{"id":27128,"name":"Columbus","state_id":45,"county_id":2269,"created_at":"2019-08-20T10:39:45.516-07:00","updated_at":"2023-10-31T07:35:07.120-07:00","meta_description":"Learn about officiating weddings and planning ceremonies in Columbus, Ohio. Tips for ceremony planning, wedding licence application, venue booking, signing the marriage license, officiating the ceremony and much more.","head_tag":"A Columbus Guide for Wedding Ministers and Couples","tagline":"Join hearts in “the Heart of it All”","intro_section":"\u003cp\u003eColumbus, known fondly as the \u0026ldquo;Heart of it All,\u0026rdquo; has so much to offer couples looking to take that big step into matrimony. The capital of Ohio, Columbus is a vibrant city, home to the University of Ohio and its famous football team, the Buckeyes. But somehow, it\u0026rsquo;s retained that small-town homey Midwestern feel, despite its growing population.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eMost couples that tie the knot in Columbus prefer a more formal affair; of weddings in the area are semi-formal or black tie. If you fall into this category, you\u0026rsquo;ll drool over the gorgeous ballrooms, wineries and hotels, which are perfect for a formal ceremony or reception. Venues like the High Line Car House and La Navona, with their carpentry-driven architecture, lay the perfect foundation for a couple chasing that ethereal, picturesque wedding.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eBut there are plenty of options for couple\u0026rsquo;s that want to be a little closer to nature. Columbus is known for its numerous parks. Check out the famous Whetstone Park of Roses, a unique, Eden-sque sanctuary that is a favorite of local couples. The park has three wedding areas to choose from on site, so you\u0026rsquo;ll likely be able to secure a date that fits your schedule and a location that meets your requirements.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhatever your style, Columbus has something for offer. So, if you\u0026rsquo;re ready to commit to a wedding in Columbus, sit back and relax. We\u0026rsquo;ll walk you through the logistics of planning a Columbus wedding.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","officiant_section":"\u003cp\u003eFirst, you will need to \u003ca href=\"/ordination-application\"\u003eget ordained online\u003c/a\u003e with American Marriage Ministries.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eTo perform a wedding ceremony in the state of Ohio, you\u0026rsquo;ll need to apply by sending in a completed copy of the Ohio Secretary of State\u0026rsquo;s form, which you can find here. Once you\u0026rsquo;ve printed the form and filled it out, send it with a $10 filing fee in the form of a check or money order, as well as a copy of your ordination certificate. You can find all the necessary materials in our \u003ca href=\"https://theamm.org/store/products/minister-ordination-package\"\u003eOhio State Minister Ordination Package.\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nThese documents will need to be sent to the Ohio Secretary of State Minister\u0026#39;s License office at 180 East Broad Street, Suite 103 Columbus, OH 43215. It should take about 3-5 business days to process. If you\u0026rsquo;d like to check if a license is approved, you can use their minister search engine by entering in your last and first name and clicking \u0026ldquo;run report.\u0026rdquo; If your name appears, the secretary\u0026rsquo;s office says that you can rest assured that it has been approved.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eHow to complete the marriage license\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe couple must appear together at the Franklin county clerk\u0026rsquo;s office at 373 South High Street on the 23rd Floor 60 days or less from the marriage date to sign the application in person to provide identification. To get a jump on the process, the couple can fill out the preliminary online license request form \u003ca href=\"https://probate.franklincountyohio.gov/marriage-license-application\"\u003ehere\u003c/a\u003e, or just start the process when they visit in-person.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nResidents of Ohio will need to obtain a marriage license in one of the counties that either applicant resides. So, to register to marry in Columbus, at least one of the applicants must be a resident of Franklin County, but the license is valid anywhere in the state.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nOut-of-state residents couples will simply need to register in the county where the ceremony is set to take place.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nYou can find Franklin County\u0026rsquo;s marriage laws in AMM\u0026rsquo;s \u003ca href=\"https://theamm.org/marriage-laws\"\u003emarriage law library\u003c/a\u003e. The state allows the following persons to perform a wedding in Ohio, according to the Franklin County Probate Court\u0026rsquo;s website: \u0026ldquo;An ordained or licensed officiant who is registered with the Secretary of the State of Ohio, a judge, a mayor, or the Superintendent of the State School for the Deaf may solemnize a marriage.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nAnd of course, as an AMM ordained minister, you will fall under the category of \u0026ldquo;licensed officiant.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","couple_section":"\u003cp\u003eWhen you visit the Franklin county clerk\u0026rsquo;s office to obtain your marriage license, don\u0026rsquo;t forget to bring a valid photo ID, like a driver\u0026rsquo;s license, and the social security numbers of the couple.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nThe fee for the marriage license is $65 and cash or credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard and Discover are accepted.) Note the 3% service fee for card transactions.