How to Officiate a Wedding in Norman, Oklahoma

As the third-largest city in Oklahoma, Norman is an active college town with a thriving nightlife, rowdy stadiums, world-class museums, and plenty of diverse dining options. Enjoy a Las Vegas-style gambling experience at the Thunderbird Casino and play on an option of over 500 slot machines. Or, try out some hearty German cuisine at Das Boot Camp where they serve handcrafted German beer and authentic bratwurst or wiener schnitzel. If you happen to be in the mood for a rowdy experience and are in Norman at the right time, go get loud at a Sooners football game or check out Lions Park where regular outdoor concerts take place. If a more relaxed and mentally stimulating experience is more your cup of tea, make sure to visit the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History or the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. 

However, before you plan all your fun activities, let's get you caught up with everything you need to know about getting married in Norman.
 

Step 1: Get Ordained with American Marriage Ministries.

As long as you are officially ordained, Oklahoma law enables anyone to perform a wedding ceremony. If you have been asked by friends or family to officiate a wedding, just take a few minutes to sign up with AMM and become an officially ordained minister. The process is free and should not take you more than a few minutes to complete. 

The county clerk's office will most likely require you to present some documentation as proof that you are an ordained minister. AMM provides this for a small fee, but if you aren’t sure, contact the local authorities for specific requirements. 

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Norman

Officiating a wedding is a great honor, but can also seem like quite a challenge, especially if it's your first time. If you need help writing a speech, brainstorming for ideas, or just want some sample wedding ceremony scripts, make sure to check out our wedding training pages. Our library of information should answer all your questions, and help you gain confidence for the big day. 

Step 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License

It is the couple’s responsibility to obtain and sign the marriage license; however, your job as the officiant is to also sign it and then make sure that it is returned to the county clerk’s office no later than 30 days after issuance.

On arrival at the county clerk's office, the couple must both present valid personal identification and pay the marriage license fee of $50. This fee can be reduced to $5 if the couple has completed a four hour premarital counseling course and can provide verification.

When you go don’t forget to bring:

• Government ID (Driver’s License, Military or State ID, Passport)
• $50 for marriage license fee
• Other applicable documents (Divorce papers etc…)
   

The Basics

For a beautiful outdoor ceremony by a quaint pond with an elegant stone house and large oak trees, we would highly recommend the Hillside Manor as an excellent location to tie the knot. The Springs venue in Norman is also one of AMM’s top locations due to its expansive grounds, rustic pavilion, and enormous manor house. This is a great bet if you are planning to have a large reception for family and friends. If you are looking for something a little more within your budget, check out the Thunderbird Chapel. 

Transportation

For getting around Norman, the city has excellent public transportation through their CART bus services. These buses should take you where you need to go in a quick and orderly fashion. If riding a bus isn’t your style, Uber and Lyft rideshare services should also be available.

Weather

Norman happens to lie smack dab in the middle of “Tornado Alley” - America’s most frequently affected tornado region - so make sure to check the radar if you are planning the wedding for tornado season. Otherwise, Norman summers can get swelteringly hot with temperatures sometimes getting into the low hundreds. In contrast, winters are cold with the occasional light snowfall.