How to Officiate a Wedding in Montgomery, Alabama

If you’ve landed on this page, you’re either planning on getting married in Sweet Home Alabama or you’ve been asked to perform a wedding in the state! Either way, congratulations are in order! You’re in for a day filled with love and lasting memories.

The Heart of Dixie is full of options to suit any couple, from beaches to barns to beautiful old growth forests -- Alabama truly has it all. And although Southerners love to go all out on their wedding celebrations, average wedding costs are well below the national average in the state. 

Whether you’re the one getting hitched or you’re undertaking the noble task of performing the ceremony, there’s a lot of prep work to do before the big day. But you’ll be surprised at how easy and quick the legal process is. We’ll walk you through it.

Step 1: Get Ordained with American Marriage Ministries

Let’s start with the ordainment process. According to Code of Alabama § 30-1-7, “marriages may be solemnized by any licensed minister of the gospel in regular communion with the Christian church or society of which the minister is a member.” This includes ministers registered by American Marriage Ministries!

The Alabama Government does not license, register, or certify ministers or wedding officiants. So once you’ve gotten ordained with us, you are legally allowed to perform weddings in the state! It’s that simple.

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Montgomery County

As the officiant, your job is to orchestrate the ceremony, and that includes coming up with a ceremony script that suits the couple. This will be the most time-consuming part of the process, but you’ll find it’s also a lot of fun.

Check out our guide for preparing a wedding ceremony in Alabama, which will walk you through the process of putting together a ceremony that is perfectly tailored to the couple from brainstorming to execution.

Step 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License

As the officiant, you also have some legal responsibilities. When it comes time for the actual wedding, you’ll need to make sure the couple has obtained a valid marriage license before the ceremony and to help them complete it correctly.

For more details on any questions that may come up as you and the couple are filling it out, check out Step 3 of our in-depth guide for officiants.

Remind the couple that the marriage license is valid for only 30 days from the date in which it is signed, so it’s important that the signed, completed marriage license is mailed back to the office of the Probate Court within that time frame. 

Then, your duties are complete -- the couple will take care of the rest! Now you can kick back, relax, and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

Since August of 2019, Alabama law has changed -- you no longer have to file an application for a marriage license with the county probate court in person to get married.

You just need to visit the Alabama Vital Statistics website to complete the Alabama marriage certificate form. Then, the form needs to be notarized. A copy of the marriage license application form can be found here. You can find a list of notaries in the state here.

Of course, a wedding ceremony may be performed, but it will no longer be required for a recognized marriage in Alabama.

During the pandemic, you must return your completed marriage license to the Montgomery County probate court for recording after your ceremony.

During the pandemic, the marriage license must be mailed instead of delivered in person to the Marriage Department P.O. Box 223 Montgomery Alabama 36101 with a check or money order of $78.50 for one copy of your marriage certificate, plus $2 per each additional copy that you desire. This must be done within 30 days of the date in which you designed the license.

Once you’ve done that, you’re legally married! Congratulations!

The Basics

Montgomery may be a bit on the smaller side, but the state capital has no lack of wedding venues to offer couples-to-be, and the options available run the gamut!

Alley Station is a top pick for the modern couple that wants to host their wedding right in Montgomery. The downtown venue has multiple spaces for you to choose from that best suit your theme -- a ballroom, a rooftop terrace and a warehouse. It’s also full of restaurants and bars you’ve probably been to for happy hour if you’re a local. The crowds will give your wedding an urban, party-central kind of vibe.

On the other end of the spectrum, there’s a quaint bed and breakfast called the Hillcrest Manor located right in town. It looks “all business” on the outside, with its red brick and white columns. But inside, it’s funky and vintage -- perfect for a couple that appreciates a Victorian kind of vibe. Plus, its well-manicured grounds make for a perfect outdoor ceremony spot.

But if you’re looking for that classic Southern wedding venue, you just need to head 25 minutes outside of Montgomery to the adorable town of Pike Road.  Here, you’ll find the The Oaks Plantation, an estate that’s been around since 1830. You’ll be reeled in by the vast green fields lined with old growth oak trees as you drive up (and so will your guests!) The interior has also been beautifully updated with its historical character kept intact, so whether you’re thinking of having an indoor or outdoor ceremony, you’ll be pleased with what this venue has to offer.

Those are just a few top picks. Make sure to explore all the options available in and around Montgomery -- you’ll be surprised at the hidden gems you’ll find in the area!

Transportation

If you have out-of-town guests staying downtown, they’ll enjoy the charming trolley service that runs from Monday through Saturday until 4 p.m., which hits all the historical stops like the museums, fountains and squares. But if you want to get around town in a hurry, you’re better off either renting a car or utilizing some ride-sharing apps like Lyft and Uber during your stay.

Weather

The best seasons in Alabama are spring and fall, as the temperatures are the most mild, but they also bring chances of severe weather like tornadoes and thunderstorms. Temperatures increase in May and make for very hot and humid summers, so if you’re considering a summer wedding date, you’ll want to pick a venue with indoor accommodations (and air conditioning!) December, January and February are rainy and chilly, but never incredibly cold. Any season you choose to get married in Alabama is workable; you’ll want to make a back-up plan in case of inclement weather. Consider investing in wedding insurance and making sure your venue of choice is prepared with a Plan B in case the weather takes a turn on your big day.