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 Thursday, Oct. 20th, 2022
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. Currently, Utah County is the only county in Utah that provides this service.
(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.
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Utah Law (§ 30-1-6) states that: “(2) 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.
It's important to note that in order to perform a remote ceremony in Utah, either the couple or the officiant must have a host location in Utah. Any marriage license “issued within this state by a county clerk may only be used within this state,” (Utah Code § 30-1-7).
If you aren’t in Utah, you can still get ordained online with AMM and legally perform weddings in all 50 states, but you won’t be able to do a virtual wedding in Utah unless you or one of the partners being married is physically in Utah at the time of the wedding.
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.
It’s the couple’s responsibility to obtain the marriage license. They can do this completely online from anywhere in the world! There are no residency or citizenship requirements.
Your job will be to officiate the ceremony and then sign the license electronically. The marriage license is only valid for 30 days so it's important to perform the ceremony within that time frame.
The license is issued electronically 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, who will use it to submit the information necessary to finalize and file the marriage certificate.
Online wedding services in Utah make marriage more accessible to couples around the world.
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.
Friends and family members can officiate wedding ceremonies in New Jersey: Become an ordained minister with AMM's free online ordination.
Become a Wedding Officiant with Our Free Online Ordination!