American Weddings Blog

Back when we were still flying on commercial airlines (remember, back before coronavirus?) I found myself sitting next to an older gentleman and as often happens, we started to chat about what we do for work. After decades in the workforce, my fellow passenger was planning his retirement. 

He told me that he was looking forward to watching his grandchildren start their lives, including one granddaughter who had recently gotten engaged. It turned out that she had just asked him to officiate her wedding!

But, he wasn’t sure if he should. “I’m not sure I’m the sort of person that officiates a wedding,” he said. 

It wasn’t that he was afraid of public speaking, and it wasn’t because he didn’t have a special connection with his granddaughter. The problem, he said, was that there was a “spiritual” component to officiating, and he wasn’t a particularly spiritual man....(continued)

Ordination / Ordained

To become a Minister and have the authority to perform ceremonies. American Marriage Ministries is the entity with the power to ordain you - that is, grant you the authority - to perform marriage.

Officiate

To perform a service or ceremony.

Officiant / Minister 

A person authorized to perform or officiate a service or ceremony. Once you are ordained with AMM, your official title is Minister.

 ...(continued)

In this series of articles, we’re answering questions about what we do here at American Marriage Ministries, and the role that online churches play in the wedding industry.

A lot of people want to know how to become ordained online, and what it actually means. Since there are so many options, it can be hard to sift through the different beliefs and guidelines. 

So why do people get ordained?

Becoming an ordained minister online is the easiest way for most people to officiate weddings for friends and family members. (If you've been asked to officiate a wedding, this is probably the best option for you, too!)

Webster’s Dictionary defines ordination as:

 “To invest officially with ministerial or priestly authority.”

 ...(continued)

One of the most common questions aspiring wedding officiants ask is, “…where should I get ordained online?” You might have been asked to officiate a wedding, or perhaps there’s another religious ceremony you want to perform. Or, maybe you just want to become ordained so that you can have the title “minister.” They are all legitimate reasons to get ordained, and for most people, the easiest way to make that happen is to get ordained online. 

The good news is that there are plenty of online churches and religious organizations, so there’s probably one that shares your values and beliefs. The next step is finding out what one fits your needs, how much each church charges for ordination (American Marriage Ministries doesn’t charge anything) and then clicking “get ordained.”...(continued)

If you’ve just gotten ordained with us, your Minister Ordination Package will get you squared away and ready to perform marriage in no time! Along with a copy of your official Minister Ordination Certificate, this package contains everything you need to get on your way to legally performing a wedding ceremony. Included in your AMM Minister Ordination Package is:

● (1) Ordination Certificate
● (1) AMM Minister's Manual
● (1) Letter of Good Standing
● (1) Certificate Holder
● Minister Registration Instructions (where applicable)
● Minister Registration Application Materials (where applicable)

 ...(continued)