Are There Ways To Be Safe If I Hire A Wedding Officiant When Social Distancing
If you decide to hire a wedding officiant when social distancing, ask if the officiant can offer remote services. Some wedding officiants are choosing to conduct services virtually and/or stand more than 6 feet away from the parties. Discuss possible arrangements with your wedding officiant, and familiarize yourself with your local community guidelines, as well as the CDCs guidelines for social distancing. Only move forward if you and the officiant both feel comfortable.
You may want to implement extra precautions, such as using digital payments instead of exchanging cash, sanitizing all involved spaces and waving instead of shaking hands.
What Does It Mean To Officiate A Wedding
To officiate a wedding is to oversee the official union of two people in marriage. A wedding officiant is vested with the power to legitimize your union in the eyes of the court. An officiant also sets the tone for your ceremony, leading the couple through their vows and shaping the experience with the words they choose and the pace they set. An officiant may be based in a religious faith, may be an interfaith officiant, may be a secular officiant, or may be a friend or family member who has received ordination online.
You can have a traditional wedding officiated, or you can also have an officiant oversee a commitment ceremony, a vow renewal or an elopement. Once the wedding is complete, the officiant will ask you to sign the wedding certificate, and will then submit the document to the court on your behalf. This makes your marriage legal. Wedding officiants work with you no matter how simple or elaborate you would like your ceremony to be. The more involved wedding officiants are in the planning and customization of the ceremony, the more they will typically charge.
About American Marriage Ministries
American Marriage Ministries was founded on July 4th of 2009 in Washington State. In that time we have ordained over 869,864 ministers all across the United States. To join our nationwide community of AMM ministers, you simply need to agree to our three simple tenets:
How you officiate weddings is up to you, the couple, and the members of your community. You will be one of over 3,558 AMM ministers in New Hampshire who have realized their right to perform marriage.
You can also help by ordering your official ministry credentials from our . Part of the proceeds goes to our , which supports other non-profit charities such as Musicares and the National Center for Learning Disabilities.When you purchase a package from us, you get your official ordination certificate and you get to help support a positive cause!To learn more about American Marriage Ministries, check out our page. If you have further questions, feel free to visit our or simply .
HOW TO GET
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Step 4return The Special License With The Marriage License
So what do you do with this special license? You are required to file your Special License along with the marriage license when returning the marriage license after the wedding. So basically make sure that both the marriage license and special license are returned together.If you have further questions about this process you can contact the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s office.Phone: 603-271-3242Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm M-FYou will have to repeat this process for each wedding you officiate in New Hampshire, unless you decide to move to the Granite State.
How To Perform A Wedding
Congratulations, you’re ready to officiate the wedding! If you need any assistance in this important task, we encourage you to utilize the tools below. Together these exclusive resources include everything you’ll need to craft the perfect wedding ceremony for any couple. Created with our ministers in mind, they offer tips and helpful information for all aspects of performing a ceremony. Fun fact: many ULC ministers have become professional officiants using these tools as a guide!
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Applying For A Marriage License
All persons proposing to be joined in marriage within the State of New Hampshire must first obtain a marriage license. Marriage license applications may be applied for at any town or city clerks office in the state.
To be married in NH you do not have to establish residency. A couple wishing to marry in the State of NH may complete an application at any NH city or town clerks office regardless of their place of residence. This includes out-of-state residents as well. Once a valid license is issued, the couple will be free to marry within any city or town in NH.
Both parties must be present to complete the marriage license application unless one of the parties is in the military and unable to return to New Hampshire before the ceremony. If this is the case, please contact the city clerks office for instructions. As it does take about half an hour to process and issue marriage licenses, we ask that couples plan accordingly, and come in to obtain their marriage licenses by 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the exception of Thursdays evenings when couples must come in by 4:30 p.m.
Who Should You Ask To Officiate
Your officiant should be someone you care about , and whom you trust to make your ceremony special. This person should be reliable and organized. They’ll need to go through the ordination process and be prepared on your wedding day. You’ll also want to ask someone who feels comfortable speaking in front of crowds, since, along with you and your future spouse, they will be the center of attention during your ceremony.
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Obtaining Your Marriage License
Both local residents and those from out-of-state can apply in the office of any town or city clerk in the State of New Hampshire. If you choose to apply for your license in the Keene City Clerk’s Office, you must make your application Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM.Both parties must appear before the City Clerk together to complete the application for a marriage license. If either of you have been previously married, you will need to provide certified copies of divorce and/or death certificates for any previous marriages or civil unions….and don’t forget your photo identification to confirm your age! The fee for a marriage license is $50.00 payable by check, cash or credit card payment. There is no waiting period in New Hampshire, the license becomes valid for use immediately upon issuance. The license is good for 90 days from the date of application, and it can be used anywhere in the State of New Hampshire.
How Do We Find A Credible Organization
There are a few large organizations that will ordain online. Some of the most common online ministries are American Fellowship Church, Universal Life Church, Universal Ministries and Rose Ministries. Once you find one that suits you, check with your Secretary of State’s office for legitimacy. The American Fellowship Church, for example, is legally registered with the California Secretary of State’s office as a nonprofit religious organization in good standing.
