How to Officiate a Wedding in Asheville, North Carolina

Home to the highest and oldest mountain peaks east of the Mississippi, Asheville is a wonderland of adventure and fun. As a melting pot of cultures and traditions, this southern town buzzes with art fairs and vibrant music events. So, of course, you’re going to have a lot of fun once you’re in town, but we at AMM also want to make sure that you’re not stressing over wedding day logistics. 

We’ve created a step-by-step guide to help you figure everything out, from ordaining your hand-picked minister to writing a thoughtful and memorable wedding ceremony script. So without further ado, let’s start with the ordainment process.
 

Step 1: Get Ordained with American Marriage Ministries

In North Carolina, a minister authorized by a judge or magistrate, or any minister ordained by a religious organization, can officiate marriages. By taking a few minutes to sign up with AMM, you can obtain full legal status as an ordained minister. The process is one hundred percent free and should only take you a few minutes to complete. 

Step 2: Prepare for the Wedding Ceremony in Asheville

Being asked to perform the wedding ceremony is a great privilege, and you should be honored if asked to take one on. However, with this merit also comes the responsibility to deliver a smooth and well-thought-through ceremony. But don’t worry, AMM has your back, whether it’s brainstorming for your speech or writing the actual script. You can find all this information by checking out our website’s

wedding training pages. 

Step 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License

It is the responsibility of the couple to obtain and fill out the marriage license. However, your job as the officiant is to make sure that it is filled out correctly and returned to the Register of Deeds Office within ten days after solemnization. Once this is completed, your functions as the officiant are fulfilled, and you can sit back and relax!

File for the Marriage License from the Buncombe County Register of Deeds

In order to receive a marriage license, the couple must visit the local Register of Deeds and both be able to present valid photo identification and Social Security Cards. The couple should also first complete the online Marriage License Application before the visit. The marriage license costs $60, is valid for 60 days upon issuance, and can be used anywhere in the State of North Carolina. 

When you go, don’t forget to bring:

• Valid photo identification
• Social Security Card
• $60 ( payable in Cash, Credit/Debit Card, Check, or Money Order)
   

The Basics

Lucky for you, Asheville has a lot of different styles of wedding venues to choose from. When searching for a venue, remember that availability is one of the first things you want to nail down. You may want to have a couple of alternative options, but if you call to book far enough in advance, you’ll have a better chance of securing your venue of choice. This will also give you a much more relaxed time pinning down the details of your big day. 

As far as specific venues are concerned, Asheville’s historic Masonic Temple brings together exquisite architecture and excellent service to help create a memorable experience. For a more poetic and quaint wedding, check out the Haiku I Do venue, which is dedicated to making your big day feel unique and intimate. Finally, for an especially elegant wedding, check out Homewood, a historic 1920s stone manor with full catering services available!  

Transportation

ART (Asheville Rides Transit) provides bus service throughout the City of Asheville and to the Town of Black Mountain. Asheville is also considered a bicycle-friendly community, so if you’re down for the exercise and going green, consider renting a bike or bringing your own. Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft should also be readily available.

Weather

Summers in Asheville are hot and humid, with consistent temperatures in the mid 80’s and regular thundershowers. Winters are mild, with temperatures seldom dropping below 40 degrees, but the occasional snowfall does blow through.