574 "News" Category Articles Page 12

Everything you need to know to plan a celestial wedding ceremony during the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, including theme and unity ceremony ideas, how to find an officiant or officiate, group and mass wedding inspiration, and the top cities to witness the totality – with a kiss!

There's a new horror movie theme wedding ceremony script in the library! This original officiant script is the right mix of spooky, sweet, and humorous, and will keep guests on the edge of their seats from the invocation to the first kiss! With all your favorite quotes from classic horror films, including The Poltergeist, Dracula, Beetlejuice, Psycho, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Witch, Bride of Frankenstein, The Shining, and more. Perfect for a Halloween wedding or spine-tingling nuptials any time of year.

National formalwear network Dapper and Dashing closed suddenly this week, impacting couples, wedding guests, and employees in nearly a dozen states. What does this say about current wedding trends, and how can retailers, vendors, venues, and wedding officiants thrive in the years to come? We have some advice!

Learn why so many women in the U.S. change their last name when they marry, how patriarchy and legal restrictions shaped this interesting wedding custom, and why it's important for wedding officiants to be aware of a couple's preferences when writing the wedding ceremony script pronouncement and completing a marriage license. Author Ann Zhao's tweet sparked this interesting discussion about where spouses do and don't change their surnames, and why, and we're here for it!

This Atlanta bride went viral on social media for disagreeing with a few traditional wedding vows during the ceremony... especially that promise to 'obey.' See what happened, how the guests and wedding officiant handled it, and our advice for officiants on how to make sure a wedding ceremony script is exactly what a couple wants, before it's too late!

Learn about the new accommodations offered by town and city clerks in New Hampshire for individuals and couples who are unable to appear in person for a marriage license appointment because of a documented medical reason. This mobile marriage license service will become available in some locations beginning in late September, when the revised marriage law becomes effective. (NH Senate Bill 89 / Chapter 159)

This secret celebrity wedding ceremony was a total surprise, but after the wedding officiant caught their breath it was an instant hit! Get the full story in this week's The Anonymous Officiant, American Marriage Ministries' behind the scenes look at the wedding industry, featuring real wedding stories submitted by real officiants. (AMM Anon Officiant #11)

American Marriage Ministries is headed to to Phoenix, Arizona, for a day of wedding officiant focused education, conversation, and networking! This Officiant Accelerator event will include presentations from expert officiants Cherise Klosner, Jimmie Berguin, Bethel Nathan, and AMM Executive Director Lewis King. See you September 20th, 2023!

American Marriage Ministries is proud to announce Officiant Accelerator, a new nationwide series of wedding officiant training and networking seminars, presented in partnership with the International Association of Professional Wedding Officiants (IAPWO). Learn about this exciting new program, what you can expect at each event, our continuing mission to support AMM Ministers, and how to buy tickets for an event near you!

Colorado legislators extend provisions for online marriage license appointments, will allow couples to meet with county clerk or recorder online via audio-video technology indefinitely. Updated law also includes guidelines for training of county staff by the human trafficking council every year. (House Bill 1278 / HB23-1278)

Meet expert Celebrant Christopher Shelley! Chris uses the act of storytelling to write compelling and personal wedding ceremonies, and is a master at keeping wedding guests entertained and putting couples at ease! Christopher will be speaking at AMM's Officiant ACCELERATOR event in New York City this August, along with a panel of experienced wedding officiants.

Access to non-denominational online ordination for Pagan wedding officiants is essential! Modern denominations like Wicca, Druidry, Heathenry choose online ordination to meet the legal requirements for handfasting, weddings & other marriage rites

Learn more about H.R. 4602, and how this legislation would help to protect marriage equality for LGBTQ+ couples at the federal level. The ‘Amend the Code for Marriage Equality Act of 2023,' would remove gendered words like 'wife' and 'husband' from multiple federal marriage laws. This legislation was introduced by U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley, D-California.

Learn about amendments to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act that strengthen protections for marriage equality in the state. Three laws have been repealed, which previously prevented out-of-state interracial and same-sex couples from traveling to Illinois to marry there, ensuring the state remains a safe haven for interracial and LGBTQ+ couples. (HB 1591 / 2023)

Remember not to panic! When a medical emergency delays the start of this wedding ceremony, the officiant leaps into action with the help of a few knowledgeable guests to keep things calm and on track. Read all about it in this week's exciting installment of The Anonymous Officiant, American Marriage Ministries’ candid column about real weddings, written by real officiants. (Anon Officiant #10)