How to Officiate a Wedding in Shreveport, Louisiana

Shreveport may not be known as one of the “hottest” cities in the south, but for whatever it lacks in glitz and glam, it makes up for in its friendly people, local businesses, and lucky for you, beautiful weddings venues. The city is absolutely chock full of gems for couples heading toward holy matrimony -- from historic, charming bed and breakfasts to high-end, downtown party spots. Shreveport’s got it all!

But before you get wrapped up in planning your special day, let’s get the logistics out of the way first. In our guide, we have all the need-to-know info about how to get married in Caddo Parish, how to get your officiant-of-choice ordained, plus some extra tips to make sure your Shreveport wedding goes off without a hitch.

First things first -- let’s start with the ordainment process.

Step 1: Get ordained with American Marriage Ministries

If you’ve been asked to officiate a wedding, but you don’t have any credentials to do so, don’t worry! You can get ordained with us to become a minister of AMM. The process is free and takes just a few minutes.

Ministers in Louisiana are also required to register with the Clerk of Court, but it’s not a difficult process.

The applicant just needs to print and complete this form and take it to the Caddo Parish Clerk’s Office. When you go, remember to bring photo identification, $10 for the application fee and proof of minister’s license or ordination, which AMM will provide for a small fee.

Then, you can start officiating weddings!

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Caddo Parish

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

On the day of the wedding, you will be focused on performing the ceremony, but don’t forget your second job -- to take care of the marriage license. Make sure that the couple has it in their possession on the day of the wedding, before performing the ceremony. Afterward, help them to complete it correctly.

The official legal paper, the State of Louisiana Certificate of Marriage, with the bar code in the top right corner, is the part that needs to be returned to the clerk's office. Make sure to do so within 10 days of the ceremony. A certified copy of the official license will then be mailed to the couple for name change and legal purposes.

File for the Marriage License from the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court

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

Before you and your partner head down to the clerk’s office, print out the Caddo Parish Marriage License Application on legal size paper and fill it out together to bring with you. Their website notes to use groom as applicant A and the bride as applicant B. If the couple is same-sex, don’t worry about this part.

To obtain your actual marriage license, you will head down to the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court’s office at 501 Texas St #103 in Shreveport.

When you go, just remember to bring:

• The marriage license application print-off

• Certified copy of both birth certificates

• Your social security numbers

• $32 (cash or credit card)

Then, the court will grant you your marriage license, which you can use to get married after the 24 hour waiting period. The marriage license only stays valid for 30 days. Once it expires, you have to purchase a new one, so make sure not to apply for the marriage license until you are within four weeks of your wedding date.

Your officiant will help you complete it on the day of your wedding. You will need two witnesses to sign the marriage license, as well, so think about who you’d like to ask to sign it prior to your wedding. Afterwards, your officiant will return the marriage license to the clerk’s office to be filed. Once he or she has done so, you can expect to receive a certified copy of your marriage license in the mail.

The Basics

The Silver Lake Ballroom is the perfect spot for a couple looking for a modern, industrial backdrop for their special day, with its high ceilings and exposed brick walls. There’s plenty of room for a big party, with two indoor spaces, two outdoor spaces (plus a bridal suite and dressing room.)

If you’re going for a soft, romantic theme, but don’t want to go too far from downtown, you might like the Fairfield Place, a charming bed and breakfast built in the 1870s. It’s located right in Stoner Hill, but its peaceful courtyards will make you think you’re miles away from the hussle and bussle.

But there’s nothing quite like a sunset on the beach, which Valencia on Cross Lake takes full advantage of. You can say your “I do’s” right on the water, have cocktails on its beautiful patio, then head inside its banquet hall to dance the night away.

Transportation

Shreveport has a good public transportation service, Sportran, which can get you from Point A to Point B on the cheap. But if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of navigating the bus, you can always utilize Lyft and Uber, both of which are available in Shreveport, if you’re coming in from out of town and don’t want to rent a car. Of course, for the wedding day itself, you may want to utilize one of the city’s limo services. SHV Chauffered Transportation is the most-rated and highest-rated in Shreveport.

Weather

In Louisiana, it can be oppressively hot during the summer, while the winters are cold, wet and cloudy. The best months for a wedding in Shreveport are May, June, September and October, when the temperatures are warm, but it’s not as hot and humid as the middle of summer. Luckily, Shreveport is far enough away from the gulf of Mexico that hurricanes are rarely a threat that couples need to consider when choosing their wedding date.