We love non-traditional ministers, and nobody embodies that ethos better than hairdresser, podcaster, figure skater, television personality and wedding officiant Jonathan Van Ness. That’s why we were so excited when we found out that the star of the Netflix series Queer Eye is coming to Seattle on June 4th to officiate the wedding of one lucky couple at the world-famous brewpub Elysian. Over the last month, couples have competed to get married by arguably one of the most famous officiants in America.

Now, that lucky couple has been selected. The winners of the contest were Washingtonian couple Megan and Haden, and they are in the final days before their big day....(continued)

You know what’s even better than writing articles about getting ordained online and performing wedding ceremonies for friends and family? It’s having someone else do it. Especially when they are great storytellers and writers, like Catrina Bruns of the Cascade Pioneer! 

In an article titled “Licensed to Wed!” Catrina told the story of Kerra Boriskey, a bride who worked closely with her sister Morgan to plan a destination wedding in Florida. The problem was, they couldn’t find a minister that suited their requirements. 

That’s when the topic of American Marriage Ministries and online ordination came up. ...(continued)

After years of lobbying by ministers and couples, the Clark County government, which includes Las Vegas, has made it easier for online-ordained ministers to officiate weddings, regardless of religious affiliation. The updated requirements remove the need for officiants to submit proof of their religious affiliation, opening the option up to anyone that completes the appropriate application process, pays the applicable fee(s) and completes the required training. 

While Clark County has recognized American Marriage Ministries ordinations for a decade now, this decision opens the doors to ministers of other religious organizations.

American Marriage Ministries applauds this decision by the Clark County Government, which lowers the barriers to marriage for couples of all stripes. We would also like to thank our ministers and other partners for supporting our efforts, and for working tirelessly to promote marriage equality across the country....(continued)

You know you are doing something right -- hopefully not wrong -- when the New York Times features you in a story, and that’s exactly what happened to American Marriage Ministries today! 

An article in the New York Times titled, “How to Officiate Your First Wedding (and Why You’d Want To)” by San Diego-based journalist Whitson Gordon told readers that, “You don’t need to go to seminary to officiate a wedding. In fact, depending on where you live, it may take only a few clicks of a mouse.”...(continued)