American Weddings Blog

Folks looking to officiate weddings in New Hampshire might be able to sign up for a special marriage officiant license -- if legislation introduced for the state’s 2020 legislative session passes. The proposed license would “temporarily authorize an individual to solemnize a marriage.” 

Each limited-use license would authorize someone to solemnize the civil marriage designated on the registration form, and provide the officiant with proof of such authority from the secretary of state. 

New Hampshire allows ordained ministers and judges to officiate weddings. But for folks that don’t want to get ordained online by organizations like American Marriage Ministries (we’re are all about options here), this new license would open up the space to officiate weddings. ...(continued)

Wedding officiants devote an immense amount of their time and effort to creating and perfecting the wedding ceremony, and as couples are realizing just how important the role of officiant is, they're looking for additional ways to express their gratitude.

Whether you’re saying Thank You for officiating the wedding ceremony, Happy Holidays, or Just Because, here are a variety of thoughtful gift ideas for your officiant:

Massage or Spa Treatment

...(continued)

As couples strive to make their weddings a unique experience, many are side stepping traditional venues and inviting their guests  to unexpected places. Mountaintops, bodegas, classrooms… So in an era where e-commerce is reshaping the economy and our lives, it makes sense that forward-thinking couples are taking advantage of one of the most prominent fixtures of our modern economy: warehouses! 

Look at all that pristine space!

 ...(continued)

Are you wondering what’s happening with the legal challenges to a law that prohibits ministers ordained online from officiating weddings in Tennessee? Here are the latest updates, and everything you need to know to be allowed to perform weddings in the state. But before we dig into the details, the bottom line is this: 

You can still perform weddings in Tennessee if you got ordained online.  

We’ve heard that some county clerks in Tennessee are turning ministers away because they got ordained online. While these reports are isolated, it is important to remember that you are still legally allowed to perform weddings in Tennessee, even if you were ordained online. It's also important to remember that the law here is clear, and that the weddings are legally valid. ...(continued)

Here at American Marriage Ministries, we are frequently asked questions regarding timelines of ordination and performing marriage.

Like, How long does it take to get ordained? How long will it take to complete officiant registration in New York City? When will my paperwork and credentials arrive? When should I meet with the couple? When should I start practicing and rehearsing the ceremony? (Hint: Several of these are answered in our FAQs.)

We realize that many folks are asked to officiate at the last minute (which is totally awesome/fine, and we're still here to help you in a time crunch!) - but in order to deliver the best ceremony possible, this is what an ideal officiant timeline should look like:

 ...(continued)