What Is A Wedding Officiant
A wedding officiant is the leader of the wedding ceremony. They work with the couple to prepare materials for the ceremony and perform the marriage on the day-of.
According to expert Natasha Anakotta, an officiant can expect to spend “anywhere from six months to a full year before the ceremony” preparing and officiating each wedding. “This allows enough time for ordering credentials and official documents, completing minister registration, working with the couple on the ceremony creation, practicing, and working out the logistics and details,” Anakotta says.
Meet the Expert
Natasha Anakotta is the Outreach & Operations Manager at American Marriage Ministries .
The upsides of getting a loved one or family acquaintance to officiate your wedding are plentiful: It’s more intimate and personal than having a stranger officiate, it’s less expensive than hiring somebody, and it’s a very special way to include them in your big day. Read on for a complete guide to officiating, from getting ordained to writing the actual ceremony.
BAILEY MARINER/BRIDES
Performing A Marriage Ceremony In Ohio
to download a free copy of our Ohio Marriage Officiant Guide.
How do you get ordained to perform wedding ceremonies for your friends and family in Ohio? Getting ordained is simple, legal, inexpensive and takes just a few minutes! Get started.
Minister ordination for Ohio includes authorization to legally perform all of life’s celebrations, including marriage ceremonies , baby blessings , house blessings, re-commitment ceremonies , memorials , handfasting, and other rites and rituals.
Ordination as a Marriage Officiant and ceremonial minister complies with all state and local laws in Ohio and is valid and accepted throughout the United States and everywhere around the world!
Ohio law requires persons performing marriage ceremonies to file their credentials with the Secretary of State’s office in Columbus prior to performing a ceremony anywhere in the state. You must hold a current and valid minister’s license to perform such rites in addition, you must present your credentials to any state or local authority and/or the bridal couple upon their request.In Ohio, ordination or investment by the Church gives each clergy member the authority to perform the marriage rite. You are not required to undergo any specific formal training to become ordained in Ohio.
How To Officiate A Wedding In Ohio
Contact the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, introduce yourself as a minister, and explain that you’re planning to officiate a wedding. In Ohio, ministers are required to register at the state level . After becoming registered, ministers are able to travel anywhere in the state to perform ceremonies. For instance, if there is a minister in Cuyahoga County that wishes to perform weddings in Hamilton County, they would simply need to register at the state level.
View contact information for the Ohio Secretary of State’s office:
The Ohio state flower, the Scarlet Carnation
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How To Become A Legally Ordained Minister In Ohio:
With the American Fellowship Church the process of becoming an ordained minister / wedding officiant in Ohio is very simple, just read below and follow the instructions.
An ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation within this state who is licensed to perform marriages may join together as husband and wife any persons not prohibited by law.You must be licensed by the state: A minister, upon producing to the secretary of state, credentials of his being a regularly ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation, shall be entitled to receive from the secretary of state a license authorizing him to solemnize marriages in this state so long as he continues as a regular minister in such society or congregation….
***In Ohio you will need to register with the secretary of state before you plan to perform a wedding***
You may order a Letter of Authorization here.
Finally to qualify for ordination with the American Fellowship Church in the state of Ohio you must agree to the Certification, and our Code of Ethics.
While training is not required in order to become ordained with the American Fellowship Church, we do urge our members to learn more about being an ordained minister, therefore we offer a number of online courses that are self paced and written in plain English. If you are interested in training please see “Online Minister Training“
How To Obtain A Marriage License If You Intend To Marry In Hocking County
If you live in Ohio, but neither of you lives in Hocking County: You must obtain a marriage license in the county in which at least one of you resides. You must get the license before coming to Hocking County for your wedding. Ohio Marriage License information is below.
If you’re not from Ohio *or* If one of you lives in Hocking County: Obtain your license at the office below. Marriage license requirements follow.
Hocking County Probate CourtMain Street and Market StreetsLogan, OH 43138740-385-3022
ID Requirement: Government-issued ID such as driver’s license, visa, passport, state ID. You need to know your social security numbers.
Residency Requirement: Do not have to be a resident of Ohio. You must apply in the county in which you want to get married.
If previously married: Bring a certified copy of a divorce decree or a copy of the deceased spouse’s death certificate.
Application Requirement: Both parties to a marriage should appear in person to obtain the license.
Fees: $60. Cash only.
Waiting Period: No waiting period.
Blood Tests: No tests.
Under 21: If you are 18 to 21 years of age, you will need to show your birth certificate. Persons aged 16-17 must have consent to marry from parents or legal guardians and may have to contact the Probate Court.
Valid: License is valid for 60 days. The license can only be used within the State of Ohio.
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What Are The Wedding Officiant Registration Requirements In Ohio
The requires that all wedding officiants are required to register with the office of the Ohio Secretary of State before performing marriage.Registration with the Ohio Secretary of State is simple. You can complete the entire process by mail. Provided there are no complications, the Secretary’s office takes no more than 2-3 days to process your application.
Take The Time To Prepare
Read up on ceremony protocol, the standard order of service, vows, musical cues, how to move around in the ceremony space, and how to fill out and file a marriage license. If you need help, go back to the ordination organization for assistance. Meet with the couple to find out what they envision for the ceremony. Prepare the script, practice your presentation, and create an order of procession for the rehearsal.
If youre uncomfortable running the rehearsal, ask the planner or on-site coordinator who will also be at the ceremony to run it.
