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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!

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How to Get Married in Maryland - Planning a wedding in The Free State

Recent Articles

A wedding officiant holds a microphone up to the bride, who is laughing and smiling with the groom on their wedding day. They are wearing a beautiful suit and dress and she is holding flowers.

A Simple Wedding Script to Use When a Friend Officiates Your Ceremony

This Friend Officiating wedding script makes it easy for a friend to officiate! Fill in the blanks for an officiant speech that's simple, short & sweet.

¿Acabo de decir eso? 3 maneras de solucionar los errores de la ceremonia de boda

¿Acabo de decir eso? 3 maneras de solucionar los errores de la ceremonia de boda

Todo el mundo comete errores, pero no dejes que eso desvíe el curso de tu ceremonia de boda, o que te lleve a un desastre el día de la boda. Tres consejos para ayudarte a tener éxito siendo oficiante de bodas por primera vez.

These City Guides tell you how to officiate a wedding in popular locations across the U.S. – and we’re adding more every day!

These City Guides tell you how to officiate a wedding in popular locations across the U.S. – and we’re adding more every day!

Learn how to officiate a wedding in popular destination cities around the U.S., from Chicago, to LA and NYC, to your own hometown! American Marriage Ministries’ City Pages will help you become an ordained minister, answer questions about licensing and registration, how to sign and file a marriage license, and more, plus tips for engaged couples on how to get married and find the best wedding officiant near you.

Illustration of tape, pens, wedding ceremony script and map, and other items for wedding emergency kit

What to Pack in an Officiant’s Wedding Day Emergency Kit

Learn what to pack in a wedding officiant’s day of wedding emergency kit – from a backup wedding ceremony script, to tissues, stain remover, antacids, and extra ink pens. Just like a bride, groom, or wedding planner, officiants can help keep a ceremony on track with a wedding day emergency kit.

July 2022 Marriage Legislation Roundup: Proposed & Passed legislation impacting weddings and marriage laws in your state

July 2022 Marriage Legislation Roundup: Proposed & Passed legislation impacting weddings and marriage laws in your state

A look at important proposed and recently passed marriage legislation in states across the U.S., including bills to end child marriage, codify same-sex and interracial marriages (Respect for Marriage Act), issue free marriage licenses, and more. (CA ACR 197, DE SB 345 , IL SB 3418 , MA HB 4701 / 5050 / 1709 / SB 937 , MI HR 329 , SB 1115 , NH HB 1130 , NJ SB 2861 / AB 4400 / 4137 , NY SB 739 / AB 4137 , OH HB 203 / SB 131 , PA HB 2580 , RI H7402 , US HB 8404 / SB 4556 / HB 8396 )

A groom and bride stand side by side at the entrance to a majestic forest on their wedding day. They look very small compared to the towering trees, filled with green and yellow leaves, lit in the sunlight. The photo is taken from behind, showing the view as they walk into marriage together.

New Script! A Forest Themed Elopement Ceremony with Ring Warming Unity Ritual

New forest theme wedding script! Ideal for nature lovers who plan to marry in an outdoor elopement or wedding ceremony, in a forest or woodland setting, in a rustic cabin or resort, while hiking or camping, or in a local park or backyard surrounded by trees and natural beauty. Original script written by AMM Minister Chanelle Carlin.

Eastern Orthodox Wedding Ceremony Traditions & Symbolism

Eastern Orthodox Wedding Ceremony Traditions & Symbolism

Learn about unique Eastern Orthodox wedding traditions and the meaning of these ancient symbolic rituals, with a detailed description of the traditional Orthodox marriage ceremony, including the Betrothal and Crowning ceremony (wedding crowns), drinking from the Common Cup, the priest's blessing of the rings, the candle lighting ritual, the Dance of Isaiah, and more.

From Volunteer Marriage Commissioner to AMM Minister: How a San Francisco wedding officiant found her calling during COVID

From Volunteer Marriage Commissioner to AMM Minister: How a San Francisco wedding officiant found her calling during COVID

AMM Minister Dyanna Volek got her start marrying people as a volunteer Marriage Commissioner at San Francisco City Hall. But when COVID caused shutdowns and delays to civil ceremonies and marriage licenses, she got ordained online with American Marriage Ministries to help friends and family get married quickly and safely. Soon, her passion became a business.

How to Get Married in Arizona - Planning a Wedding in The Grand Canyon State

How to Get Married in Arizona - Planning a Wedding in The Grand Canyon State

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

La novia y el novio se abrazan en la playa durante la ceremonia de boda, sonriendo alegremente a la cámara

El Pronunciamiento - 12 Ideas Creativas Para tu Boda

¿Quieres escribir un pronunciamiento de boda creativo, pero no estás seguro de qué cual redacción usar? Deja que estas 10 alternativas te inspiren, desde divertidas hasta formales, neutrales en cuanto al género, bilingües y más. Las mejores formas de decir "¡Te declaro casado!"

