Articles by Jessica Levey

Utah legislators consider a substitute bill that will allow couples to marry in virtual wedding ceremonies from anywhere in the world, as long as certain guidelines are followed carefully. Amendments include creating a criminal penalty for officiants who knowingly make a false statement on a marriage license, prohibiting use of power of attorney to secure a license, and strengthening guidelines to confirm age, legal name, and identity when they apply for a marriage license.

Learn about proposed changes to Utah's remote marriage ceremonies and services in 2024. Legislators seek to amend the law to require at least one of the individuals getting married be physically present in the state when the marriage is solemnized. Currently, only the officiant must be located in Utah during an online wedding. (Senate Bill 81 ; UT SB0081 | 2024 ; Sen Todd Weiler)

Four states are considering child marriage bans in 2024, with legislation that would raise the legal age of consent to marry to 18 years old. Learn about efforts in California, Hawaii, Missouri, and Washington to outlaw the marriage of minors: CA SB575, HI HB206, MO SB767, WA HB1455

Get married during April’s solar eclipse in a unique group wedding event in Pottsville, Arkansas! Officiated by AMM-ordained Notary Officiant Kimberely Boren, this fun celestial ceremony promises love and laughter in the path of totality. An outdoor group wedding will be followed by a festive indoor reception with drinks, dessert, dancing, and more. (April 8, 2024)

Learn about legislation to outlaw child marriage in Washington State. The members of the WA House of Representatives voted unanimously in favor of HB 1455 this month, which would eliminate an exception that allows 17 year old minors to marry in the state. The bill now heads to the Senate. (2023 / 2024 WA House Bill 1455; Representative Monica Stonier [D])

Learn about legislation to allow virtual marriage license appointments and online wedding ceremonies in New Jersey. Carry over bills sponsored by Representative Don Guardian [R] and Representative Annette Quijano [D] would create new legal provisions for remote marriage services and ceremonies conducting with video-conference like Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet. (2024 Senate Bill 1165 and Assembly Bill 3082 / S1165 ; A3082 ; previous A2347 )

Learn about current efforts to make online weddings legal in New York State, and bring online marriage services to more couples. Legislation sponsored by Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal would increase access to virtual marriage license appointments and authorize the remote solemnization and witnessing of marriage by audio-visual technology… aka, online wedding ceremonies!

Can an AI Avatar or Chatbot Legally Officiate a Wedding Ceremony? Learn who (and what) can serve as a legal officiant for your marriage ceremony, including what to know about self-solemnizing weddings, virtual and remote online weddings, and how to include an AI avatar or chatbot as a co-officiant.

Learn about potential changes to marriage laws in your state in 2024, including proposed legislation in New York, New Jersey, Nebraska, Missouri, Virginia, Utah, West Virginia, California, and other states, and how these changes could affect AMM Ministers and other officiants who officiate weddings there.

The best wedding dates for every season in 2024, according to numerology! Expert numerologist Rebecca Scolnick offers insight and inspiration to help you choose the best day to get married, with Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall wedding dates that bring a mystical mix of love, connection, family, structure, spontaneity, tradition, and magic.

Learn how conversational AI technology makes it possible to include deceased relatives and friends in your wedding ceremony, such as a virtual toast, speech, marriage advice, and more. With the help of platforms like StoryFile Life, HearAfter AI, and others, couples can now have new ways of honoring the dead on the wedding day.

Here’s what to know about the cost of online ordination to become minister in Iowa, including if you’ll need to pay to register as an officiant before you can officiate a wedding or elopement, and a comparison of prices for popular online ordination options, including free ordination through American Marriage Ministries.