{"id":72633,"name":"South Bend","state_id":21,"county_id":1137,"created_at":"2020-12-09T07:12:48.354-08:00","updated_at":"2023-10-16T02:54:02.011-07:00","meta_description":null,"head_tag":null,"tagline":null,"intro_section":"\u003cp\u003eIf you\u0026rsquo;re planning a classic Midwestern wedding, look no further than The Bend. This quintessential Indiana town is the perfect place to host an affordable (and adorable) wedding, with some of the state\u0026rsquo;s best venues and a wide variety of catering options right at your fingertips.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eBut before you get wrapped up in the details of planning your big day, let\u0026rsquo;s get your legal to-do list taken care of first. Here in our guide, we have everything you need to know about getting your officiant-of-choice ordained, as well as how to complete your marriage license in St. Joseph County.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","officiant_section":"\u003ch3\u003eSTEP 1: Get ordained with American Marriage Ministries\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eLet\u0026rsquo;s start with the ordainment process. According to St. Joseph County Clerk\u0026rsquo;s website, any member of the clergy of a religious organization, such as a minister of the gospel, a priest, a bishop, an archbishop or a rabbi may perform a wedding ceremony.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIf you do not fall into any of these categories, no sweat. You can get \u003ca href=\"/ordination-application\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eordained with AMM\u003c/a\u003e to fall within the minister category. The process is free and takes just a few minutes.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe Indiana government does not license, register, or certify ministers or wedding officiants, so once you\u0026rsquo;re signed up with us, you\u0026rsquo;re ready to start performing wedding ceremonies!\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eSTEP 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in St. Joseph County\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eNow 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.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eHere you can find everything from sample wedding ceremony scripts, to \u0026nbsp;brainstorming prompts, tips for preparation, and more.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nSTEP 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhen it comes to the marriage license, it\u0026rsquo;s the couple\u0026rsquo;s responsibility to obtain it from the circuit court\u0026rsquo;s office, but just be sure to double check that they have a valid marriage license before you perform the ceremony. After the ceremony, be sure to help them complete it and notarize it correctly. It\u0026rsquo;s also your job to return the marriage license to the circuit court\u0026rsquo;s office so that it can be filed. Be sure to do so within 30 days of the wedding.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","couple_section":"\u003cp\u003eNow let\u0026rsquo;s turn our attention to the couple\u0026rsquo;s responsibilities.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eYou can start by \u003ca href=\"http://www.in.gov/judiciary/2605.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eapplying for your marriage license online\u003c/a\u003e. It will shorten the time spent in the Clerk\u0026#39;s office. Or, you can just apply in person when you make your visit to the Circuit Court Clerk at 101 S Main Street to pick up your marriage license.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen you go, just remember to bring:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cul style=\"margin-left: 40px;\"\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eValid state-issued ID\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003ePayment for the marriage license fee in the form of cash or money order\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eAt the time of the application, the fee is $29\u0026nbsp;if one or both of the applicants is a resident of the State of Indiana. If both applicants reside out of state and intend to marry in Indiana, the fee is $65\u0026nbsp;payable at the time you apply.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eOnce you\u0026rsquo;ve received your marriage license, you can get married the very same day. Your officiant will help you fill out and notarize it correctly.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","wedding_tips":"\u003ch3\u003eThe Basics\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eNow, we have some wedding planning tips to get the ball rolling on brainstorming the details of your big day. Let\u0026rsquo;s start with how to choose your wedding date. It\u0026rsquo;s always a good idea to avoid picking a day of a major festival, game, or charity run if you want to avoid traffic and parking problems. So be sure to check some \u003ca href=\"https://visitsouthbend.com/events/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003elocal events calendars\u003c/a\u003e to be sure your venue of choice won\u0026rsquo;t be kitty-corner to all the commotion before committing to a venue.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eSpeaking of venues, South Bend has some great options available right in town. Let\u0026rsquo;s start with one of the most sought after spots, the \u003ca href=\"https://palaisroyale.org/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePalais Royale.\u003c/a\u003e The 100-year-old building features 35 foot ceilings, a stunning crystal chandelier, gold leaf embossments and velvet-draped windows, providing the perfect setting for an elegant, Great Gatsby-esque affair.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eOn the opposite end of the spectrum, you have \u003ca href=\"http://thebrick.net/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eThe Brick\u003c/a\u003e -- a modern, simple venue perfect for the couple that wants to create their own aesthetic on their special day. It\u0026rsquo;s also conveniently located near the center of town, just west of the zoo.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eOn the east side of the river, you can also find the \u003ca href=\"http://www.morrisparkcc.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMorris Park Country Club\u003c/a\u003e, which has a stunning recently renovated banquet hall perfect for a large gathering of people. Plus, its grounds make for beautiful wedding photos.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIf you\u0026rsquo;re not quite satisfied with the options in town, remember that your South Bend-issued marriage license is valid anywhere in the state of Indiana, so if you feel like moving the party to Fort Wayne or Indianapolis, you are free to do so.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eTransportation\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eGetting around South Bend via \u003ca href=\"http://sbtranspo.com/routes-and-fares/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003epublic transit\u003c/a\u003e is a great, inexpensive option if you have the time to kill, but if you want to get around town in a hurry, your best bet is to utilize ridesharing services like Lyft or Uber, which are available in town.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eWeather\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe best time to plan a wedding in Indiana is in the late spring or autumn season, when the temperatures are pleasant, and the skies are clear. Grey cloudy skies start at the end of September and don\u0026rsquo;t really clear again until late March. South Bend is in the snow belt, so there can be big storms that bring in a lot of heavy snow throughout the winter.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","faq":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAre Internet ministers legal in Indiana?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nYes, ministers registered through online ministries are perfectly legal in the state of Indiana.\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the officiant need to register his or her credentials with the state?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nNo, your officiant-of-choice does not need to register their credentials with any government entity. Once they are ordained, they can officiate your ceremony.\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere should we apply for our marriage license?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nIf both applicants are Indiana residents and both live in St. Joseph County you must apply in St. Joseph County. If both of you are residents of Indiana but not residents of St Joseph County, you must apply in your county of residence. If both applicants reside out of state, you must apply in the county in which you are getting married.\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan we get married outside of St. Joseph County with our St. Joseph County-issued marriage license?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nYes, you can get married anywhere in the state of Indiana.\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho should return the marriage license?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nIt\u0026rsquo;s the officiant\u0026rsquo;s job to return the completed, notarized marriage license to the circuit court\u0026rsquo;s office after the ceremony is over.\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","content_live":true,"marriage_licensing_info":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIssuance Office:\u003c/strong\u003e 101 S Main Street, South Bend, IN\u0026nbsp;46601\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFee:\u003c/strong\u003e $29-$65\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWaiting Period:\u003c/strong\u003e None\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExpiration:\u003c/strong\u003e 60 days\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReturn:\u003c/strong\u003e By officiant\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","meta_description_esp":null,"head_tag_esp":null,"tagline_esp":null,"intro_section_esp":"","officiant_section_esp":"","couple_section_esp":"","wedding_tips_esp":"","faq_esp":"","content_live_esp":false,"marriage_licensing_info_esp":""}