Learn about Senate Bill 488, which would end recognition of common law marriage in Montana if signed into law. The measure was passed by the state Senate in March, and is scheduled for a second reading in the House this week, April 12th. (2023 MT SB488 / Senate Bill 488 / Sen. Daniel Zolnikov)

The Anonymous Officiant #4 : This couple put their vows to love each other 'in sickness and in health' to the test before the wedding ceremony was even over! Learn how their experienced officiant kept things moving after the groom's unexpected illness, in this installment of American Marriage Ministries’ new candid column about real weddings and officiants: The Anonymous Officiant.

¿Está buscando un lugar único para celebrar su boda? Déjese inspirar por esta lista de 10 lugares inusuales y únicos para casarse, que incluye bodas en un cementerio, un barco pirata, una cueva, un acuario, un museo médico, un aeropuerto, ¡y mucho más! También encontrará enlaces a nuestros guiones gratuitos para ceremonias de boda y consejos sobre cómo hacer que un amigo se ordene en línea para oficiar su ceremonia... ¡para una celebración de boda realmente original!

Do you need a witness to get married and what happens if you forget to bring one? Can a wedding officiant sign the marriage license as a witness? We answer these questions and more to help you prepare for the big day, including other important tips for completing a marriage license or certificate.

Learn about legislation introduced in South Carolina that would add the gendered terms 'bride' and 'groom' to the state's 'license and certificate of marriage,' and the potential impact on same-sex, same-gender, and other LGBTQ+ couples there. (Sen. Gambrell; SB332 / Senate Bill 332)

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)

Everything you need to know to plan a celestial wedding ceremony during the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, including theme and unity ceremony ideas, how to find an officiant or officiate, group and mass wedding inspiration, and the top cities to witness the totality – with a kiss!

There's a new horror movie theme wedding ceremony script in the library! This original officiant script is the right mix of spooky, sweet, and humorous, and will keep guests on the edge of their seats from the invocation to the first kiss! With all your favorite quotes from classic horror films, including The Poltergeist, Dracula, Beetlejuice, Psycho, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Witch, Bride of Frankenstein, The Shining, and more. Perfect for a Halloween wedding or spine-tingling nuptials any time of year.

National formalwear network Dapper and Dashing closed suddenly this week, impacting couples, wedding guests, and employees in nearly a dozen states. What does this say about current wedding trends, and how can retailers, vendors, venues, and wedding officiants thrive in the years to come? We have some advice!

A heartfelt wedding officiant script for a Muslim Christian wedding service! This interfaith nikah / wedding ceremony script includes references to The Quran (Koran) and The Holy Bible, a reflection of the unifying power of love, a simple exchange of traditional marriage vows and rings, and more.

“Love is patient love is kind…” Include this memorable reading in your wedding ceremony, or choose one of these 5 unique alternatives to the popular 1 Corinthians 13 Bible verse. This wedding reading is perfect for a Christian marriage ceremony, a ‘spiritual but not religious’ wedding, and even non-religious ceremonies. Plus links to full wedding ceremony scripts for the officiant, to show you when and how to introduce the reading, suggested ceremony order, and more.

¿Busca un oficiante de bodas perfecto para una boda en Disney World, Disneyland o Aulani Disney? ¿Quiere casarse en un crucero Disney? Aquí tiene lo que necesita saber, desde contratar oficiantes profesionales hasta pedirle a un amigo o familiar que se ordene en línea para oficiar su ceremonia en Florida, California o Hawai.

Brilliant advice from pro wedding officiant and business coach Bethel Nathan on defining what it means to be successful and creating a small business you’ll actually enjoy working for.

American Marriage Ministries welcomes it’s 800,000th ordained minister! We’re committed to providing legal online ordination and minister credentials, valid and recognized in every US state and territory, along with wedding officiant training tools, ceremony scripts, and articles.

Learn about a mindfulness technique called grounding that can help busy ministers and wedding officiants stay present during stressful days -- even when brides and grooms test their patience during ceremony prep!