16 "New Jersey" Category Articles

Lawmakers in New Jersey urge U.S. Congress members to eliminate ‘marriage penalties’ on federal SSI and SSDI benefits for disabled adults who get married.

Meet AMM Minister & first-time Officiant Tonette Lawson, aka Chef Toni of Tesserts, and read about the epic queer wedding in a cave she officiated for daughters Beka and Laura. The ceremony included a ‘jumping the broom’ unity ritual, stylish cape and princess dress, custom cookies, and a half-and-half cake!

Learn how much it costs to become an ordained minister online in New Jersey, whether you’ll pay more for minister registration to officiate a wedding, and how the cost of popular online ordination services compare, including free ordination through American Marriage Ministries.

Ten tips to start and grow a thriving wedding officiant business from Officiant Norman Graham of Wed By Norm. Learn more about marketing, branding, and advertising your business to attract more couples to marry, how to stand out from the crowd, networking with other wedding vendors, what to include in your officiant contract, and more.

Learn about legislation to allow virtual marriage license appointments and online wedding ceremonies in New Jersey. Carry over bills sponsored by Representative Don Guardian [R] and Representative Annette Quijano [D] would create new legal provisions for remote marriage services and ceremonies conducting with video-conference like Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet. (2024 Senate Bill 1165 and Assembly Bill 3082 / S1165 ; A3082 ; previous A2347 )

Learn about potential changes to marriage laws in your state in 2024, including proposed legislation in New York, New Jersey, Nebraska, Missouri, Virginia, Utah, West Virginia, California, and other states, and how these changes could affect AMM Ministers and other officiants who officiate weddings there.

NJ Gov. Phil Murphy signed a new law on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, that ensures all New Jersey marriage laws be read with race neutral intent. Effective immediately, the amended law provides strong protections for interracial marriages in the state. Learn more about the passage of Assembly Bill 4939. (NJ A4939; 37:1-1; Rep. John McKeon)

A step-by-step guide to help you plan a wedding or elopement and get married in New Jersey - including how to find a wedding officiant, choose the best wedding venue and plan your ceremony. Learn where and how to apply for your New Jersey marriage license and when to return it after the ceremony.

A bill to protect and codify interracial marriage rights in New Jersey passed the Assembly in a unanimous 78-0 vote this week. Learn what's next as this important legislation heads to the N.J. Senate. (A4939 / Assembly Bill 4939 ; 2023 ; marriage equality )

There is no fee to apply for a New Jersey marriage license through June 30th, 2023! The usual application fees for marriage and civil union licenses were waived as part of a "one year fee holiday" passed by Gov. Phil Murphy and other legislators, making a NJ wedding a little easier and more affordable than ever. So start planning that Spring wedding ceremony now! Then, ask a friend or relative to get ordained online to officiate.

Lawmakers in New Jersey introduced a bill to codify protections for interracial marriage rights in the state. The bill would amend the current statute to ensure all NJ marriage laws are read with race neutral intent. This bill was introduced by Rep. McKeon in response to the recent Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v Wade, raising concern around future protections for interracial, same-sex and LGBTQ+ marriages.

N.J. Attorney General announces Division on Civil Rights Marriage Equality enforcement initiative to protect the rights of same-sex, nonbinary, and other LGBTQ+ marriage license applicants in the state, following evidence of discrimination in five New Jersey municipalities.

A Valentine's Day wedding and vow renewal event in Atlantic City, NJ, at the Absecon Lighthouse included a 171 foot climb and 228 stairs, reminding us that wedding officiants should always wear comfortable shoes to the ceremony. Especially with unique venues and unexpected terrain like this!

NJ legislators passed a bill to codify same-sex marriage and protect marriage equality. All NJ state laws concerning marriage and civil union will now be read as gender neutral.

Why was this marriage license hidden in a painting, nearly 150 years ago? The mystery was uncovered when an antique painting was donated to a thrift store in Bordentown, New Jersey... Now the search is on to find the answer to this love story.