Articles by Jessica Levey

Learn about the recent changes to West Virginia's minimum age requirements for marriage, effective June 2023. Children under the age of 16 years old are no longer allowed to marry in WV, without exceptions. Underage marriages for children between the ages of 16 and 18 are allowed if their partner is no more than 4 years older and certain other conditions are met.

New wedding ceremony script! This powerful marriage ceremony celebrates the absolute abundance of love, and the universal love, universal light, and universal life that unites and transcends all. The script opens with a welcoming speech by the officiant and loving recognition of friends and family, followed by joint 'we do' style vows, and a simple exchange of wedding rings. A perfect choice for non-denominational & spiritual by not religious couples, with everything you need to make your wedding memorable, personal, and legally binding.

Proposed drag bans like the one in Tennessee impact LGBTQ+ weddings, ministers and wedding officiants, and the entire queer community. Drag performers belong at weddings! Learn ways to protect LGBTQ+ ministers and wedding performers. (TN SB0003 ; U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker)

Three tips for wedding officiants asked to officiate a secret wedding or elopement ceremony, including confirming your couple's identity and the details on their marriage license, choosing a private location, and more!

¿Va a casarse, pero no está seguro de quién puede oficiar su boda si no es en el juzgado o en una Iglesia? ¿Quién oficia una boda si es en casa, en un parque público o en un lugar privado? Descubra cuáles son sus opciones a la hora de elegir un oficiante para su boda: incluyendo contratar a un profesional o preguntarle a un amigo o familiar que se ordene para casarlo.

Asked to officiate a friend's wedding ceremony? Learn how to get ordained online and officiate a wedding for friends or relatives, including ordination, minister certification and registration, the basic outline and parts of a wedding, what to say, and your responsibility to sign and return the marriage license.

Learn about Clela Rorex, the Boulder County Clerk who became a hero to the LGBTQ+ community and their allies when she issued a marriage license to a gay couple in 1975 in Colorado, and two resolutions introduced in the US House and Senate to honor her with a holiday, 'Clela Rorex Day.' (HR 248 / SR 118 ; same-sex marriage; marriage equality)

Learn how marriage licenses become public records in the city or county where you marry, why some couples want a private wedding, and how to keep your marriage records a secret with California's 'confidential marriage license' and Michigan's 'marriage license without publicity.'

Learn the value of a great online portfolio and digital presence when marketing your wedding officiant business! These 6 business and marketing tips from Officiant Sherri Crawford can help you establish a solid brand on social media, choose the right photos and content for your website, take advantage of Google Business Profile to attract new clients, and reach out to couples for shining reviews after the ceremony is complete.

Is the average age of marriage in the U.S. going up or down? Learn about recent trends that affect how old most men and women are when they get married, and why outside factors like education, the economy, pandemics, and shifts in spiritual or religious views can play a bigger part in when a couple decides to marry than you might think.

The ultimate wedding regret! Learn what to do if a couple changes their minds about being married after the wedding ceremony, and what your legal responsibility is as a wedding officiant when it's time to return a signed marriage license to the clerk or registrar's office.

Have you been told by a clerk or registrar that you can’t officiate a North Carolina wedding because you were ordained online? We want to hear from you! Here are the facts: Ministers ordained online through American Marriage Ministries can legally serve as wedding officiants and solemnize marriage anywhere in NC.