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West Palm Beach, Florida Wedding Guide

Become a Wedding Officiant in West Palm Beach as an AMM Ordained Minister. Learn more about getting ordained in Florida, officiant training, wedding ceremony planning, and more.

How to Officiate a Wedding in West Palm Beach, Florida

You can’t get a more romantic combo than the sunny beaches and azure blue waters at West Palm Beach. This idyllic wedding destination has everything you’re looking for, from fine food to world-renowned art museums. If music shows, nightclubs, and bars are your idea of entertainment, you won’t be disappointed either. You’ll have plenty of options if you’re planning to get married right there on the beach, but if you want your ceremony to be indoors, West Palm Beach has a list of gorgeous wedding venues to choose from.

 

Before you get too involved in planning your big day, let’s make sure you get all the legal aspects of your wedding day out of the way. AMM is here to help you figure out everything from ordaining your hand-picked wedding officiant to filing for and filling out the marriage license. So, let’s start with the ordainment process.
 




Florida Wedding Tips and Tricks

Become a Wedding Officiant

For The
Wedding Officiant

Step 1: Get Ordained with American Marriage Ministries

 

Florida law stipulates that regularly ordained ministers of the Gospel, elders or other ordained clergy can officiate weddings in the state.
 
If you currently do not fall into any of these categories, no sweat - you can get ordained with AMM. Getting ordained with AMM is free and takes just a few minutes.
 
The State of Florida does not license, register, or certify ministers or wedding officiants, so once you have become ordained with us, you’re all set to start performing weddings in the state! However, there is some preparation that you will want to do before performing your first ceremony.

 

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Palm Beach County


Now that the easy part is out of the way, let’s get you prepared for the wedding ceremony itself. If a couple has asked you to officiate their wedding ceremony, you know what an honor it is, but it can feel like a lot of pressure. Check out our wedding training pages, which are an excellent resource to help you start preparing for your first ceremony.
 
Here you can find everything from sample wedding ceremony scripts, to brainstorming prompts, preparation tips, and more.

 

Step 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License

 

It is the full responsibility of the couple to obtain and fill out the marriage license. As the officiant, you should double-check that the license is valid and filled out correctly.

 

Once you have officiated the wedding and signed the marriage license, you will have fulfilled your duties as the officiant. 

 



Florida Wedding

How To Get Married in West Palm Beach

For The
Couple

File for your Marriage License from the Clerk of the Circuit Court

 

Couples must first make an appointment with the County Clerk to get the marriage license. You can do this online. Once issued, the marriage license is valid for 60 days. For non-Florida residents, there is no waiting period. There is a three-day waiting period for Florida residents unless an online pre-marital course is completed and proof of completion is presented at the Clerk’s office.

 

When visiting the office, the couple must both present one of the following forms of legal identification:

 

  • Driver’s license issued in the United States;
  • Federal or state identification card; or
  • Passport showing your name and date of birth (birth certificates or green cards are not accepted).

 

The fee for the marriage license is $86, and for Florida residents who have completed the pre-marital course, the cost is only $61. Here is a more detailed list of marriage license costs. 

 

Both parties must also read the Family Law Handbook in order to receive the license. This is available in PDF form in both English and Spanish

Palm Beach County Marriage License Info

Important Facts to know before filing for a marriage license in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Issuance Office: 205 North Dixie Highway 
Fee: $86 
Waiting Period: 3 days  
Expiration: 60 days 
Return: by Couple
 

West Palm Beach Wedding Tips and Tricks

Wedding Venue and Planning Tips

For The Couple
& Officiant

The Basics

 

Whether you’re planning to get married in a lavish ballroom, on a sunny beachfront, or on a decked-out luxury yacht, you will have a few things to choose from in West Palm Beach. If an ocean cruise is your style, check out Delray Beach Cruises. On the Lady Atlantic and the Lady Delray ships, you’ll be able to seat up to 150 guests on each boat comfortably. That sounds like a party!

 

How does holding your ceremony in a lush botanical garden sound? At the Mounts Botanical Garden, you’ll be able to say your “I do’s” in a gorgeous garden gazebo surrounded by shrubs, flowers, and trees.

 

Imagine getting married at a polo club! Maybe you and your betrothed own horses, or you just fancy the idea of getting married on a beautiful green expanse. If you’re interested, The International Polo Club allows for private bookings!

 

Transportation

 

The Palm Tran is part of a bus system that runs across the state of Florida, but also makes frequent stops in and around West Palm Beach. If you want to be more independent, it is recommended to supply your own transportation. If that’s not an option, rideshare and taxi services should also be available. 

 

Weather

 

If you’re a Florida native, we don’t have to warn you about the heat and humidity. Hurricane season starts in June and lasts until December, but most tropical storms hit between August and October. So, if you’re planning a wedding, choosing a winter date is a safer bet. Skies are usually clear, and temperatures stay in the comfortable 60s and 70s. 




West Palm Beach Officiant FAQ

West Palm Beach Officiant & Couples FAQ

For The Couple
& Officiant


Is a blood test required to apply for a marriage license?
No, blood tests are not required anywhere in Florida to obtain a marriage license.

 

Do both people need to be present to apply for a marriage license?
Yes, both members of the couple must be present to sign the marriage license application form and take an oath to the truthfulness of the information provided, which can only be done in person.
 
Can the officiant perform a valid Florida marriage ceremony while onboard a ship?
Yes, as long as the ship is in Florida waters at the time of the ceremony, which is generally considered to be three geographic miles from the coastline seaward on the Atlantic Ocean and nine geographic miles from the coastline seaward on the Gulf of Mexico.

 

After the wedding, who should return the marriage license?
In West Palm Beach, there are no strict rules about who should return the marriage license - as long as it has been completed and signed. So, the couple, the officiant, or the couple’s friends or family may return it to the county clerk’s office.
 

OFFICIANT CEREMONY
PREPARATION IN

Professional Wedding Officiant Certification Course

Learn from the Pros to Officiate with Confidence!

Will You Marry Us? Gift Package

Who Will Officiate Your Wedding?

Choose Your Officiant with our "Will You Marry Us?" Gift Package.

Signature Wedding Officiant Package

Signature Wedding Officiant Package

Our premiere package contains everyting you need to officiate like a pro.

The Book of Wedding Vows and Ceremonies

The Book of Wedding Vows and Ceremonies

It's finally here! Timeless scripts and heartfelt vow inspiration to bring life to your ceremony.

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Checkout the AMM Blog

Stay up-to-date with the latest wedding industry trends.

Read our sample wedding ceremony scripts online

Sample Wedding Ceremony Scripts

Need inspiration? Check out our free ceremony scripts!

Wedding Officiant Training

Wedding Officiant Training

Everything you need to know to officiate.

Take Our Quiz

Test your understanding of Florida Marriage Laws.

GET ORDAINED
WITH AMM

Become a Wedding Officiant with Our Free Online Ordination!