Include Your Officiant on Your Wedding Invitations! A Special Way to Say ‘Thank You’

Include Your Officiant on Your Wedding Invitations! A Special Way to Say ‘Thank You’

Tips on how to honor the unique role your wedding officiant serves on your special day by including them on your wedding invitations - with invitation templates, designs, and simple wording suggestions. Adding a friend or relative to your invites is a great way to say ‘thank you!' for officiating!

New Script! A Vikings Themed Wedding Ceremony Script

New Script! A Vikings Themed Wedding Ceremony Script

This original Viking wedding ceremony script includes light Pagan wedding elements, an exchange of wedding bands / rings and vows (with optional sword exchange), a handfasting and blessing of the hands ritual, a traditional Norse toast with drinking horns, color symbolism, offering to the gods, and more. Skal! Written by Rev. Scarlett Mullikin

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Asked to Officiate a Wedding?

Follow these simple steps to perform marriage for friends and family.

News Articles

Israel Must Recognize Utah Online Marriages, Supreme Court Rules

Israel Must Recognize Utah Online Marriages, Supreme Court Rules

Israel’s Supreme Court has ruled that Israeli couples are allowed to marry using Utah County’s online marriage services, and that these civil marriages must be legally recognized. Learn more about the ruling and how to get married online via Utah County’s remote marriage portal.

The Big Picture in Tennessee’s Fight for Marriage Equality Must Include Online Ordination

The Big Picture in Tennessee’s Fight for Marriage Equality Must Include Online Ordination

Learn how HB878 and 2019’s paused anti-online ordination law work together in an ongoing attack against marriage equality in Tennessee. These bills would allow a person to refuse to solemnize (conduct) a marriage they object to based on their ‘conscience or religious beliefs,’ and make it illegal for an officiant ordained online to perform marriage. If passed, it will be easier for clerks and officiants to discriminate against same-sex, LGBTQ+, interfaith, and interracial couples in TN. (House Bill 878 / 2023 ; HB0213 / 2019)

The Anonymous Officiant: Groom Gone Fishin’

The Anonymous Officiant: Groom Gone Fishin’

The Anonymous Officiant #2 : This beautiful Florida beach wedding almost didn't happen, when the wedding officiant arrived to find the groom missing... and gone fishing! Read the full story about these fly-fishing lovers in this funny installment of American Marriage Ministries’ new candid column about real weddings and officiants: The Anonymous Officiant.

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Ceremony Planning Articles

How to Get Married in New York: Planning a Wedding in The Empire State

How to Get Married in New York: Planning a Wedding in The Empire State

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

Close up photo shows a wedding officiant wearing a teal dress as she wraps a unity cord around the bride and grooms wrists during a handfasting ceremony

How to Include a Handfasting in Your Wedding Ceremony or Vow Renewal

Everything you need to know to add a handfasting ceremony to your wedding or vow renewal, including the symbolism and meaning of the handfast ritual, how to tie a handfasting cord into a beautiful knot, when to include the handfasting in the ceremony (what order), and how to perform a handfasting as an officiant -- with examples of what to say and do and links to a sample script!

Close up photo shows a groom putting a ring on the bride's finder during their wedding ring exchange

12 Examples of Wedding Ring Exchange Wording for the Creative Officiant

Looking for the perfect wedding ring exchange script for the officiant? Maybe something offbeat? Funny? Classic and traditional? Modern? Whatever tone you’re looking for, these popular examples are sure to be a perfect fit! Use as is, or personalize a sample script below to suit your ceremony.

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Religion and Rituals Articles

More Religion & Rituals Articles →

Community Articles

A product photo shows the American Marriage Ministries (AMM) ordination certificate and a copy of the AMM Minister Manual

Does My American Marriage Ministries Ordination Expire?

Ordinations granted by American Marriage Ministries are free, do not expire, and do not require renewal, find out how our ordination is central to our mission of empowering couples and communities.

AMM Backs #StopHateForProfit Campaign, Will Suspend Facebook Advertising

AMM Backs #StopHateForProfit Campaign, Will Suspend Facebook Advertising

American Marriage Ministries will back the #StopHateForProfit campaign by boycotting Facebook ads and suspending all advertising campaigns on Facebook and Instagram through July

Newly ordained AMM Ministers pose with ceremonial certificates at the in person ordination event by American Marriage Ministries in Nashville TN

AMM’s In-person Ordination Tour in Tennessee: A Look Back – and Forward

We reflect on the powerful experience of going to Tennessee one year ago to offer ministers in-person ordination ahead of the state's anti-online ordination law SB1377/HB0213

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