Articles by Jessica Levey

In search of a unique wedding venue? Let this list of 10 unusual and unique places to get married inspire you, including weddings in a cemetery, a pirate ship, a cave, an aquarium, a medical museum, an airport, and more! You'll also find links to our free wedding ceremony scripts and advice on how to have a friend get ordained online to officiate your ceremony... for a truly original wedding celebration!

Learn about matelotage, which many believe to be an early form of gay marriage honored among pirates of the 1700s and 1800s. These legal civil unions bound two sailors together in an informal partnership, uniting one's fortune and future to the other's, and were respected by ship captains and pirate crews. (Same-sex marriage, queer history, history of marriage)

Ahoy, mateys! This unique pirate wedding script is fun from bow to stern, and from the officiant’s welcome speech to the pronouncement and first kiss. Filled with nautical imagery and seafaring slang, plus a special reading of Ben Harper's 'Gold to Me', a traditional hand blessing ceremony, and a rum unity toast. So gather your shipmates and say 'aye!' to love. This funny and heartwarming ceremony is written by professional officiant and ordained AMM Minister Sherri Crawford.

A step-by-step guide to help you plan a wedding and get married in Illinois - including how to find a wedding officiant, how to choose the best wedding venue, plan your ceremony, and how to apply for and return your Illinois marriage license.

Vermont House Bill 148, titled 'An Act to Ban Child Marriage,' was passed by House on March 2nd and now heads to the Senate. The bill, which would raise the legal minimum age to marry in the state to 18 years old, is sponsored by Representatives Carol Ode, Mollie Burke, Tiffany Bluemle, and Sara Coffey. (VT H.148 2023)

Iowa legislators introduced a joint resolution this week that proposes a state ban on same-sex marriage by amending the Iowa Constitution. Learn about House Joint Resolution 8 (H.J.R. 8 ; 2023) and recent concerns over the future of marriage equality in Iowa and around the country.

The minimum age to marry in Wyoming is now 18 years old, with some legal exceptions for 16 and 17 year olds. Gov. Mark Gordon signed House Bill 7 (HB0007) into law last week, after multiple attempts by lawmakers over the years to raise the legal age of consent in the state. The new law is effective immediately.

A bill to protect and codify interracial marriage rights in New Jersey passed the Assembly in a unanimous 78-0 vote this week. Learn what's next as this important legislation heads to the N.J. Senate. (A4939 / Assembly Bill 4939 ; 2023 ; marriage equality )

How old do you have to be to officiate a wedding ceremony for friends and family members, or to work as a professional marriage officiant? Learn the minimum age requirement to officiate a wedding in each state, along with other important information about performing marriage.

A step-by-step guide to help you plan a wedding and get married in Pennsylvania - including how to find a wedding officiant, choose the best wedding venue, plan your ceremony, and how to apply for and return your PA marriage license.

Our simple wedding ceremony outline explains the parts of the wedding ceremony, in order from start to finish! This template includes the wedding officiant’s role, walking down the aisle, when to exchange wedding vows and rings, when to add a unity ceremony, and more.

AMM-ordained officiants Nicki and Brandon Storm offer inclusive and personalized underwater wedding ceremonies in San Antonio, Texas, as well as scuba certification and open water instruction for diving enthusiasts, destination wedding packages, and more.