{"id":24674,"name":"Phoenix","state_id":7,"county_id":552,"created_at":"2019-08-20T10:39:03.135-07:00","updated_at":"2023-09-29T11:22:36.722-07:00","meta_description":"How to perform a wedding ceremony in Phoenix, a complete guide for wedding officiants. Learn about online ordination, marriage licenses, venue booking tips, ceremony planning and more.","head_tag":"How to perform wedding ceremonies in Phoenix","tagline":"How about a desert \"I do?\"","intro_section":"\u003cp\u003ePhoenix is the urban sanctuary of the American Southwest. With more sunny days than anywhere else in the country, it\u0026rsquo;s no wonder why 1.5 million people call this desert oasis home.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eYou\u0026rsquo;ll definitely enjoy planning your wedding day in the Valley of the Sun. But first, let\u0026rsquo;s get your minister of choice ordained and the logistics of your marriage license taken care of.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","officiant_section":"\u003ch3\u003eStep\u0026nbsp;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\u003eLet\u0026rsquo;s start with the ordainment process. According to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.acluaz.org/en/get-married-arizona\"\u003eACLU of Arizona\u003c/a\u003e, the following persons may perform wedding ceremonies:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli style=\"margin-left: 40px;\"\u003e\u0026ldquo;Duly licensed or ordained clergy (includes ministers, elders or other persons who by the customs, rules and regulations of a religious society or sect are authorized or permitted to officiate at marriage ceremonies)\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli style=\"margin-left: 40px;\"\u003eJudges of courts of record\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli style=\"margin-left: 40px;\"\u003eMunicipal court judges\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli style=\"margin-left: 40px;\"\u003eJustices of the peace\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli style=\"margin-left: 40px;\"\u003eJustices of the United States supreme court\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli style=\"margin-left: 40px;\"\u003eJudges of courts of appeals, district courts and courts that are created by an act of Congress if the judges are entitled to hold office during good behavior\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli style=\"margin-left: 40px;\"\u003eBankruptcy court and tax court judges\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli style=\"margin-left: 40px;\"\u003eUnited States magistrate judges\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli style=\"margin-left: 40px;\"\u003eJudges of the Arizona court of military appeals\u0026rdquo;\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIf you do not fall into any of these categories, no sweat. You can \u003ca href=\"/ordination-application\"\u003eget ordained with AMM\u003c/a\u003e, which puts you in the the priest or minister category. The process is free and takes\u0026nbsp; just a few minutes.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhen it comes time to perform your duties as the officiant, Maricopa County may ask you to present documentation, which AMM provides for a fee. (You can call the county clerk\u0026rsquo;s office before you perform the ceremony to ask if they will require you to bring the certificate in person.)\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nStep\u0026nbsp;2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Maricopa County\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, we can help you prepare for the wedding ceremony itself. Being asked to officiate a ceremony is an honor, but it can also feel like a lot of pressure. You will appreciate our wedding training pages, which are a library of information to help you prepare for your first ceremony and ensure that it goes smoothly.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eHere you can find everything from sample wedding ceremony scripts, to \u0026nbsp;brainstorming prompts, tips for preparation, and more.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nStep\u0026nbsp;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\u003eWhen it comes time to sign the marriage license, it\u0026rsquo;s the couple\u0026rsquo;s responsibility to obtain and complete the marriage license, and it\u0026rsquo;s the officiant\u0026rsquo;s job to return the marriage license to the county clerk\u0026rsquo;s office.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/records/marriage-licenses-passports/marriage-licenses\"\u003eMaricopa County website\u003c/a\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u0026ldquo;A marriage license must be issued prior to the ceremony taking place, signed at completion of the ceremony, and returned by the officiator not more than 30 days after the ceremony has taken place in order for the license to be recorded.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eSo, make sure to add \u0026ldquo;return license\u0026rdquo; to your to-do list following the ceremony.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","couple_section":"\u003ch3\u003eFile for the Marriage License from the Maricopa County Clerk\u0026#39;s Office\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eTo get a jump-start on the application process, you can print the \u003ca href=\"https://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/2743/637642748106700000\"\u003eMarriage License Application Form\u003c/a\u003e. But when you go to the office, remember that both members of the couple will have to be present. The address of the Northeast Regional Court is 18380 N. 40th St. You can \u003ca href=\"https://qmaticappointments.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov:8090/qmaticwebbooking/index.html#/\"\u003ebook an appointment in advance\u003c/a\u003e\u0026nbsp;to avoid long wait times, but it\u0026rsquo;s not required.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen you go, just remember to bring:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cul style=\"margin-left: 40px;\"\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eYour marriage license, if you printed it and filled it out ahead of time\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eA valid, government-issued photo I.D., such as a driver\u0026#39;s license or passport\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eOnce the marriage ceremony has taken place, in order to be officially recorded, a portion of the signed marriage license must be returned to the clerk\u0026#39;s office where the license was obtained. The newly married couple keeps the remainder of the original license.\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\u003eThe city\u0026rsquo;s downtown area has a lot of trendy, modern venues to choose from. \u003ca href=\"https://www.thecroftdowntown.com/\"\u003eThe Croft \u003c/a\u003eis a 10,000 square-foot warehouse serving an industrial vibe, equipped with all the spaces you could ask for, including a ceremony room, reception area and outdoor cocktail patio. Its cement floors, original brick walls and exposed ceilings will conjure up the steampunk hipster living inside you. SoHo63 is another urban venue with a slick architectural design that will soothe a minimalist\u0026rsquo;s soul.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eOutdoor weddings are a great option for winter weddings, when the weather is cool enough to enjoy the area\u0026rsquo;s many parks. The historic\u003ca href=\"https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/parks/wedding-locations-in-phoenix-parks\"\u003e Encanto Park Clubhouse\u003c/a\u003e, close to downtown Phoenix, sits on a picturesque lagoon, a favorite hang-out for white swans, which make for a romantic backdrop to your wedding photos. Or, find a happy medium between indoor and outdoor at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.dbg.org/\"\u003eDesert Botanical Garden\u003c/a\u003e. You can say your vows amongst the more than 50,000 beautiful desert plants within the shelter of the glass enclosure.\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 street system in Phoenix is laid out in a grid system, so it\u0026rsquo;s easy to navigate by car. Lyft and Uber are also good options if you want to avoid renting a car for your time in the city. If you\u0026rsquo;re really trying to pinch pennies, you\u0026rsquo;re in luck. The city\u0026rsquo;s \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_Metro\"\u003eValley Metro\u003c/a\u003e system provides public transportation throughout the metropolitan area, via trains and buses, which come often.\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\u003ePhoenix\u0026rsquo;s average temperatures in summer are the hottest of any major city in the country. Throughout the summer, Phoenix\u0026rsquo;s average temperatures are in the 90s and 100s, so during this time, you\u0026rsquo;ll want to take advantage of one of the many air conditioned indoor venues. In the winter, daily average highs cool down to the mid 70s, so if you wanted to host an outdoor reception, November, December or January would be the ideal time to do so.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","faq":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAfter I apply for a marriage license, when will I receive it?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe same day you apply for the license. There is no waiting period in Phoenix, so you could technically get married the same day you complete the marriage license application process.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","content_live":true,"marriage_licensing_info":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIssuance Office:\u003c/strong\u003e Northeast Regional Court - 18380 N. 40th St.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eFee:\u003c/strong\u003e $83\u0026nbsp;\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eWaiting Period:\u003c/strong\u003e None\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eExpiration:\u003c/strong\u003e 1 year\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eReturn: \u003c/strong\u003eWithin 30 days by officiant\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":""}