This original salt and sage ‘love smudge’ is the perfect ritual blessing for a lowkey Pagan wedding! Including directions on how to prepare the blend and cast a circle around the wedding ceremony space, with examples for the officiant on what to say and do during the smudging ceremony. This smudge recipe includes pink salt and sea salt, sage, rosemary, thyme, lavender, cinnamon, soil, and more, for powerful magick on the wedding day, and was created by AMM minister Reverend Scarlett Mullikin.

Learn about the history of the marriage license and common law marriage in the U.S., from ancient rituals like handfasting, through the Middle Ages, to modern marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples.

It’s time to eliminate the ‘marriage penalty’ for disabled adults and ensure marriage equality for all Americans. Millions of Americans can lose their disability benefits and eligibility through Social Security SSDI, Medicare, and Medicaid by choosing to get married. These penalties affect DAC recipients, SSI recipients, and others who receive SSA supplemental income. Learn about recent legislation, including the 2022 Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act and California's SRJ-8, and what's next in the fight for equal marriage rights.

Learn how to write a wedding officiant contract & terms of service document for your business, with this advice from professional officiants. We cover the basic details every contract should include, such as your fees / rates, payment schedule and deposit, who the agreement is between, who obtains and returns the marriage license, a summary of your services, cancellation and change policy, and more.

Learn about the new online marriage license application process in Dallas County, Texas, including the option to schedule a virtual appointment with the County Clerk Office. Online marriage services are expected to become available beginning February 2023, under the supervision of County Clerk John Warren. Find out how to apply and what the requirements are for a Dallas County marriage license.

This unique wedding ceremony includes a unity puzzle ceremony, with the perfect wording for your wedding officiant to say to capture the sweet symbolize and meaning of the ritual. This wedding script also includes a warm welcome and greeting to guests, and an exchange of vows and rings. Written by ordained AMM Minister and professional officiant Dan Henkel.

There is no fee to apply for a New Jersey marriage license through June 30th, 2023! The usual application fees for marriage and civil union licenses were waived as part of a "one year fee holiday" passed by Gov. Phil Murphy and other legislators, making a NJ wedding a little easier and more affordable than ever. So start planning that Spring wedding ceremony now! Then, ask a friend or relative to get ordained online to officiate.

New legislation would repeal Indiana's defunct same-sex marriage ban and expressly protect same-sex marriage rights in the state. Read the proposed amendments in the 2023 House Bill 1122 (IN HB1122), authored by Rep. Kyle Miller and co-sponsored by Rep. Mitch Gore, and other recent attempts to codify same gender marriage in the country.

A short introduction to informal and common law marriage, including a simple definition, which states honor common law marriages, guidelines for cohabitation (living together), having a wedding, vow renewal, or commitment ceremony, and advice for wedding officiants who are asked to officiate a ceremony without a marriage license.

A look at the most popular wedding ceremony scripts published in the free AMM Wedding Ceremony Script Library this year! These original scripts were written by experienced wedding officiants and ordained AMM Ministers. Favorites include Christian wedding scripts, non-religious civil ceremony scripts, a seasonal Fall wedding, a ceremony for older couples, and ceremonies with unique unity readings, songs, poems, and more. Use these scripts as-is, or as inspiration for your own custom ceremony.

A look at the most popular wedding articles published on the AMM American Weddings blog this year! From current wedding trends, to creative and simple ways to personalize a wedding ceremony, to how to get married without a ceremony at all. Plus advice for wedding officiants and couples, wedding readings, and ideas on how to perform other rites like funerals and baby blessings.

Add some humor to your wedding ceremony script with these fun alternatives to "until death do us part." Perfect for couples who love to laugh together, nerds in love, partners in crime, and any other happy couple planning a funny, offbeat marriage ceremony.

Hundreds of couples gathered for a mass wedding party in New York City this weekend to renew their marriage vows and celebrate upcoming or recent nuptials. The group wedding event, held at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall, was hosted by Murray Hill and featured performances by Julliard's Alumni String Quartet, Jina Brass Band, and others. Learn about this fun annual event, and how to attend the next one!

The Anonymous Officiant #9: This wedding officiant was ready for maximum drama at a big blended family wedding, but the day brought a different kind of surprise, instead... in this heartwarming installment of American Marriage Ministries’ new candid column about real weddings and real officiants.

AMM's Spring survey reveals this year's three most popular unity ceremony ideas! Wedding officiants, take note: These unity rituals will be performed at a majority of weddings this year, and we have sample ceremony scripts, how-to instructions, and creative alternatives and variations to help you officiate like a pro! From timeless candle lighting ceremonies to sweet hand blessings, we've got you covered.

Revisit one of the funniest weddings in a movie: The ‘short short’ wedding in 1987 cult classic sci-fi comedy Spaceballs, produced and directed by Mel Brooks! Princess Vespa narrowly escapes marriage to Prince Valium and marries Lone Starr instead, while Best Man Barf watches over them.

Looking for the perfect wedding officiant for a Disney World, Disneyland, or Aulani Disney wedding? Want to get married on a Disney cruise? Here’s what you need to know, from hiring professional officiants to asking a friend or relative to get ordained online to officiate your ceremony in Florida, California, or Hawaii.

How to write a funny calavera literaria (or calaveras poem) for your Day of the Dead wedding ceremony, and when to include it during the invocation, written vows, blessing, or reception! Plus a sample script for the wedding officiant to use as an example, to ‘eulogize’ the newlyweds in a funny and loving way on Dia de los Muertos.

Creative solutions and lingering questions emerge as wedding vendors express frustration and take action, and states loosen restrictions, during COVID struggle.

The Atlanta Wedding Extravaganza showed us how hot virtual wedding planning expos and bridal shows can be. And now we can’t wait for more!

Pastor Nancy Kerr of Kansas City drove to Tampa to marry 15 couples this Super Bowl Sunday, in a group wedding honoring the KC Chiefs & No. 15 Patrick Mahomes.