How to Officiate a Remote Wedding Ceremony in Utah

How to perform a remote marriage ceremony in Utah for couples in the US and abroad

 

Updated May 2025: Special thanks to Russ J. Rampton, Digital Services Supervisor & Utah County Deputy Clerk for providing us with up-to-date information. Contact the Utah County Clerk's office with any additional questions on performing remote appearance ceremonies.

 

Thousands of couples all around the world are getting married without ever leaving home – with the help of Utah County’s fully online marriage portal. 
 
This online marriage portal is currently the only one of its kind in the United States, and makes it possible for both U.S. citizens and international couples located anywhere in the world to be married remotely by a wedding officiant in Utah, using a Utah marriage license.
 
Utah County’s remote wedding service has been life-changing for LGBTQ+ couples in countries where same-sex marriage isn’t yet legal, and for couples in countries like Israel, where strict religious laws forbid nontraditional or civil marriage ceremonies. The service has also come in useful for members of the military, disabled couples, and for some immigration purposes, when restrictions or illness make travel difficult.

 

Using the virtual portal, couples are able to apply for their marriage license and fill out all the necessary documents over the web. The wedding ceremony is performed by an officiant in Utah and is legally binding, even for those living internationally. 
 
(Note: Some countries, like China, do not currently recognize same-sex marriages solemnized in the U.S.)
 
Below, we cover the process for officiating a remote wedding ceremony in Utah. If you are a couple and wish to get married online with a Utah officiant, the article linked below is for you: 
 

• How to Get Married in an Online Wedding Ceremony in Utah

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How To Officiate a Remote Marriage Ceremony in Utah

 

Step-by-step instructions for the Utah Wedding Officiant officiating an online wedding
 

STEP 1: Get ordained with American Marriage Ministries

 

Utah Law (§ 81-2-305) states that: “(1) The following individuals may solemnize a marriage: (a) an individual 18 years old or older who is authorized by a religious denomination to solemnize a marriage... ”

 

This is great news for you! You can become an ordained minister online with American Marriage Ministries. The process is free and takes just a few minutes.

 

Remember: In order to perform a remote ceremony in Utah, the officiant must be physically located in Utah at the time of the ceremony (§81-2-302).

 

• Get ordained online with AMM for free

 

 

STEP 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Utah 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'll appreciate our wedding officiant training pages, which are a comprehensive library of information and tips for first time officiants, to help you prepare and ensure that your first wedding ceremony goes smoothly. You'll find everything from sample wedding ceremony scripts and templates, to brainstorming prompts, and more.

 

Even though the ceremony is remote, it's still just as special as an in-person wedding and carries with it the same weight. You'll want to make sure that you're prepared to give the couple a memory to last a lifetime.

 

• Browse free wedding officiant scripts
• A Virtual Wedding Ceremony Script with Special Readings
• Officiate a Virtual Wedding Like a Pro!
• 3 Terms Every Officiant Should Know in the Virtual Wedding Era

 

 

STEP 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License

 

It’s the couple’s responsibility to obtain the marriage license. They can do this completely online from anywhere in the world by applying through the Utah County Online Marriage Application page, and there are no residency or citizenship requirements.

 

As the officiant, job is to officiate the ceremony and then sign and file the marriage license electronically. The marriage license is only valid for 32 days so it's important to perform the ceremony within that time frame.

 

Give a verbal warning per state law & confirm the identities of the couple and their witnesses

 

IMPORTANT: Before the formal ceremony begins, state law (§81-2-302) requires you to give the following warning to the couple you marry: 

“A marriage solemnized according to the laws of the State of Utah through online remote appearance may be invalid in the country where the parties to the marriage reside.”

 

You can make this announcement during the "pre-ceremony business" portion of your video conference, while you are verifying the couple's identities, designating the two witnesses of record, and so on. As instructed by our contact at the Utah County Clerk's office, "It can and should be done before the "Dearly beloved..." part of the actual ceremony itself."

 

This warning must be given immediately before the ceremony for the marriage ceremony to be valid.

 

As of May 1st, 2024, the wedding ceremony must also include a verbal 'declaration of intent,' which means that both parties to the marriage must state their willingness to marry. Other aspects of the ceremony are left up to you, the couple, and any cultural traditions or religious tenets you choose to include.  

 

 

STEP FOUR: Complete the Marriage License (URL Code) & Return

 

The marriage license is issued electronically (as a digital marriage license) and takes the form of a unique URL for that couple. The URL is sent to the couple after they apply for the license, and they will then send it to you, the officiant.

 

After performing the ceremony, the officiant (that's you!) will use this URL to submit the information necessary to finalize and file the marriage certificate.

 

Once that's complete, you have successfully completed your job as the officiant.

 

 

 

Online wedding services in Utah make marriage more accessible to couples around the world.

 

 

Learn more by visiting the Utah County Clerk Office : Marriage Licenses

 

Complete details for officiants and couples who wish to marry remotely can be found here:

 

• A Guide to Virtual Wedding Ceremonies in Utah: For Officiants & Couples

 

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You might also like:

 

• Officiate a Virtual Wedding Like a Pro!
   
• The more the merrier! Why hybrid weddings are a good idea

 

 

Browse Online / Remote Wedding Articles

 

 

Illustration by Jessica Levey

From the article: The more the merrier! Why hybrid weddings are a good idea

 

Learn how to host a hybrid wedding by livestreaming a small in-person wedding ceremony to your remote online guests... the best of both worlds: small intimate weddings and online weddings! Learn more here.

 

 

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Get ordained!
Become a Wedding Officiant in Utah

 

Friends and family members can officiate wedding ceremonies in New Jersey: Become an ordained minister with AMM's free online ordination.

 

 

 

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