How to Officiate a Wedding in Kalamazoo, Michigan

So you’ve decided to get married in Kalamazoo! This vibrant city is jam-packed with art and culture, fine dining, historical museums, bars, beaches, and so much more! There are also a number of gorgeous biking and hiking trails, and six well-maintained golf courses for the more actively inclined. If you plan to visit in summer, check out the Wall Crawl Mural Tour, or spend a relaxing day at one of the many local beaches. Whatever you decide to do, Kalamazoo will not let you down!  

Before you plan all the fun activities, let’s step you through the process of getting legally married in Kalamazoo, from signing the marriage license up to officiating the wedding ceremony.   
 

Step 1: Get Ordained with American Marriage Ministries

According to Michigan state law, marriages may be performed by “a minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner, anywhere in the state, if the minister or clergy or religious practitioner is ordained or authorized to solemnize marriages according to the usages of the denomination.” 

If you are not yet a minister of a religious group, don’t worry. Sign-up with AMM today, and join our ranks of over 800,000 online ordained ministers. The process is one hundred percent free, and should only take a few minutes to complete. 

Step 2: Prepare for the Wedding Ceremony in Kalamazoo

Officiating a wedding is an honor and privilege, but also a challenge. If you need help with anything from brainstorming the script to writing the actual speech and perfecting your delivery, be sure to check out our training pages. Here we give you access to a library of information for the whole speech writing process.

Step 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License 

In order to obtain a marriage license in Kalamazoo, at least one partner must be a resident of the city. There is no official government registration for wedding officiants, but ministers must be ordained in order to sign the marriage license before it is returned to the clerk’s office. 
 

Both parties do not have to be present at the county clerk’s office for the marriage license application. However, if just one party applies in person, it must be the Kalamazoo County resident, otherwise an extra fee of $10 will be required. After the application has been submitted, a three-day waiting period is required. The waiting period can be waived by paying an extra $15 fee.

The couple must provide valid state driver’s license or identification, as well as their social security numbers. For in-state residents, the marriage license fee is $20 and must be filed in the county of residency, and for out-of-state applicants, the fee is $30 and must be filed in the county where the marriage is taking place. 

When you go, don’t forget to bring:

• Driver’s License or State ID
• Social Security Number
• $20 for Michigan residents
• $30 for out-of-state residents
   

The Basics

Just a few miles outside of Downtown Kalamazoo is the gorgeous Blue Heron Barn. This charming five acre venue will help you and your guests escape the bustling city and enjoy the peace of nature. A large rustic barn is great for all your catering and dancing needs, plus a beautiful backdrop of trees and fields allows for some of the most stunning wedding photography.  For a unique wedding experience, check out Bell’s Eccentric Cafe. This beautifully furnished and lit venue is possible to rent out, has an amazing beer and food catering service, and offers help with event coordination. As with any venue, make sure to plan and schedule far enough in advance, as these places tend to fill up their availability pretty quickly.  

Transportation

The downtown area is great for foot traffic as many of the attractions and activities are within close proximity. Taking your own car, calling a taxi, or using rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft are also options for getting around. Metro Transit bus services are also available, but are infrequent and are limited in the number of stops and hours which they run. Kalamazoo does not have light rail, or a subway transit system. 

Weather

Kalamazoo experiences strong seasonality with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Michigan winters can get quite intense with regular sleet, thunderstorms, and sometimes even tornadoes. The recommended time to visit Kalamazoo is in the height of summer, between July and August.