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eTips For Finding The Right Wedding Officiant\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIt\u0026rsquo;s important to consider the kind of wedding ceremony you want to have as you pare down your options for an appropriate officiant. An intimate ceremony may call for a family member or close friend of one of the spouses. Perhaps a larger ceremony would call for someone who is more experienced in public speaking. Consider these bullet-points when choosing candidates for your officiant:\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\u003eYou want an officiant who is compatible with the ceremony you are planning. That means someone who is articulate, who is not afraid to speak in front of an audience, and who understands the honor of being asked to deliver your ceremony.\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eFind an officiant who shares your values and beliefs. You want someone who will work with you to create a ceremony that is meaningful and personal to you. Consider asking someone who has known you since you were both kids, has grown with you, and who shares your vision and spiritual disposition.\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eMake sure to give the family member or friend time to think about their answer, and (this is a tough one!) don\u0026rsquo;t take it personally if they say \u0026lsquo;no.\u0026rsquo;\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eSeek guidance and assistance, especially if this is the friend or family member\u0026rsquo;s first time delivering a wedding ceremony.\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n","wedding_tips":"\u003ch3\u003eThe Basics\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eColumbus locals are known to enjoy their fair share of spirited events, the most obvious being their affinity for football. Columbus is home of the Ohio State Buckeyes, and the team\u0026rsquo;s fans are dedicated. When there is a home-game at Ohio Stadium, all bets are off as far as traffic is concerned, before and after the game. So, be sure to factor this information into your wedding plans.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe city is also famous for having one of the oldest gay pride parades, which has been around since the early 1980s. It now ranks among the largest in the Midwestern region, and rallies about 500,000 spectators each year. It occurs in mid-June, so be sure to mark your calendar as you are planning your nuptial events.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eAnother highly-attended event is the annual Doo Dah Parade, which falls on July 4, giving Columbus residents the opportunity to celebrate \u0026ldquo;liberty and lunacy.\u0026rdquo; According to the event\u0026rsquo;s \u003ca href=\"https://www.doodahparade.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ewebsite\u003c/a\u003e, the parade has been helping to \u0026ldquo;slay political dragons with humor\u0026rdquo; for more than 35 years. You may want to choose a wedding date that doesn\u0026rsquo;t overlap, as some streets are shut down for the wacky block party.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIf you must plan your event on the same day as one of these Columbus traditions, just be sure that guests are aware to allocate extra time for transportation.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eTransportation\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIf you have a spread-out group of wedding attendees, Columbus\u0026rsquo; central location is another good reason to choose the city for the site of your wedding; about half of the U.S. population lives within \u003ca href=\"http://mentalfloss.com/article/503187/25-things-you-should-know-about-columbus-ohio\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e600 miles\u003c/a\u003e of the city. Your guests from Chicago, New York City and Atlanta will be able to make the drive in less than a day.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIt\u0026rsquo;s possible to get around Columbus using its bus system, the Central Ohio Transit Authority, or \u0026ldquo;COTA,\u0026rdquo; however, locals tend to complain that the system\u0026rsquo;s geographic network isn\u0026rsquo;t comprehensive enough. In addition, Columbus is not considered the most walkable or bikeable city, so you should advise your guests to drive or use Lyft or Uber to ensure timely arrival to your wedding.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eWeather\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eOhio\u0026#39;s climate tends to teeter-totter from one extreme to the other, from season to season. Summer temperatures reach up to 90\u0026deg;F and can get somewhat humid, while winters get quite cold and see plenty of snowfall. Your best bet for landing good weather on your wedding day would be planning a date sometime in mid-Spring or early-Fall, avoiding the peak of summer heat in July and the cold winter months.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","faq":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs there a waiting period between the office\u0026rsquo;s acceptance of the marriage application and receiving the marriage license?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Once the application is accepted by Franklin county probate court, there is no waiting period. The license will then be valid for 60 days from the date of issuance.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs there a formal registration process to register as an official ordained minister in Franklin county?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Unlike some other states, you will need to provide the Secretary of State\u0026rsquo;s office with your ordination certificate. See the above section \u0026ldquo;Information for the Officiant\u0026rdquo; for details.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","content_live":true,"marriage_licensing_info":"\u003cp\u003eFee: $65\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eExpiration: 30 days\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eAddress: 373 South High Street, 23rd Floor\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003ePhone: 614-525-3108\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eReturn: By Couple or 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":""}