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Always Start With Research
You cant perform a legal marriage unless you are authorized by the state to do so. Every state has different descriptions, classifications, and laws that regulate who can perform a wedding ceremony. Becoming ordained with a legitimate organization, recognized in all fifty states, is the best way to meet those regulations. Here are essential questions to consider:
What Should Your Officiant Wear
It doesn’t hurt to discuss what your officiant will wear to your ceremony. Remember, they will be front and center along with you and your spouse, which means they’ll be in some of the most important pictures of your life. Make sure they don’t overdress or underdress for the ceremony so that their outfit doesn’t distract from the overall magic of your big moment.
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Approval Of Your Application For Ministers License To Solemnize Marriage
Provided there are no complications, approval of your application should take no more than two or three days from the time it is received by the Secretary of State.
Factoring in shipping time, we recommend that you allow for one week before you hear back from the Ohio Secretary of States office.
If you have not heard back from the Secretary of State or have other questions about your application, you can contact them at:
Central Ohio: 466-8770
Determine If You Need To Register With The Court
Once you’ve been ordained, the next step in the process is to make sure all the paperwork and other legal checkboxes, if any, are checked off. Some regions require that the officiant file credentials with the local court and others do not. For example, in California, it is not necessary to register, but in New York City, not only do officiants have to register, they have to appear in person at the City Clerk’s office to do so.
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What’s Considered A Common Law Marriage In Ohio
The state of OH previously recognized common law marriage, but in 1991 by statute, the state decided to no longer recognize common law marriage. Common law marriages that began before October 10, 1991, are still honored by the state unless they’ve been terminated by divorce, death, annulment or dissolution.
How To Become A Wedding Officiant In Ohio
If the process of planning, scripting, and performing a wedding is daunting, then you need our suite of tools.We have distilled years of experience into an easy-to-use platform with training materials, quizzes, a personalized ceremony script generator, and tips to prepare you for performing marriage, all accessible through your minister profile.That’s only the beginning. After the wedding, you can share your wedding on the with our nationwide network of ministers.
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Why Choose Your Own Officiant
Lots of couples are warming to the idea of a family member or friend officiating their wedding. This is especially true for secular couples or those looking for a more casual wedding ceremony.
Asking a close friend to officiate your wedding does offer several important benefits. Not only does it add an even more personal spin to the ceremony, but it’s also another way for couples to incorporate a loved one into your wedding who’s not in the wedding party. Couples on a budget will also appreciate the cost savings of using a friend to officiate.
How To Become A Wedding Officiant
Are you interested in becoming a wedding officiant? Perhaps youve just performed a friend or family members wedding ceremony and you had a great time doing it, or maybe youre just curious about what it takes to become an officiant either way, we are here to help you on your path to a fun, rewarding career. WeddingOfficiants.com The Wedding Officiant Directory is a top resource on the web for couples searching for officiants, and for information and advice to help officiants start and grow their businesses.
Becoming a marriage officiant isnt a decision to be taken lightly, but if youre sincere and earnest and are willing to put in the work, it is an extremely rewarding career path. There are few jobs that involve working closely with people on something truly special and meaningful to their lives, which is what makes being an officiant so special. Whether you ultimately decide to build your own business or work for an established officiant company, getting started is the hardest part. Below, well give you the specific steps youll need to take to become a marriage officiant in your area, as well as the potential issues you may encounter along the way. Before we get started, you may have a few basic questions about officiants and we have several excellent articles we highly recommend reading:
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Check Your Local Laws
Because you will be fulfilling the legal duty of certifying a marriage license as a wedding officiant, you need to familiarize yourself with the local laws anywhere you will be performing a wedding ceremony. Check the wedding officiant laws by state, and also research at the county and city level to see what the different rules and regulations are for marriage officiants. In some states, practically anyone can perform a wedding ceremony in others, it can be next to impossible to get legal authorization to perform marriages unless you are the minister at a church with an active congregation. Most states in the US have fairly relaxed requirements for who can legally perform a wedding ceremony, but certain states like West Virginia, Massachusetts, and Arkansas have laws that make it extremely difficult to obtain authorization to perform marriages and prior registration and approval from the court is required.
Can You Officiate Your Own Wedding In Ohio
No. A wedding officiant cannot marry themselves. When you are serving in the capacity of a wedding officiant and signing a marriage license you are swearing that the couple you are marrying is completing the marriage license in accordance with the law. Essentially, you are witnessing their act of marriage.
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Practice Your Public Speaking
Before the ceremony rehearsal arrives, take time to practice reading through your script. Make notes about where to pause for effect and practice saying words that might get stuck on your tongue. This is a great way to get used to what you’ll be saying to minimize how emotional you may be on the wedding dayyou’ll be more familiar with the lines, so hopefully, you won’t get too choked up. Read through the script in front of a mirror to practice making eye contact with the couple and the audience. In addition, make sure the couple practices their lines and vows in advance, too.
The Different Cities And Areas To Consider For An Ohio Wedding
One of the best parts about choosing the state of Ohio for your big day is that there are a variety of locations and options to choose from. You can explore more well-known cities like Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus.
If you’re looking for a lakeside location, Cleveland is the perfect option nestled on the shores of Lake Erie. In this area you’ll find beautiful beachfront and skyline venues to choose from. Cincinnati is known for its architecture and boasts plenty of venues with old-world charm. Columbus, the state capital and largest city in OH, offers elegant and unforgettable venues both indoors and outdoors for your wedding ceremony.
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How To Become An Ordained Minister In Ohio
The first step also happens to be the easiest one! Becoming an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church takes only minutes, its free to join, and best of all ULC ordinations are good for life. Join our global family of ministers who enjoy the power to perform legal wedding ceremonies! To sign up, just follow the button found below:
