{"id":17450,"name":"Tuscaloosa","state_id":3,"county_id":515,"created_at":"2019-08-20T10:36:47.847-07:00","updated_at":"2023-09-29T06:59:06.752-07:00","meta_description":null,"head_tag":null,"tagline":null,"intro_section":"\u003cp\u003eBam! You\u0026rsquo;re getting married in Alabama - and more importantly - in one of the most vibrant and exciting parts of the state! You\u0026rsquo;ll have so much to see and experience in Tuscaloosa, whether it\u0026rsquo;s the amusement and nature parks, art galleries and historical museums, or the rocking stadiums, nightclubs, and bars.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eBut, it\u0026rsquo;s essential to make sure you have all the logistics of your wedding figured out before you jump ahead into planning all the exciting activities. AMM is here to help walk you through everything from ordaining the minister of your choice to getting a marriage license. Let\u0026rsquo;s start with the ordainment process\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","officiant_section":"\u003ch3\u003eStep 1: Get Ordained with American Marriage Ministries\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to Code of Alabama \u0026sect; 30-1-7, \u0026ldquo;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.\u0026rdquo; If you do not yet align with these requirements, don\u0026rsquo;t worry. By simply \u003ca href=\"https://theamm.org/ordination-application\"\u003esigning up\u003c/a\u003e with AMM, you can become an ordained minister and officially solemnize marriages. The process is free and should only take you a few minutes to complete.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eStep 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Tuscaloosa\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eNow that the easy part is out of the way, you can focus on planning for the wedding ceremony. Officiating a wedding is an honor but can also be a challenge. You will appreciate our \u003ca href=\"https://theamm.org/officiant-training\"\u003ewedding training pages\u003c/a\u003e, where we give you access to a library of information to help you plan and write your speech. Here, we cover everything from brainstorming for your speech to providing you with sample wedding ceremony scripts and so much more.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eStep 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eAs the officiant, you also have some legal responsibilities. When it comes time for the actual wedding, you\u0026rsquo;ll need to make sure the couple has obtained a valid marriage certificate before the ceremony and to help them complete it correctly.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nFor more details on any questions that may come up as you and the couple are filling it out, check out \u003ca href=\"https://theamm.org/weddings-by-state/alabama/how-to-officiate-a-wedding\"\u003eStep 3\u003c/a\u003e of our in-depth guide for officiants.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nRemind the couple that the marriage certificate is valid for only 30 days from the date on which it is signed, so it\u0026rsquo;s important that the signed and completed marriage certificate is mailed back to the office of the Probate Court within that time frame.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eOnce the marriage certificate is signed and returned, your duties as the wedding officiant are fulfilled. Now you can kick back, relax, and congratulate yourself on a job well done.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","couple_section":"\u003ch3\u003eRegister your Marriage with the Probate Office\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eSince August of 2019, Alabama law has changed -- you no longer have to apply for a marriage license with the county probate court in person to get married.\u0026nbsp;\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nYou simply need to visit the \u003ca href=\"https://dph1.adph.state.al.us/marriage/\"\u003eAlabama Public Health\u003c/a\u003e website to complete the Alabama marriage certificate form and have it notarized. You can find a list of notaries in the state \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.alabama.gov/administrative-services/notaries-public\"\u003ehere\u003c/a\u003e. Once notarized, the form should be sent back along with the fee to the Mobile County Probate\u0026rsquo;s Office within 30 days for official recording. \u0026nbsp;\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nThe purchase of a marriage license is not required. You are only paying the county clerk for your marriage to be registered, which means that a wedding ceremony is also not required.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","wedding_tips":"\u003ch3\u003eThe Basics\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eYou can\u0026rsquo;t get much more architecturally elegant than the \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventective.com/tuscaloosa-al/the-jemison-van-de-graaff-mansion-388556.html\"\u003eJemison Van De Graff Mansion\u003c/a\u003e. Erected in 1986, this venue has all the space you need for the wedding reception and ceremony, including spacious lawns, a porch area, a parlor, a foyer, and a dining area inside.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eOther venues include the historic \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventective.com/tuscaloosa-al/battle-friedman-house-610526.html\"\u003eBattle-Friedmann House\u003c/a\u003e, the scenic \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventective.com/fayette-al/timber-valley-lodge-623519.html\"\u003eTimber Valley Lodge\u003c/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https://ezellhouse.com\"\u003eThe Ezell House\u0026nbsp;\u003c/a\u003e-- a stylish\u0026nbsp;and affordable wedding venue.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eJust make sure when planning your wedding venue that you book far enough in advance to ensure availability.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eTransportation\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe Tuscaloosa Transit Authority (TTA) serves the city of Tuscaloosa, runs the trolleys between the student entertainment districts and downtown, and operates the shuttle buses for Alabama football games. If you\u0026rsquo;re not inspired about riding the bus, taxi and rideshare services should also be available.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eWeather\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe best seasons in Alabama are spring and fall, as the temperatures are the mildest. However, they also bring chances of severe weather like tornadoes and thunderstorms. Temperatures increase in May and make for sweltering and humid summers, so if you\u0026rsquo;re considering a summer wedding date, you\u0026rsquo;ll want to pick a venue with indoor accommodation. December, January, and February are rainy and chilly but never incredibly cold. Any season you choose to get married in Alabama is workable; you\u0026rsquo;ll want to make a backup 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.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","faq":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen does my marriage become official?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nYour marriage becomes official when the notarized Alabama Marriage Certificate form is recorded by an Alabama probate court.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat happens if we don\u0026rsquo;t return the marriage license to the probate court within 30 days after the date we signed?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nThe marriage would be considered invalid, and the spouses would need to complete a new Marriage Certificate form and deliver it to the probate court within 30 days.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the minimum age requirement to get married in Tuscaloosa?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nBoth members of the couple must be at least 16 years of age, and if they are both under 18, they must also receive parental/guardian consent.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","content_live":true,"marriage_licensing_info":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIssuance Office:\u003c/strong\u003e Online\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eProbate Office:\u003c/strong\u003e 714 Greensboro Ave.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eFee: \u003c/strong\u003e$75.00\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eWaiting Period:\u003c/strong\u003e None\u0026nbsp;\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eExpiration:\u003c/strong\u003e 30 Days\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","meta_description_esp":null,"head_tag_esp":null,"tagline_esp":null,"intro_section_esp":"","officiant_section_esp":"","couple_section_esp":"","wedding_tips_esp":"","faq_esp":"","content_live_esp":false,"marriage_licensing_info_esp":""}