How to Officiate a Wedding in Columbus, Georgia

So, you’re getting married in the Peach State! Or perhaps you’ve been asked to perform a ceremony for a friend of yours. Either way, you’ve come to the right place. Here in our guide, we have everything you need to know about how to make sure your southern soirée in Fountain City goes off without a hitch, from getting your officiant-of-choice legally ordained, to obtaining your marriage license from the Muscogee County probate court’s office. Plus, later on, we have some wedding planning tips to help you get the ball rolling.

So without further ado, let’s jump into the guide.

Step 1: Get Ordained with American Marriage Ministries

Let’s start with the ordainment process. Georgia marriage law stipulates that licensed or ordained ministers, clergymen, or pastors of recognized religious societies and justices of the peace may legally perform weddings in the state.

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

The Georgia state government does not license, register, or certify ministers or wedding officiants, so once you’re signed up with us, you’re ready to start performing wedding ceremonies!

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Muscogee 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 to the marriage license, it’s the couple’s responsibility to obtain it from the probate court’s office, but just be sure to double check that they have a valid marriage license before you perform the ceremony. Afterwards, be sure to help them complete it and notarize it correctly.
 
In Columbus, either the couple or the officiant may return the marriage license to the probate court’s office to be filed after the wedding. But if you want to score extra kudos points, offer to take care of this task for the couple so that they can enjoy their honeymoon without having to worry about making another trip to the probate court’s office.

Now let’s turn our attention to the couple’s responsibilities.

Marriage license applications are processed on a walk in basis only. The process can, however, be started online.

Then, to obtain your actual marriage license, both members of the couple will have to visit the probate court’s office at 100 10th St.

When you go, just remember to bring:

When you go to your appointment at the county clerk's office, don't forget to bring:

• Valid, state-issued ID (driver’s license or passport)
• Final divorce or death decrees from previous marriages
• $56 for marriage license fee ($16 if you've completed the 6 hours of pre-marital counseling).  

On the day of the wedding, your officiant will help you notarize and complete your marriage license correctly.

The Basics

Now that we have the legal to-do’s out of the way, let’s get into the wedding planning tips, starting with how to choose your wedding date. It’s always a good idea to avoid picking a day of a major festival or game day if you want to avoid traffic and parking problems on the day of your wedding. So check some local calendars to be sure your venue of choice isn’t located across the street from a major event in Columbus.

And speaking of venues, we have some recommendations in the area!

For a perfect blend of urban flare and natural scenery, check out the Rankin Garden and Atrium. Its enclosed brick courtyard provides an intimate outdoor space with a touch of green, the perfect spot to say your “I do’s.” Then, you can take the party to either the beautiful open-ceiling atrium or indoors to its livery space, depending on your preference. 

Columbus’ most regal option is likely the Wynn House, a 180-year-old mansion located in the heart of Midtown. Its 19th century architecture makes the perfect backdrop for an outdoor ceremony on the property’s expansive green acreage.

Or, for something a little bit off the beaten path, check out the Columbus Botanical Garden. You can have your ceremony among its beautifully landscaped gardens, then hold reception inside the historic Adams Farmhouse, which was built in the 1890’s. Or, have the party just outside the back door in the lovely brick courtyard, covered by the romantic light canopy.

Transportation

Columbus isn’t known for having the best public transportation, so if you’re coming in from out of town and you are trying to avoid renting a car, your best bet is to utilize ride-sharing services like Lyft and Uber during your stay.

Weather

When choosing your wedding date and venue, it’s also a good idea to keep Georgia’s seasons in mind. The Peach State has beautiful spring and fall seasons, perfect for outdoor weddings. Winters are fairly mild, while summers are hazy, hot and humid. By June, things really start to heat up and temperatures can climb into the 90s and sometimes the low 100s. In addition to the summer heat waves, there are also evening thunderstorms nearly every night in July and August. So, if you’re planning a summer wedding, you may want to consider an indoor venue in case of extreme heat or rain.