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.

The Anonymous Officiant #1 : This candle-lit wedding ceremony took an unexpected turn when a bridesmaid’s dress burst into flames. Read the full story and how a special guest saved the day from disaster, in this installment of American Marriage Ministries’ new candid column about real weddings and officiants: The Anonymous Officiant.

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.

Meet expert Celebrant Christopher Shelley! Chris uses the act of storytelling to write compelling and personal wedding ceremonies, and is a master at keeping wedding guests entertained and putting couples at ease! Christopher will be speaking at AMM's Officiant ACCELERATOR event in New York City this August, along with a panel of experienced wedding officiants.

Learn more about H.R. 4602, and how this legislation would help to protect marriage equality for LGBTQ+ couples at the federal level. The ‘Amend the Code for Marriage Equality Act of 2023,' would remove gendered words like 'wife' and 'husband' from multiple federal marriage laws. This legislation was introduced by U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley, D-California.

Learn about amendments to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act that strengthen protections for marriage equality in the state. Three laws have been repealed, which previously prevented out-of-state interracial and same-sex couples from traveling to Illinois to marry there, ensuring the state remains a safe haven for interracial and LGBTQ+ couples. (HB 1591 / 2023)

Looking for the best wedding officiant for a Glacier National Park wedding? Want to officiate a unique ceremony in one of the most beautiful venues in the country? Here’s what you need to know from hiring professional officiants to asking a friend or relative to get ordained online to officiate your Montana wedding.

¿Puede usted todavía obtener una licencia de matrimonio durante un cierre del gobierno? ¿Pueden los ministros de AMM oficiar una ceremonia de boda durante un cierre federal? Cubrimos todo lo que necesita saber acerca de casarse durante estos tiempos salvajes, incluyendo detalles sobre Washington DC.

Wedding vows for grooms! 12 examples of marriage vows for him, including religious vows (Christian, Muslim, Jewish), formal and traditional vows, funny vows, short and sweet options, and modern non-traditional vows. These sample vows work for opposite-gender or same-gender and same-sex gay couples, and can personalized to suit your unique style and ceremony.

A new Gallup poll shows US church membership is lower than ever, below 50 percent in 2020. The largest contributor cited was a lack of religious preference or affiliation in all demographics, and AMM knows why!

AMM welcomes people of all faiths: If you’re wondering how to become an ordained minister with a nondenominational, interfaith church, whether you’re Neopagan, Christian, nonreligious, or anywhere in between, start here!

Ministers and wedding officiants are BUSY this season! Luckily, meditation helps us stay productive, positive, and avoid burnout! Pink noise is great for lowering anxiety and improving focus, for ceremony writing, meeting with couples, and more.