American Weddings Blog

Here’s why it matters where you get ordained, and what your responsibilities are as a wedding minister.

Asking a friend or family member to officiate has become as common as picking bridesmaids. But even with millions of Americans getting ordained to perform weddings, most folk don’t really know what ordination means. Too often, they say “yes” without realizing what they are signing up for. 

Let’s talk about what ordination really is, and what your responsibilities are as a wedding minister. But before we get into the details, I want to remind you that we’ve made getting ordained free and easy for a reason – it’s a rewarding and transformative experience that lets you celebrate love and build community. That’s what matters in life, and as they say, the best things in life are free. 

 ...(continued)

Early Monday morning your fearless AMM representatives drove from Nashville to Memphis, TN, where we were greeted with blue skies and mild weather. It was a great day for outdoor ordination!

When we arrived at Shelby Farms Park to set up, the crowd was already forming. It was our biggest day so far, and on a Monday no less! We met hundreds of ministers and AMM supporters from across the region! Folks had driven in from Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas to prepare for upcoming weddings in the volunteer state.

We heard from all backgrounds and beliefs; Agnostics, Christians, Wiccans, all united in defense of religious freedom and opposition to Public Chapter No. 415. Public outrage is growing, and at every stop we make, the crowds get larger. Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee Legislature, can you hear the voice of the public yet?

 ...(continued)

Hey folks! We’re checking in from Clarksville TN, where we just wrapped up the first day of our Tennessee Ordination Tour. Now, we’re heading towards Jackson TN to ordain ministers in the Madison County/Southwest Tennessee region. Click here for the dates and locations!...(continued)

Tennessee’s legislature has passed a law that takes away the rights of non-traditional ministers to officiate weddings. The new law, SB1377/HB0213, is the sort of government overreach that our founding fathers warned of, and represents a massive step back for religious freedom. 

Effective July 1, 2019, the government of Tennessee has made itself the arbiter of which ministers can, and can’t perform marriage in the state, stripping away the rights of tens-of-thousands of online-ordained ministers.  

And that’s not all. With the same stroke of his pen, Governor Bill Lee turned Tennessee’s thousands of bureaucrats, government officers, and elected officials into wedding officiants. You heard that right: the new law literally strips private citizens of their rights to officiate weddings, and hands them directly to government bureaucrats. ...(continued)