Ordination vs. Government License: Do You Need to Register to Officiate Weddings in Your State?

Learn the difference between ordination and minister licensing & how to officiate a wedding in your state

 

 

If this is your first time officiating a wedding, your first concern might be, “How do I make sure the wedding is legal?”

 

The good news is, it’s actually pretty easy to do. But you’ll need to figure out the following:

 

Do you need a government minister license, or is your online ordination sufficient?

 

 

Wedding officiants are responsible for leading the wedding ceremony and signing the marriage license. In some states, ordained ministers are required to register proof of their ordination locally before officiating weddings. Find out if your state is on the list that requires minister registration!

 

 

Ordination vs Minister Registration: What's the Difference?

 

Let’s start by breaking down the difference between these two terms, and then discuss which states require a government license or some other form of minister registration to officiate marriages.

 

• Ordination

 

An ordination is the first, and often only requirement, to officiate a wedding in all 50 states.

 

Ordination grants someone the authority to perform certain acts as a “minister” or religious authority, sanctioned by a religious institution.

 

Learn more: What Does it Mean to be an Ordained Minister?

 

When you get ordained online with American Marriage Ministries, it empowers you to legally join couples in marriage and sign the marriage license as an AMM minister. You don’t need to hold any specific beliefs. All that's required for ordination with AMM is a desire to help the couple celebrate a truly meaningful marriage ceremony.

 

For better or worse, some states require an extra step... called registration.

 

 

• Minister Registration

 

That’s where the government registration or a minister license to solemnize marriage comes in. States that license ministers to officiate weddings do so in order to keep track of who is performing this task, and to regulate who officiates.
 
The process is different in every state, but generally it involves filling out a registration form, proving that you are an ordained minister, and paying a fee.
 
While it’s always a good idea to have your ordination credentials in hand, many states and/or counties actually require them. If you are planning on performing a wedding, click here to get your official ordained minister credentials.

 

What states require minister registration marriage?

Here’s a list of states that require minister registration:

 

1. Arkansas
2. Delaware
3. District of Columbia
4. Hawaii
5. Louisiana
6. Massachusetts
7. Minnesota
8. Nevada
9. New Hampshire
10. New York
11. Ohio
12. Puerto Rico
13. Vermont
14. Virginia
15. West Virginia

 

If you live in one of these states or want to perform a wedding in one, we’ve got step-by-step instructions on how to register and get your minister license. These instructions are linked below! (If you’re in a non-registration state that is not on this list - such as Oregon - all you need is your ordination.) 

 

Head to our Weddings by State: Officiant Registration By State page and select your state to get started. 
 

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Have more questions about wedding officiant requirements in your state? We've got you covered! 

 

Check out our state minister registration pages for more information and answers to common questions about minister registration to officiate marriage.  

 

We provide details down to the city level to help you get ordained, file your registration paperwork, complete the marriage license, and create an amazing wedding ceremony for your couple!

 

Updated August 2024

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You might also like: 

 

• How to Officiate a Wedding For the First Time
   
• SHOULD A FRIEND OFFICIATE YOUR WEDDING? QUIZ 
   

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AMM's Signature Wedding Officiant Package

 

Don't leave anything to chance on the wedding day! Our Signature Wedding Officiant Package includes everything you'll need to successfully officiate a wedding ceremony, including a copy of the AMM Minister’s Manual, your Ordination Certificate, your Letter of Good Standing, Minister Licensing Instructions and Application materials (if needed), and much more. Check it out below!

 

ORDER YOUR PACKAGE HERE 

 

 

 

 

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Asked to officiate a wedding?  

 

You only get one shot to deliver a perfect wedding ceremony.

 

There’s no ‘take-two’ when it comes time for a couple to say ‘I do’--  Wedding officiants only get one shot to perform a perfect wedding ceremony. This online officiant training program will help you get it just right, from your first meeting with the couple, to signing the marriage license, and every lasting memory you create in between!

 

This course is designed for professional wedding officiants but is easy to follow for first time wedding officiants, including friends and relatives who are asked to officiate. Give yourself the tools and training you deserve to succeed as a wedding officiant, so that you can stand beside the lucky couple with complete confidence on their big day. 

 

Learn More: 

AMM's PROFESSIONAL WEDDING OFFICIANT CERTIFICATION COURSE 

 

 

 

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