574 "News" Category Articles Page 16

Vermont House Bill 148, titled 'An Act to Ban Child Marriage,' was passed by House on March 2nd and now heads to the Senate. The bill, which would raise the legal minimum age to marry in the state to 18 years old, is sponsored by Representatives Carol Ode, Mollie Burke, Tiffany Bluemle, and Sara Coffey. (VT H.148 2023)

The minimum age to marry in Wyoming is now 18 years old, with some legal exceptions for 16 and 17 year olds. Gov. Mark Gordon signed House Bill 7 (HB0007) into law last week, after multiple attempts by lawmakers over the years to raise the legal age of consent in the state. The new law is effective immediately.

Iowa legislators introduced a joint resolution this week that proposes a state ban on same-sex marriage by amending the Iowa Constitution. Learn about House Joint Resolution 8 (H.J.R. 8 ; 2023) and recent concerns over the future of marriage equality in Iowa and around the country.

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 )

The Anonymous Officiant #1 : This candle-lit wedding ceremony took an unexpected turn when a bridesmaid’s dress burst into flames. Read the full story and how a special guest saved the day from disaster, in this installment of American Marriage Ministries’ new candid column about real weddings and officiants: The Anonymous Officiant.

AMM-ordained officiants Nicki and Brandon Storm offer inclusive and personalized underwater wedding ceremonies in San Antonio, Texas, as well as scuba certification and open water instruction for diving enthusiasts, destination wedding packages, and more.

Join American Marriage Ministries for a day of wedding officiant education and networking on April 12, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia! This live event includes guest speakers with expert advice on how to be an incredible wedding officiant and build a successful business, networking and strategy seminars, and community building for officiants in the greater Atlanta area and beyond. Tickets are available now on Eventbrite.

Free ‘sip and see’ wedding planning event for same-sex and other LGBTQ couples in the Dallas Fort Worth area will bring together local LGBTQ+ wedding vendors and allied businesses on February 19, 2023. The LGBTQ+ Sip & See Spring Wedding Planning Event is organized by the North Texas LGBTQ Wedding Network and Chevy Chey Photography, and will be held at Apricus Venue in Corinth, TX.

Use this sample wedding officiant contract to help define your business terms of service. This vendor contract template includes details about who the agreement is between, the types of services, an example of cost breakdown and deposit requirements, who purchases and returns the marriage license, cancellation policy and more!

Hey, Wedding Officiants! Share your real wedding story or rant anonymously in The Anonymous Officiant: We're accepting submissions of true stories, rants, and other revelations from the wild world of officiating. Do you have a secret, a cautionary tale, a wedding day disaster story, or exciting gossip? A true tale that's funny, heartwarming, scandalous, surprising, or informative? Something you want to confess, or get off your chest? Read our submission guidelines and publish your short story with us on the AMM American Weddings blog!

A pop-up marriage license office is open at Henry Reid International Airport LAS, just outside Las Vegas, from now until Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2023! The temporary location is operated near Carousel 5 in Terminal 1 baggage claim by the Clark County Clerk, to make it easier for out of town couples to elope on this romantic holiday wedding date. Learn how to start the license pre-application process, how much a NV marriage license costs, and more.

Attn wedding officiants: Group weddings are an exciting part of Valentine's Day celebrations all around the country, as hundreds of couples gather to say 'We do!' to love and marriage on February 14th. Learn about mass wedding ceremonies happening near you for inspiration, and read our tips on how to officiate your own large ceremony.

Learn about proposed marriage legislation around the country, including important amendments to same-sex marriage bans, interracial marriage laws, the minimum age to marry, who can legally solemnize marriage and officiate weddings, covenant marriage licenses, common law marriage, remote / virtual marriage services, penalties for refusing marriage services to LGBTQ+ couples, remarriage, marriage waiting periods, and more.

Rumors are flying that Kanye West and Bianca Censori were married in a secret surprise wedding, but the celebrity couple haven't applied for or filed a marriage certificate or marriage license. Learn what this means for Ye and Bianca's supposed marriage, what's required for a legally binding ceremony, what a commitment ceremony is, and how to avoid the same paperwork mistake while planning your own wedding.

It’s time to eliminate the ‘marriage penalty’ for disabled adults and ensure marriage equality for all Americans. Millions of Americans can lose their disability benefits and eligibility through Social Security SSDI, Medicare, and Medicaid by choosing to get married. These penalties affect DAC recipients, SSI recipients, and others who receive SSA supplemental income. Learn about recent legislation, including the 2022 Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act and California's SRJ-8, and what's next in the fight for equal marriage rights.