How to Officiate a Wedding in Gilbert, Arizona

Located just outside of Phoenix, Gilbert has grown from small town, to suburb, to a destination all its own, and at a rapid pace. In 1980 the population was around 5,700, and today it’s estimated to be over a quarter million.

Luckily, many of the historic structures in the town have been preserved, and there’s a great heritage district. But what you care about most are the variety  of wedding venue options in town, and the scenic San Tan Mountain Regional Park just to the south, and the way they all combine to create wedding magic. 

Gilbert was once the hay shipping capital of the world, but today it’s saying, “Hey, you picked a great place to get married!”

With the location settled, and since you’re really starting to plan, let’s make sure the important part is taken care of. We'll start by helping you make sure your officiant is properly credentialed and ready to perform your wedding!

Step 1: Get ordained with American Marriage Ministries

In Arizona, the law states clearly who is allowed to perform marriage – you’ve got judges, from municipal levels all the way up to the US Supreme Court, in addition to “clergy” – which is further described as ministers, elders, and those authorized by a religious society. The full text of the law can be read here

Now, if you were just asked to perform a wedding, don’t fret. You were personally selected by a loving couple to bless their marital union, and we recognize the importance of that at AMM. Get ordained as an AMM Minister today, it’s free and your rights as a minister will be recognized by the state, just like those of thousands of other AMM Ministers through Arizona. It’s a free and fast process.

When it’s time to return the marriage license, which will be your duty as the wedding officiant, Maricopa County may request a copy of your minister’s credentials. AMM makes physical copies of all your documentation available for a small fee. (Before the wedding ceremony, you can call the county clerk’s office to ask about providing minister credentials).

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Maricopa County

Once you’re ordained as an AMM Minister, you can start preparing for the ceremony! It’s a special honor to be asked to officiate and we know you’ll want to spend the time to do it right.

We’re here for you. AMM’s training pages will give you everything you need to prepare from sample wedding ceremony scripts, to planning tools, tips for organization, and much more.

Step 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License

The couple has the responsibility of acquiring the marriage license. They will need to visit the County Clerk’s office before the wedding, and you will need to make sure that they have a valid license before performing the wedding.

After the ceremony, don’t kick back right away! You will need to sign the marriage license, along with the couple and witnesses, and remember – you must return the completed license to the County Clerk. Make sure that the completed marriage license secure.

Looking back to the couple’s responsibilities, they must obtain a marriage license before getting married. Both parties must go to a Maricopa County Clerk of the Superior Court to apply in person. There are four different locations in the greater Phoenix metro area, but The Southeast Court Complex in Mesa is closest to Gilbert: 222 E Javelina Dr., Mesa, AZ 85210, Suite 1650.

You both must bring:

• Valid government-issued photo I.D., like a driver's license, passport, etc.
• $83.00, cash or money order, debit card or credit card.

Once the marriage license has been issued, you two are ready to get married! We recommend planning in advance, but you can get married as soon as that day. You will have one year to get married and return the completed license.

The Basics

With a relaxed but vibrant atmosphere, Gilbert is a great location for a wedding. From outdoor locations to wedding-specific venues, there are so many options to choose from.

You have Villa Siena which provides a recreation of an Italian villa, and the Shenandoah Mill is there for your rustic barn-style wedding. The McQueen Park Activity Center offers a family focused and welcoming atmosphere and there are some incredible sights to take in outdoors. Did you know that over 250 different species of birds have been sighted in the Riparian Nature Preserve, within the city limits!

Transportation

Gilbert has some incredible walkable areas sand a great little downtown, but you’ll want a car to properly get around the city. There are lots of car rental options along Highway 60, and for short trips rideshares like Lyft and Uber are available.

Weather

From warm to hot, Gilbert is sunny and dry all year round. The city experiences mild winters, and very hot summers – expect temperatures around 100 in the summer months.