AMERICAN WEDDINGS BLOG
Stay up to date with the latest wedding ceremony trends, script writing inspiration, tips and advice for first-time officiants, and news that matters to couples and wedding ministers. Over 1751 articles and counting!
Stay up to date with the latest wedding ceremony trends, script writing inspiration, tips and advice for first-time officiants, and news that matters to couples and wedding ministers. Over 1751 articles and counting!
Lawmakers in Maine passed legislation this week to prohibit the marriage of minors and raise the legal age to apply for a marriage license to 18 years old. The bill now heads to Gov. Mills for approval. Learn how LD 443 will amend the current law by removing provisions that allow 16 and 17 year olds to marry with parental permission, and if the change will impact American Marriage Ministries Ministers in Maine.
Unique vow booklets to help you write your own vows and deliver them in style! These vow books contain questions & prompts to inspire you, plus suggestions & examples to organize your words into heartfelt vows in time for the wedding day. Two designs and color themes to choose from, making these sweet vow journals perfect for any wedding or elopement.
Learn how to write a couple’s love story for a personalized wedding officiant script with this simple advice, including examples from real wedding scripts written by real officiants. A great wedding ceremony script tells a story!
A step-by-step guide to help you plan a wedding or elopement in Oklahoma - including how to apply for your marriage license, how to find a wedding officiant, choose the best wedding venue, plan your ceremony, and when to file / return your OK marriage license after the ceremony. Get married in the Sooner State!
Want to use AI to write your wedding vows or toast? It's important to write a great prompt! Check out these tips on how to write a better ChatGPT prompt for custom vows that sound like you, including the best structure to use, examples of effective prompts and commands, and a prompt writer 'template' to get you on the right track -- without all the work and stress of writing something from scratch.
The Anonymous Officiant #7: Who's got the rings? When the Best Man misplaces the wedding rings before the ceremony things gets interesting... Learn how a quick-thinking officiant and a well-stocked open bar saves the wedding day (and the Groom's sanity) in this installment of American Marriage Ministries’ new candid column about real weddings and real officiants.
A step-by-step guide to help you plan a wedding or elopement and get married in New Jersey - including how to find a wedding officiant, choose the best wedding venue and plan your ceremony. Learn where and how to apply for your New Jersey marriage license and when to return it after the ceremony.
Asked to officiate a wedding for a friend or relative, but not sure what your responsibilities as a wedding officiant are after the ceremony is over? Learn more about how to sign and complete a marriage license, return the license, get reviews from couples to start or expand a business, and more!
Learn about legislation in Wisconsin that would remove the 6 month mandatory waiting period between divorce and remarriage -- allowing couples to apply for their marriage license and remarry immediately after their divorce judgment is granted. (Senate Bill 288 / WI SB288 2023 / Senators Joan Ballweg, Mary Felzkowski, Kelda Roys, and Lena Taylor.)
Attention Chicago Wedding Officiants: Meet the speakers for our June, 2023 Education and Networking seminar! This fun and informative event features 5 AMM Ministers and professional officiants, with expert advice on how to start an officiant business, attract the couples you want to marry, marketing tips, unity ceremony and vows, how to create an LGBTQ+ inclusive wedding ceremony, and more. This event is open to all wedding officiants!
First Time Officiants: Ask these five questions when you’re asked to officiate a friend’s wedding to ensure the ceremony is legally binding, fun, and exactly what the couple is hoping for! Here’s what to know after you get ordained online and before the wedding day to plan a great event.
A step-by-step guide to help you plan an unforgettable tropical wedding or elopement in Hawaii - including how to find a wedding officiant (marriage performer), choose the best wedding venue, plan your ceremony, and how to apply for and return your Hawaii marriage license. Get married in paradise!
Learn about current efforts in Michigan to raise the minimum age requirement to marry: House Bill 4293 would eliminate exceptions for the marriage of minors, banning all child marriages in the state. (MI HB4293 / Rep. Kara Hope)
Follow these simple steps to perform marriage for friends and family.
The City of Boston just removed gender markers from marriage licenses and applications! Beginning this week, applicants are no longer required to register their sex or gender identity when applying to marry, and this information will no longer appear on their license. Officials hope the change will make the city more inclusive of gender diverse residents and more welcoming to the LGBTQIA+ community and their families.
Learn about current and ongoing efforts to repeal the 2005 Diné Marriage Act, which bans same-sex marriage within the Navajo Nation. Legislation No. 0139-23 would legalize LGBTQ+ marriages in the Navajo Nation and provide legal recognition for marriages solemnized elsewhere. The bill was introduced by Council Delegate Seth Damon in June and is being reviewed by the 25th Navajo Nation Council Budget and Finance Committee.
NJ Gov. Phil Murphy signed a new law on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, that ensures all New Jersey marriage laws be read with race neutral intent. Effective immediately, the amended law provides strong protections for interracial marriages in the state. Learn more about the passage of Assembly Bill 4939. (NJ A4939; 37:1-1; Rep. John McKeon)
Prepare for an unforgettable ‘123123’ New Year’s Eve wedding or elopement with advice from expert numerologist Rebecca Scolnick, author of The Witch's Book of Numbers! Learn the numerology meaning of this unique date, why it’s auspicious for marriage, what to do if you’re asked to officiate, plus cute NYE wedding ideas and a custom ceremony script. (New Year’s Eve 2023 ; 12/31/23)
Add one of these 5 Spanish love poems to your wedding ceremony or vows! Includes English translations for a personalized bilingual script, featuring wedding poems by Bécquer, Neruda, Paz, Benedetti & Mistral.
Elope with wedding inspiration from Dolly Parton and Carl Dean’s 1966 Spring Elopement Ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia. These 5 ideas will help you plan a memorable, intimate elopement ceremony, filled with retro charm, vintage style, and lots of love.
Wedding Officiants still serve an important role in Alabama despite changes to the state’s solemnization and marriage laws. Learn how ordained ministers contribute to the wedding ceremony and their communities, by bringing couples and friends together to celebrate, and creating inclusive spaces for LGBTQ + and interracial families.
Take this short quiz to test your knowledge of the wedding ceremony and the role of an ordained minister on the wedding day. Then brush up on your officiant skills with AMM’s officiant training pages.
A look back at the Ministers, officiants, couples, photographers, DJs, and other wedding professionals who contributed their time and ceremony expertise to American Weddings this year. Thank you!
Become a Wedding Officiant with Our Free Online Ordination!