How to Officiate a Wedding in Columbia, Maryland

If you’re from Columbia MD, you already know that it’s one of the best places to live in Little America. This pocket of Maryland is renowned for its access to outdoor activities, its tradition of throwing fun festivals and, of course, its fabulous seafood. But it’s also one of the best towns to get married in the Mid-Atlantic for its great catering and historic wedding venues. 

So, if you’re planning to get hitched in Columbia, we think you’re on the right track. But before you start getting into the nitty-gritty details of planning your wedding, you should take care of the legal to-do’s first. Here in our guide, we have everything you need to know about getting married in Howard County -- including how to get your officiant-of-choice ordained.

STEP 1: Get ordained with American Marriage Ministries

Let’s start with the ordainment process. According to the state of Maryland’s website, the following persons may perform wedding ceremonies: 

“an official of a religious order (such as an ordained minister), the Clerk of the Circuit Court, a deputy clerk designated by the county administrative circuit court judge, a judge.”

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 Maryland government does not license, register, or certify ministers or wedding officiants, so once you are ordained with us, you can legally perform weddings in the state.

STEP 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Howard 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 sign the marriage license, it’s the couple’s responsibility to obtain it from the clerk’s office, but just be sure to double check that they have their valid marriage license on hand before you perform the ceremony.

After the ceremony, the person who performed the officiant must return the certificate of marriage, signed with the title of the authorized official who performs the marriage, to the clerk of the court issuing the license within five days to be recorded in the county or city records.
 

File for the Marriage License from the Howard County Clerk's Office

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

If you are a non-residenst, make sure to fill out the updated marriage license application form. Once you’re finished, you can place it in the clerk’s office’s dropbox Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or mail it to:

Clerk of the Circuit Court for Howard County

Marriage Application

6095 Marshalee Drive

Suite 120

Elkridge, MD 21075

Make sure to also include:

• Photocopies of both applicants’ valid government-issued identifications (driver’s license or passport.
• A check or money order in the amount of $50.00 made payable to the “Clerk, Circuit Court for Howard County.”
• The address where you would like the marriage license packet to be mailed

After you have received your actual marriage license in the mail, there is a 48-hour waiting period before you may hold your ceremony. Your wedding officiant will help you complete the license on the day of the ceremony and return it to the county clerk’s office to be filed.

The Basics

When choosing your wedding date, remember to take into all the town activities that are planned, especially from spring through autumn. It’s best to avoid choosing on a date in which one of Columbia’s major concerts, festivals and charity races occurs, especially if your venue is in close proximity.

Speaking of venues, there are plenty to choose from in Columbia. Our top favorites are the beautiful Historic Oakland Mansion next to Wilde Lake Park, the modern and chic Merriweather Lakehouse, and the quaint Columbia Inn at Peralynna -- all of which are located right in town. But if you’re willing to drive a few miles, you can also access some great venues in Baltimore, like Martin’s West, which is perfect for a large gathering of people, the historic 1840s Plaza, which has one of the most beautiful outdoor spaces in the area, and the vintage-glam Grand Baltimore, located in downtown Baltimore.

Transportation

If you’re coming in from out of town and want to save money on transportation, you can utilize the Howard Transit and Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) bus routes that connect Columbia with Ellicott City, Washington and Baltimore. For getting around town on the cheap, there are also commuter routes. But if you want to get from point A to point B in a hurry, Lyft and Uber ride-sharing services are prevalent in town.

Weather

The summers in Columbia can be hot and humid, especially during July and August. In the fall, the area gets a lot of rain, followed by bright sunny days. Winter can be very cold, particularly in January and February, but is milder than New York or Boston. Snow is common in the winter, but it usually melts quickly. The best seasons for a wedding in Maryland are summer and fall. If you’re planning to choose an outdoor venue, it’s worth it to invest in wedding insurance in case of inclement weather.