How to Officiate a Wedding in Jacksonville, Florida

Did you know that Jacksonville has some of the oldest remnants of pottery ever found in the US, dating back to 2500 BC. Today, this Florida city is a destination for great weather and beach vacations, with world-class beaches Jacksonville Beach or Neptune Beach.

If you’ve got guests visiting from out of town, they'll get a kick out of touring the harbor on a chartered yacht or exploring the Prairie School of Architecture that has influenced many of the buildings in Jacksonville, popularized by Frank Lloyd Wright.

But you probably already know what a great city Jacksonville is, and you’re really just here to learn about officiating weddings, or plan your wedding, we’ll jump right into the nuts-and-bolts of getting ordained, getting the paperwork squared away, planning your ceremony, and finally officiating when the big day arrives! 

Step 1: Get ordained with American Marriage Ministries

In Duval County, wedding officiants need to be ordained through a religious organization (or be on a list of acceptable government officials). 

If you are not yet a clergy member or affiliated with a religious organization, you are in luck. You can get ordained with AMM -- the process is free and will take just a few minutes. Once you’ve got that box checked, we’ll get to the good stuff.

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Duval County

Now that you’ve got your credentials taken care of, we can help you prepare for the wedding ceremony itself. Being asked to officiate a ceremony is a true honor, but requires a bit of preparation. 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. 

Here you can find everything from sample wedding ceremony scripts, to  brainstorming prompts, tips for preparation, and more.

Step 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License

When it comes time to sign the marriage license, the couple has the responsibility to obtain the marriage license, but just be sure to double check that they have a valid marriage license before the ceremony and that all the names and other details are correct.

Once you have performed the ceremony and signed the marriage license, you have successfully performed all of your functions as the wedding officiant. As the officiant, it is your duty to return the marriage license to the Duval County Clerk’s office after the ceremony, and within 10 days of the ceremony.

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

To get your marriage license, one member of the couple will need to visit the Duval County Clerk’s office at:

Duval County Clerk of Courts
Marriage License Department
501 West Adams Street, Room 2403
Jacksonville, FL 32202

If you or your partner live in Florida, you can apply in one of the counties where either or both of you live. If you obtain a marriage license in Duval County you can perform the wedding anywhere in Florida, but the license will not be valid if you conduct the wedding in another state.

When you go, remember to bring the following:

• $86 
• Photo ID
• Social Security Number

Once you’ve completed your marriage application and obtained your license you have 60 days from the date of issuance to conduct the ceremony and return the completed form. Of course, we recommend that you return the completed marriage license at the first available opportunity, so that the marriage can be entered into the state’s records and the process finalized.

The Basics

Jacksonville is a gorgeous southern city with great views and lots of beautiful beaches and waterways, sure to provide a great destination for a warm and happy wedding day. We have added some suggestions and locations we found that will help get you started in planning your big day.

Just check the city’s event page  before you pick your wedding date. If you or your soon-to-be spouse are big sports fans, you could coordinate your ceremony to see Gator Bowl and the Jacksonville Jaguars, or a PGA tournament at The Players Stadium Course. Jacksonville also has a great craft brewery scene and lots of outdoor opportunities like fishing charters.

If you and your partner are ready to start looking at venues, Jacksonville has a wide variety of venue options, like the gorgeous Epping Forest Yacht & Country Club. The venue is housed in the duPont Mansion located on the banks of the St. Johns River. It  was built in 1926  and provides English style gardens, stone fountains & massive oak trees. Its turn of the century charm is sure to make a great backdrop to your dream wedding.

Or, you could hold your wedding reception at a 40 acre farm that has the only covered bridge in the entire state, and a beautiful 9500 square foot barn for your ceremony. The Keeler Property is another great alternative to a traditional venue space, and would be quite the romantic wedding to share your first dance next to a private lake and watch a gorgeous Florida sunset with your new love.

Transportation

If you don’t want to get a rental car, it’s easy to get around downtown Jacksonville as they have a well connected transit system. The JTA is well-liked by residents, with easy access to the downtown area, and a monorail system called the Jacksonville Skyway which covers 2.5 miles from the St. Johns River to the central business district. If your wedding is farther afield, you’ll want to look into private transport. 

Weather

Winters are pleasant in Florida with temperatures dropping down to 50 at night and mid 60s during the day. During the summer it is quite hot and humid, and temperatures can climb to the 90s. The best time to visit Jacksonville for warm-weather activities is from late March to late May and early October to November.