{"id":72630,"name":"Las Cruces","state_id":40,"county_id":2005,"created_at":"2020-07-07T14:11:40.697-07:00","updated_at":"2023-10-25T06:53:19.654-07:00","meta_description":"Learn about officiating weddings and planning wedding ceremonies in Las Cruces, New Mexico","head_tag":"A guide for officiating weddings and planning ceremonies in  Las Cruces, New Mexico. Learn how to get ordained, write wedding ceremonies, plan wedding celebrations and much more.","tagline":"A Day of Enchantment","intro_section":"\u003cp\u003eSo, you\u0026rsquo;re getting married in beautiful Las Cruces! Or perhaps you were asked to officiate a wedding ceremony. First of all, congratulations! We can\u0026rsquo;t imagine a better place to plan a dreamy southwest-themed wedding than this peaceful desert oasis.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn our guide, we\u0026rsquo;ll break down how to get married in New Mexico, as well as how to legally officiate a wedding in the state. Later on, we also have some extra tips to ensure your wedding in the Land of Enchantment turns out as enchanting as possible. But before we get to the fun stuff, let\u0026rsquo;s get the legal to-do\u0026rsquo;s out of the way, starting with your officiant.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","officiant_section":"\u003ch3\u003eSTEP 1: Get ordained with American Marriage Ministries\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eLet\u0026rsquo;s start with the ordainment process. In New Mexico, any clergyperson that has been ordained can perform wedding ceremonies. If you\u0026rsquo;ve been asked to perform a wedding ceremony, but you don\u0026rsquo;t have any ministerial credentials, you can \u003ca href=\"/ordination-application\"\u003eget ordained with AMM\u003c/a\u003e for free in just a few minutes!\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eOnce you\u0026rsquo;re registered, you can legally perform weddings in the state -- there is no other kind of minister registration required. Now the real work begins: preparing for the ceremony!\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 Do\u0026ntilde;a Ana County\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eWe 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 brainstorming prompts, tips for preparation, and more.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eSTEP 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eOn the big day, you have two jobs. First and foremost, to perform the ceremony itself, but also to help the couple complete and notarize the marriage license. It is their responsibility to obtain it from the county clerk\u0026rsquo;s office prior to the day of the wedding. Give them a call a few days ahead of time to make sure they have picked it up.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the ceremony, it is your job as the officiant to return the completed marriage license application to the Do\u0026ntilde;a Ana County Clerk\u0026rsquo;s Office within 90 days of the actual ceremony. Best not to save this final task until the last minute because if you miss the deadline, the couple may have to reapply for a marriage license or be subject to late fees.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","couple_section":"\u003cp\u003eFirst things first! Visit the \u003ca href=\"https://www.donaanacounty.org/home\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDo\u0026ntilde;a Ana County website\u003c/a\u003e to print off your marriage license application. Complete it with your partner. Then, you and your partner can head down to the county clerk\u0026rsquo;s office at \u0026nbsp;845 N. Motel Blvd to obtain your actual 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\u003eCompleted marriage license application form\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003e$25 marriage application fee\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eA valid form of government-issued ID (passport, driver\u0026rsquo;s license, etc.)\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIf you bring all of your required documents, they\u0026rsquo;ll hand you your marriage license on the spot and you can even get married the same day! (After the ceremony, your officiant will be responsible for returning the completed and notarized copy back to the county clerk\u0026rsquo;s office.)\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","wedding_tips":"\u003ch3\u003eWeather in Mesilla Valley\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eLas Cruces has 320 days of sunshine per year, but the temperature varies greatly depending on the season. The sweet spots of Las Cruces\u0026rsquo; best weather usually fall between March and April and between September and November, when the temperature is not too hot, but still pleasantly warm, and you don\u0026rsquo;t have to worry about getting caught in a heavy downpour, which are normal occurrences in summer afternoons in the region.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIf you are dead set on a summer wedding date, you will definitely want to go for an indoor venue with air conditioning (but if you\u0026rsquo;re from the area, you don\u0026rsquo;t have to tell you that.) The most popular wedding season in New Mexico is fall, so if you\u0026rsquo;re trying to score a good deal on a venue, note that this is when vendors will be charging their highest rates.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eWedding Venues\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eAfter you narrow the season of your wedding, it\u0026rsquo;s time to inquire with venues about their availability. Las Cruces may be small, but its array of options might surprise you.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn the downtown area, there\u0026rsquo;s the \u003ca href=\"https://bluedoorvenue.com/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBlue Door Venue\u003c/a\u003e, which has a courtyard and an indoor reception area; \u003ca href=\"http://www.riograndewinery.com/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRio Grande Vineyard \u0026amp; Winery\u003c/a\u003e, with its lush, green vineyard fields and backdrop of the Organ Mountains; and the \u003ca href=\"http://www.doubleeagleonline.com/\"\u003eDouble Eagle\u003c/a\u003e, a perfect venue for a big party that offers its own catering.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eBut if you want to take advantage of the natural beauty of Mesilla Valley, have your ceremony in the great outdoors! You can say your \u0026ldquo;I dos\u0026rdquo; in its rustic woodlands of Mesilla Valley State Park or for even more seclusion, you can even get hitched in the otherworldly Dripping Springs Natural Area.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIf you are looking for something a little less rustic and a little more refined -- but you still like the idea of an outdoor wedding -- the \u003ca href=\"https://www.redhawkgc.com/Weddings\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRed Hawk Golf Club\u003c/a\u003e provides an absolutely picturesque setting for your big day out on the pristine green.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","faq":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAre internet ministers recognized in New Mexico?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eYes, any clergyperson that has been ordained can perform wedding ceremonies in New Mexico.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do we apply for a marriage license in Las Cruces?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eFirst, you need to print off their marriage application form online, and then bring it into the county clerk\u0026rsquo;s office so they can give you your actual marriage license.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat forms of payment for the marriage license application fee are accepted by the county clerk\u0026rsquo;s office?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe $25 marriage license application fee may be paid in cash, check, credit card or money order.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs there a waiting period?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eNo, once you are issued your marriage license, you can get married the same day.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat do we do with the marriage license after the ceremony?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIt is the officiant\u0026rsquo;s responsibility to return the completed, notarized marriage license to the county clerk\u0026rsquo;s office.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the marriage license expire?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eYes, it must be returned to the county clerk\u0026rsquo;s office within 90 days.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","content_live":true,"marriage_licensing_info":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIssuance Office:\u003c/strong\u003e 845 N. Motel Blvd., Las Cruces\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eFee:\u003c/strong\u003e $25 \u0026nbsp;\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eWaiting Period:\u003c/strong\u003e None\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eExpiration:\u003c/strong\u003e 90 days\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eReturn:\u003c/strong\u003e by Officiant\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":""}