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Step 2confirm That The New Hampshire Marriage License Is Valid
Before you put pen to paper you should confirm that the marriage license is still valid. The validity of a marriage license is governed by three laws that determine the marriage license waiting period, expiration, and return. For more information on what these terms mean, check out our page, .In New Hampshire, the marriage license waiting period, expiration, and return are as follows:
- REQUIRED WITNESSES: None
- EXPIRATION: 90 Days
- RETURN: 6 Days from the Wedding
In In New Hampshire the couple must wait nonetheir marriage license from when they file for their marriage license from the Town Clerk’s office.In addition, the New Hampshire marriage license expires 90 daysafter issuance. When presented with the marriage license, you need to confirm that it has been more than day but not more than 90 dayssince the couple filed for their marriage license.Once you are satisfied that the marriage license is currently valid, you can move on to the next step.
Submitting Your Special License With The Marriage License
The Special License that you receive from the New Hampshire Secretary of States office must be included with the marriage license when returning the marriage license to the city or town clerk.
If you need further clarification on this process, you can contact the New Hampshire Secretary of State at:
Phone: 603-271-3242Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm M-F
If you were ordained with American Marriage Ministries, their Minister Ordination Package contains your official Ministry Credentials which are a good idea to keep for your own records. The package is $45 and also includes a Ministers Manual that covers useful minister registration and wedding training information.
They also offer a Signature Wedding Officiant Package that includes everything described above as well as a Clergy Stole and their comprehensive wedding training manual Asked to Officiate. It is $95 and the book, Asked to Officiate, is probably the best instruction manual for first time officiants.
Much of the information presented here was sourced from this page.
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How To Officiate A Wedding
Now that your friend is actually ordained to officiate your wedding, what do they actually have to do? You’ll want to take a look at your local laws again to brush up on the requirements. In most cases, your officiant simply needs to include the declaration of intent, or the “Do you take…” and “I do” vows portion of the ceremony.
Can My Friend Or Relative Get Ordained To Perform A Ceremony Of Any Religion
Though some online organizations are for specific religions, many are either nondenominational or interfaith. The American Fellowship Church, which has been ordaining people since 1975, ordains people of any religion, and those who go through the process are also able to perform nondenominational services.
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New Hampshire Marriage Officiant License
As an online ordained minister you are one step closer to performing marriage in New Hampshire. In addition to our free online ordination, we provide all the materials you need to officiate weddings with confidence. Whether you will be officiating weddings in Manchester, Nashua, Concord, or even Roxbury, AMM has everything you need to create an amazing ceremony.Your next step is to observe any officiant registration required by the New Hampshire Government. Click on the button below to learn more.
Does A Wedding Officiant Need To Enter My Home
This depends on the location of your wedding. Unless the ceremony is being held in your home, a wedding officiant will not need to enter your home before the ceremony. Some couples are choosing to stand outside or go to a vacant public place, so the officiant can conduct the ceremony while maintaining 6 feet of distance. Ask your wedding officiant what kinds of arrangements they offer, including virtual or remote services.
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Can Your Friend Or Family Member Officiate Your Wedding
Ordination requirements differ from state to state and even from county to county and city to city. Step one is to do your research and make sure your friend or family member is legally able to officiate your wedding. In some states, for example, a couple doesn’t even need an officiant, while in others, only pastors can perform a wedding.
You’ll want to do your research first to make sure you’re following local state or district rules. For example, in New York City, your officiant will have to register with the court at the city clerk’s office.
New Hampshire Wedding Planning Tips
When officiating a wedding in New Hampshire, there are a variety of things you will want to consider. First, the most popular season for wedding ceremonies is the fall, as that’s when the stateâs natural beauty comes alive and the trees change colors. With cold, snowy winters and wet, rainy springs, the summer and fall months are the best time to schedule a ceremony outdoors. There are also many indoor venues that are great options no matter what the weather has in store. New Hampshire wedding venues in Nashua and Manchester are some of the most popular locations in the state. Both cities offer historic locations and scenic views for couples looking for a picturesque setting on their special day — whether they plan to hold the service indoors or out! Wedding officiant fees in New Hampshire can vary substantially depending on the officiantâs level of experience, whether travel is involved, and how complex the ceremony will be. Make sure to consider that the average cost for a wedding ceremony is around $32,000, making it one of the most expensive states to get married in. This might mean couples have a tighter budget for their officiant, or they may have higher expectations that would justify raising your regular fee.
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Do Wedding Officiants Offer Remote Or Virtual Services
Reach out to wedding officiants in your area, and ask them if they can offer a remote or virtual ceremony. Some officiants may be willing to meet in person while maintaining 6 feet of distance, while others may prefer to conduct the entire service over the phone or a video call service such as Skype or Zoom.
Familiarize yourself with the social distancing rules in your community, city and state, and move forward only if both you and the officiant are comfortable with the arrangement.
Changing Your Legal Name
Each applicant should be prepared to state on the marriage license application what their name will become, subject to the parameters dictated by New Hampshire State law. According to New Hampshire Statute 5-C:41 ll-a: Upon entering into marriage, either party may do one of the following
a. retain his or her surname prior to the marriageb. change his or her surname to the surname of the other partyc. change the surname to a hyphenated combination of the full surnames of both parties
If a party requests a surname change under this paragraph, that party may also change his or her middle name to his or her surname prior to the marriage.
The name you choose when you apply for your marriage license application will become your sole legal name after marriage. If you wish to do something other than what is permitted by Statute, you will need to request approval of the Court.
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How Can I Find Out If A Wedding Officiant Is Considered An Essential Covid
The definition of essential services varies by location, so you will need to visit your state or city government website to learn what is considered an essential service in your area.
For more information on a national level, read CISAs publication on critical infrastructure workers. Some, but not all, jurisdictions follow CISAs definitions of critical infrastructure.
