How to Officiate a Wedding in San Bernardino, California

Saddled on historic Route 66 and sandwiched between the widespread metropolis of LA to the west and the San Bernardino Mountains to the north, this quintessential Inland Empire city is much more than just the birthplace of McDonald’s. There are all sorts of hidden gems spread around the city’s sprawl, like seeds in an orange. If you’re thinking of having a wedding in the SB, this page should help you get all the details in order.

Step 1: Get Ordained with American Marriage Ministries

If you go through American Marriage Ministries, you will be qualified as an “authorized person” for solemnizing marriages as per state law. Getting ordained through AMM is free and only takes a few minutes! 

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in San Bernardino County

With that out of the way, it’s time to prepare for the ceremony! It can feel like a huge responsibility to officiate a wedding. You can alleviate some of that pressure by skimming through our wedding training pages, where you’ll find all the information you need to prepare for your first ceremony, like brainstorming prompts, sample scripts to follow, tips for preparation, and more.

Step 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License

In California, the couple will need to obtain and complete the marriage license. After you perform the ceremony, you’ll need to sign the license, after which you will have performed all your duties as the wedding officiant.

File for the Marriage License from the San Bernardino County Clerk's Office

The San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk website has an online application you can fill out to help expedite the process for obtaining a marriage license. Once you complete the application, you will then need to schedule an appointment. For the appointment, both members of the couple will need to be present, along with:

• $89 (cash, check, or card)
• Photo identification (driver’s license, state ID, passport, etc.)

Once the application is accepted, you’ll be ready to get married, at least legally speaking!

The Basics

Even though it was orange groves that helped put San Bernardino on the map, you won’t find many around the city proper anymore, but you’ll see plenty of place names celebrating the sun-loving citrus. The National Orange Show Event Center actually has several different spaces available as wedding venues, including an outdoor option with soft, inviting grass, a glittering fountain, and plenty of trees for shade. But if giant event centers seem a little off putting, you might be more interested in Edwards Mansion. Just across the river in Redlands, the mansion has a turn-of-the-century wedding chapel with beautiful stained glass windows and a steeple bell.

Transportation

It’s Southern California, so naturally the car is king. Los Angeles Airport is about a two hour drive, depending on traffic (wait, maybe it’s traffic that is king). There is also an airport right in San Bernardino with connecting flights to nearby major airports. Having said all that, it is possible to use public transportation here. The Metrolink connects to all the major areas of LA, and in San Bernardino proper you can use rideshares, taxis, or Omnitrans buses. 

Weather

You can expect hot and dry summers, a relatively pleasant springtime, and surprisingly cool, wet winters. The cities of the Inland Empire all sit in a series of valleys, so don’t be surprised if there is air pollution build up, especially on windless days.