How to Officiate a Remote Wedding Ceremony in Utah

Learn how to perform a remote wedding and help couples get married online in Utah 

 

 

Updated September, 2023: 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.
 

Related: Utah becomes first state to allow international virtual Zoom wedding for partners living in different countries

 

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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How To Officiate a Remote Wedding Ceremony in Utah

 

Step-by-step instructions for the Wedding Officiant
 
 
STEP 1: Get ordained with American Marriage Ministries

 

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.

 

In order to perform a remote ceremony in Utah, the officiant must be physically located in Utah at the time of the ceremony, and any marriage license “issued within this state by a county clerk may only be used within this state,” (Utah Code 30-1-7).

 

• 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! 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 32 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.

 

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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