How to Officiate a Wedding in Cincinnati, Ohio

If you are getting married, or planning to perform a wedding ceremony in Southern Ohio, there is no better place than Cincinnati. The city is on the banks of the Ohio River and is filled with jaw dropping historical architecture. There are many gorgeous buildings that offer the best of old world charm with modern facilities. 

We like The Phoenix located downtown, and The Monastery Event Center in Mount Adams. Your out of town guests will find many options for non-wedding entertainment in the city’s opera, ballet, theater, symphony and fine art museums including the Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati Art Museum and for something a little different, the Creation Museum.

STEP 1: Get ordained with American Marriage Ministries

First up, the ordainment process. Ohio law states that an ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation within this state may solemnize marriages. If you’re not already a licensed minister, you can get ordained with AMM.  We are the only IRS Certified 501c3 Non-Profit that offers free online ordinations. The process is fast and free. 

Now that you are ordained, you must register with the Ohio Secretary of State before you can start performing marriages. Not only is the process is pretty simple, but you can also do it completely via the mail with a turnaround of about 2-3 days. For more information on this part of the process, follow the link to our minister registration guide specifically for Ohio and scroll down to Step 2.  

STEP 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Hamilton  County

Once you have the official paperwork out of the way, it’s time to prepare for the wedding itself. Being asked to officiate a ceremony is an honor, but can feel overwhelming. Whether you are a first-time officiant or seasoned professional 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 and brainstorming prompts to 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 and complete the marriage license, but double-check that they have a valid marriage license before the ceremony. That means checking that it’s still valid, that the names are spelled correctly, and other important details. 

In Hamilton County, once you have performed the ceremony and notarized the marriage license, you have successfully performed all of your functions as the wedding officiant. The couple will take care of the rest.

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

When the couple is applying for the wedding license, both applicants must be present at the time of application unless an appropriate legal exception applies.  The fee for the license is $75.00. Cash or credit cards are accepted, but checks are not. If you do use credit cards there is a small fee. Each applicant must have a government-issued photo ID (i.e., Driver's License, State ID, passport, VISA, etc.).

The residency of the applicants is also an issue. Here’s how it works: 
 

• Ohio residents wanting to marry in Ohio, apply in the county where they reside.
• Out of state residents getting married in Ohio, apply in the county in which they are getting married.
• Ohio residents getting married in another state or country must apply in the state or country in which they are getting married.
   

If either applicant has been married before, then a certified copy of the Decree of Divorce (or Dissolution) must be presented. If either applicant is a widow or widower they do not require a Death Certificate.

The couple must get married within 60 days of the license being issued. While there is no blood test or waiting period, the license does expire 60 days after issuance.

To complete the application for a marriage license, a couple must:

• Appear together in person.
• Each presents one form of a valid non-expired government-issued, photo identification (such as a driver's license or passport).
• If applicable a certified of the Decree of Divorce.

To save some time at the office, couple's can first complete the online marriage license application.

The Basics

With the prevalence of affordable restaurants and wedding venues, Cincinnati has multiple options for weddings and receptions. One of the most romantic is the timeless Phoenix. Built in 1893, this Art Deco masterpiece offers on-site wedding coordinators to help the couple at every stage of the wedding.  

If you are looking for a premier wedding venue that is unlike any other, The Monastery Event Center is a beautiful place to tie the knot. The old-world interior adds to this venues' classic feel. Wedding parties get exclusive access to the building, courtyard, surrounding grounds, and private parking lot. There is also an on-site chef to prepare your wedding feast.

Transportation

Cincinnati has plenty of options for getting around town. Tell your wedding guests to bring their comfortable shoes so they can use one of the four pedestrian-friendly bridges that span the Ohio River. 

Or you could use any of the many forms of public transportation. The Cincinnati Bell Connector is a modern streetcar system offering a unique way to see all of the happenings in downtown Cincinnati. As for bus service, there is the Southbank Shuttle which provides easy access between Cincinnati and the riverfront cities of Covington and Newport in Northern Kentucky. It makes several stops at popular attractions Downtown and along the riverfront. There is also the Airporter which is a fast, easy, and inexpensive way to get from downtown to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).