pertains to performing a wedding. Even if you know how to marry someone in other states, you should read this guide if you are asked to officiate a ceremony in New York. It will explain how to become a wedding minister, how New York differs with its process, and how to ensure the ceremony is legally binding.
Here are the basic steps for officiating a wedding:
How To Become A Wedding Officiant In Nyc In 3 Steps
Are your best friends getting married and asking you to become a wedding officiant in NYC to marry them? Have you been invited to marry a couple, but you have no idea how to become a marriage officiant? Whether its for a large wedding or intimate elopement, couples are increasingly customizing their big day with personal touches and that includes having a friend or family member officiate their wedding in New York.
But you might have questions about how one becomes a wedding officiant in NYC. Do you have to live in New York? Can one really get ordained online and have the marriage be legal? The answers: no, and yes.
Follow these 3 steps to become a wedding officiant in NYC and legally perform your first wedding.
Recommended Reading: Mills Fleet Farm Bridal Registry
How To Become An Ordained Minister In New York
If you haven’t already, you should get ordained online with the Universal Life Church. Ordination is free and can be completed in just a matter of minutes. Thousands of legally valid marriages are performed by ULC ministers around the world every year. Begin the process by clicking the big blue button below!
Find A Wedding Officiant
While searching for the right wedding officiant may not be the most glamorous aspect of the wedding planning process, it’s crucial to the ceremony. After all, there’s no getting married without an officiant! In that sense, wedding officiants have the most important job of all of your wedding vendors. Unfortunately, finding the best person to perform the ceremony can be difficult especially if you’re getting married in an unfamiliar area where you may not have a strong connection with a religious leader or judge. If you’re not sure how to look for someone to marry you, don’t worry. We have all the resources youll need to find the right officiant for your special day.
You May Like: Wedding Bands To Pair With Solitaire
Who Can Officiate Weddings In Louisiana
“A marriage ceremony may be performed by: A priest, minister, rabbi, clerk of the Religious Society of Friends, or any clergyman of any religious sect, who is authorized by the authorities of his religion to perform marriages, and who is registered to perform marriages A state judge or justice of the peace.”
Step 3submit Your Officiant Application To The Nyc Marriage Bureau
At this point you should have completed the online application and have all your required paperwork in hand. The last two items you need are:
Once you have everything you need, you can complete your officiant registration in person at the City Clerk’s office:Office of the City ClerkMarriage Officiant Registration Clerk141 Worth StreetNew York, NY 10013If you are not able to register in person and the circumstances are extenuating, you can make arrangements to with the City Clerk to complete your application by mail. Please be mindful that they only allow this on a case-by-case basis. For further questions you can contact the NYC Marriage Bureau at:Phone: 669-8090Hours: M-F 8:30am-3:45pm
Also Check: Best Wedding Band For Solitaire
Officiate Your First Nyc Wedding And Send Back The Paperwork
The ceremony is only the first part. As the officiant, youre also responsible for getting the legal paperwork done. Heres a visual guide on how to complete a NYC marriage license. The couple will be responsible for providing you their marriage license, obtained at least 24 hours before the wedding, but not later than 60 days. After the ceremony, you, the newlyweds, and a witness will need to complete/sign the marriage license, and then you need to send back the paperwork in the envelope provided to the couple. If they obtained their marriage license online via Project Cupid, they will need to upload the signed paperwork in the Project Cupid portal.
New York Marriage Laws
A clergyman or minister of any religion, or by the senior leader, or any of the other leaders, of The Society for Ethical Culture in the city of New York, having its principal office in the borough of Manhattan, or by the leader of The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, having its principal office in the borough of Brooklyn of the city of New York, or of the Westchester Ethical Society, having its principal office in Westchester county, or of the Ethical Culture Society of Long Island, having its principal office in Nassau county, or of the Riverdale-Yonkers Ethical Society having its principal office in Bronx county, or by the leader of any other Ethical Culture Society affiliated with the American Ethical Union. The term “clergyman” or “minister” when used in this article, shall include those defined in section two of the religious corporations law. The word “magistrate,” when so used, includes any person referred to in the second or third subdivision.
To view the in-depth wedding laws for New York state:
Recommended Reading: Farm And Fleet Registry
Our Wedding Officiant Nyc Is Honored To Continue Being Here For You
Our Wedding Officiant NYC is proud to have been of service to engaged couples throughout these times, first with masked, socially distanced outdoor weddings, then with online weddings, and now with Sidewalk Signings. We’ve been happy to make sure that “love wins” for the hundreds of couples whose wedding plans were upended by circumstances they could not control, and with the return of indoor weddings, we are thrilled to be here for you!
