How to Officiate a Wedding in Anaheim, California

If you’re planning a wedding in the Southern California, Anaheim may be the magical place you are looking for. 

Anaheim is known as a city built on imagination. Filled with hidden gems and hip hangouts, there is plenty to do for locals and tourists. There are many places that would make a delightful location for a wedding, big or small. 

Here at AMM, we want to help you take care of the logistics of getting your marriage license and registering your officiant of choice. That way you can focus on making the fun choices, like choosing between a wedding at the lavish Sheraton Park Hotel or a fairy tale ceremony at Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings.

Step 1: Get Ordained with American Marriage Ministries

Let’s start with the ordainment process. According to government website of California anyone can officiate a wedding if they are “...a priest, miniser, rabbi, or authorized person of any religious denomination…” That means if you get ordained with AMM, you will be able to perform wedding ceremonies in Anaheim.  The process is free and takes just a few minutes.

When it comes time to perform your duties as the officiant, Orange County may ask you to present proof of your status as an ordained minister. You can give their county clerk’s office a call to ask if they’ll need it. If that’s the case, or you just want to be prepared, AMM can provide your official documentation, available from our store.

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Orange County

Now that we have the legal stuff out of the way, let’s get ready for the ceremony  itself. Having a couple ask you to officiate their ceremony is an honor, but can feel like a lot of pressure. Any officiant will appreciate our wedding training pages, which are a library of information and tools to assist you prepare for your first ceremony and ensure that it goes smoothly.

It has everything from sample wedding ceremony scripts, to  brainstorming prompts, tips for preparation, and more.

Step 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License

Now, back to the legal stuff. It is the responsibility of the couple to obtain and complete the marriage license. It is always a good idea to double check that they have done so before performing the ceremony.

Once the festivities are over and the marriage license is properly signed, you have successfully performed all of your functions as the wedding officiant. Just remind them to return the marriage license within 90 days of it being issued.

File for the Marriage License from the Orange County Clerk's Office

You can get a marriage license on the spot from the County Clerk’s office. Once you are issued the license, you have 90 days to have your wedding. After that, the license expires, so make sure to schedule the event appropriately. 

There are no citizenship or residency requirements, nor are blood tests required to obtain a marriage license. Applicants must be over 18 years old. Couples can begin the process for submitting an application for a marriage license online.

Although it is not required to make an appointment, walk in applicants are taken on a first-come, first served basis. Couples must, however, complete the online application before the appointment.

To complete the application for a marriage license, a couple must:

• Appear together in person.
• Each present one form of a valid non-expired, government issued, photo identification (such as a driver's license or passport).
• If divorced within the last 90 days, provide a certified copy of the divorce decree. If the spouse is deceased with in the last 90 days you will need to provide a copy of the death certificate.

The Basics

Anaheim has numerous spots to host a picture perfect wedding. One of our favorites is the Sheraton Park Hotel. This space is a modern, beautiful hotel with indoor and outdoor spaces. It is located less than two miles from Disney’s Magic Kingdom, and only 20 minutes from the John Wayne Airport making it a convenient location for out of town guests. You can choose from three small garden areas if you are looking for an intimate outdoor setting.

If you are looking for a relaxed sophisticated cocktail reception you can choose the Tiffany Terrace. Get cozy in the seating areas with built-in fire pits and a centerpiece of a Mediterranean fountain. There are also rooms with intricate stained-glass ceiling, floor to ceiling windows, modern chandeliers, and spacious ballrooms. 

If you want your fairy tale wedding to come to life, have your ceremony at Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings. This place will make dreams come true with immersive settings such as gazebos, castles, and many others. There are 14 diverse venues throughout the Disneyland Resort. When you plan a wedding at the resort, not only are you paired with a dedicated wedding planner, but also  a whole team of Disney Dream-Makers.

Transportation

Anaheim Regional Transport connects people with theme parks, hotels, restaurants, shopping, dining, and other destinations within the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Buena Park, Costa Mesa and Orange.

ART provides service 7 days a week and typically begins one hour before the Disneyland Resort opens and continues until 30 minutes after close. To plan your ride their website.

Weather

In Anaheim, the summers are short, warm, arid, and clear and the winters are long, cool, and partly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from high 40s to the mid 80s. The temperature rarely dips below 40°F or rises above 95°F. We think the best time of year to pay a visit is between late May through October.