How to Officiate a Wedding in Saint Petersburg, Florida

We love Tampa Bay for all of its obvious draws -- the beautiful weather, the luxurious beaches and, of course, the party scene. But there’s something special about St. Pete that sets it apart from other touristy beach towns in Florida. Its famous breweries, universities and vibrant art community make it feel like a less pretentious, tropical version of Portland, Oregon. Truly, it’s Florida’s best kept secret (and we’d like to keep it that way.)

If you’ve decided to tie the knot in St. Petersburg, we think you’ll find that the wedding scene is every bit as delightful as the rest of the locale. But before you skip ahead to planning your breezy, barefoot-at-sunset beach wedding in Sunshine City, let’s get the logistical to-do’s taken care of first. We have all the need-to-know information about obtaining your marriage license and getting your officiant of choice registered in Pinellas County here in our guide. Let’s start with the ordainment process. 

Step 1: Get ordained with American Marriage Ministries

In Florida, “all regularly ordained ministers of the gospel or elders in communion with some church, or other ordained clergy, and all judicial officers, including retired judicial officers, clerks of the circuit courts, and notaries public of this state may solemnize the rights of matrimonial contract.”

If you do not fall into any of these categories, no sweat. You can get ordained with AMM to become a legitimate minister. The process is free and takes just a few minutes.

When it comes time to perform your duties as the officiant, Pinellas County may ask you to present documentation, which AMM provides for a fee. (You can call the county clerk’s office before you perform the ceremony to ask if they will require you to bring the certificate in person.)

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Pinellas County

Now 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 can 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. 

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 the marriage license, it’s the couple’s responsibility to obtain it before their wedding day. Once they do, you can help them fill it out and notarize it. 

After you have performed the ceremony and signed the marriage license, you have performed all of your functions as the wedding officiant. After the wedding day, either you, the couple or any of the couple’s friends or family may return the marriage license to the county clerk’s office in which it was acquired.

Now let’s turn our attention to the couple’s responsibilities. First things first! In Pinellas County, you need to fill out an electronic application before you go to obtain your marriage license in person. The link to start the application online is here. Once you’ve completed it, you have 30 days to go in person before your online application expires.

It’s not required, but you can also take a marriage preparation course to reduce the marriage license fee by a few bucks. The three-day waiting period will also be waived if you decide to do this.

To obtain your actual marriage license, both members of the couple will have to visit one of the following locations: the Clearwater Courthouse (room 150), the St. Petersburg Branch, or the North County Branch of the Clerk’s office. 

When you go, don’t forget to bring:

1. State-issued ID (Driver’s license or Passport)
2. Social security number (No card required)
3. $61 - $86 in cash, card or check

* The standard fee is $86 but if you’ve taken the marital prep course, the fee is reduced to $61.

** If you’ve taken a marital prep course (mentioned above), or at least one of the applicants is not Florida resident, then the three-day waiting period does not apply. For everyone else, the waiting period is three days.

The Basics

When it comes to choosing your wedding date, make sure to check local event calendars first to avoid picking the same day as a parade or festival. St. Petersburg is host to dozens of events each year that draw in thousands of people, so just do a bit of homework to make sure you don’t end up competing with crowds by choosing a downtown venue on the same day as First Friday. Disaster averted!

Speaking of venues, we have some ideas there, too. It goes without saying that there are plenty of incredible waterfront resorts on St. Pete’s beautiful beaches, like Fort Desoto, Treasure Island and Pas-a-Grille, all within about 20 minutes of town that make ideal wedding venues -- and we can’t blame you if you for wanting to take advantage of the ocean views at sunset. 

But there are some alternative venues right in town for couples that aren’t feeling the beach scene for their wedding day. While the Shuffleboard Club may not be the first place that jumps to mind when you imagine the location that you’ll vow your heart to someone else for eternity, this unique venue has a fun, low-key vibe and truly beautiful grounds.

The Sunken Gardens are another option that you have to at least check out. This 100-year-old garden sanctuary, which is home to more than 50,000 tropical plants, is a stunning (and well-oxygenated) spot to say “I do.” Check out the park’s wedding page for more info and pricing.

Transportation

If you’re from out of town, you have plenty of options for getting around. St. Petersburg is less spread out than nearby Tampa, making it much easier to navigate the city’s bus system -- especially if you’re staying within the downtown area. Most routes come fairly frequently and run on time, but some locals avoid utilizing the public transit because of the constant heat. It can get sticky. If you’re not feeling brave enough for the bus system, shell out the extra cash to rent a car and enjoy the A/C, or just use Lyft and Uber, the least fussy option.

Weather

As you already know, St. Pete is known for its fabulous weather. However, the summers can become oppressive because of the humidity. Mid-July is the height of the heat, so we’d avoid planning a wedding during this month, unless you’re opting for an indoor, air-conditioned venue. The winters are short, a bit windy and cool (well, like 60 degrees). The weather is ideal from March to May and between September and November.