AMERICAN WEDDINGS BLOG
Stay up to date with the latest wedding ceremony trends, script writing inspiration, tips and advice for first-time officiants, and news that matters to couples and wedding ministers.
Stay up to date with the latest wedding ceremony trends, script writing inspiration, tips and advice for first-time officiants, and news that matters to couples and wedding ministers.
Published Tuesday, Sep. 20th, 2022
In some states, ordained ministers are required to register with the local government before conducting a marriage ceremony there. This registration process usually asks the minister to prove their ordination status by submitting hardcopies of their ministry credentials, such as a notarized Letter of Good Standing and an Ordination Certificate issued by the church.
See which states require minister registration here.
The minister registration process is fairly straightforward in most places… unless you can’t find your paperwork. That’s when things can get stressful, especially if you’ve been asked to officiate an upcoming wedding ceremony and the clock is ticking.
Because your ordination through American Marriage Ministries never expires, we’ll always have a record of your ordination in our Minister Directory. This makes it easy to replace a lost or damaged ordination document at any time, without needing to repeat the ordination process.
Just make sure you leave plenty of time before the wedding ceremony to receive your replacement document by mail and file it with your local clerk (this can take several weeks, depending on where you’re registering).
Worried about running out of time? Don’t hesitate to call our minister support line ( 206-395-9164 ) and we’ll do whatever we can to expedite the process. And check out our shipping options, because there’s probably a way to get them in time.
To purchase an official hardcopy of your non-denominational ordination certificate, or any other required minister credentials, log into your minister account and head to the AMM Store. There, you can click on “Minister Credentials,” select the document you need, and complete your purchase.
Order an official hardcopy of your Certificate from the AMM Store
To access an unofficial, digital copy of your ordination certificate at any time, log into your minister account, view your Minister Profile, and click “View Ordination Certificate.” Download a PDF file of your document for your personal records by clicking the button at the bottom of the screen.
Click "View Ordination Certificate"
Click "Download Your Ordination Certificate" for an unofficial digital copy
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If you’ve been asked to officiate a wedding for the first time, we recommend that you order a Minister Ordination Package for the best value.
This Minister Ordination Package contains your Ordination Certificate, as well as your signed, dated, and notarized Letter of Good Standing, a copy of the AMM Minister's Manual instruction guide, and any required government registration applications.
Wondering what it means to get certified to marry someone, or what the wedding officiant licensing requirements are in your state? Watch the video below to learn more – and start performing weddings for friends, family members, and other couples in your area.
Become a Wedding Officiant with Our Free Online Ordination!