How to Officiate a Wedding in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma is hardly known as a “tourist destination,” but that’s a big part of its charm. It’s part of a class of US cities that are interesting, vibrant, and worth visiting on their own terms, without being featured in the New York Times travel section. The state is known for its vast, serene prairies and its strong Native American culture, which its residents celebrate proudly.

Whether you’re an Oklahoma resident, you’re marrying an Oklahoman, or you’re from out-of-state and are planning to tie the knot during a visit to the Sooner State, we at AMM are here to help you navigate the process of getting married in Oklahoma, starting with getting your officiant of choice registered. Let’s begin.

Step 1: Get Ordained with American Marriage Ministries

In Oklahoma, you can have a judge, a justice of the peace, or a friend perform a wedding ceremony as long as they are officially ordained.

If you’ve been asked to facilitate a wedding ceremony, you can get ordained with AMM to become an ordained minister. The process is free and takes just a few minutes.

When it comes time to perform your duties as the officiant, Oklahoma County may ask you to present documentation, which AMM provides for a fee. (You can call the county clerk’s office before you perform the ceremony to ask if they will require you to bring the certificate in person.)

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Oklahoma County

Now that the easy part is out of the way, we can help you prepare for the wedding ceremony itself. Being asked to officiate a ceremony is an honor, but requires some preparation. Check out our wedding training pages, which are a great resource 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, to brainstorming prompts, 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 once you have performed the ceremony, you, the officiant, will need to sign the marriage license and ensure that it is turned back into the county clerk’s office within 30 days of the ceremony.

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

Both members of the couple will need to go to the county court clerk's office in order to obtain the marriage license.

When you go, remember to bring:

• Government ID (driver's license, birth certificate or passport)
• $50 for the marriage license

You don’t have to live in Oklahoma to obtain a marriage license, but the wedding must take place in the state. The license is valid for 10 days after issuance.

If you are pinching pennies, you can reduce the marriage license fee to $5 if you bring a state-approved certificate that shows you and your partner have received four hours of premarital counseling. It’s part of the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative that counseling is free to residents, so why not?

The Basics

If you’re interested in having a black-tie affair, Oklahoma City has some great formal venue options like Coles Garden Wedding and Event Center and the Dominion House resort, both of which offer stunning views of manicured gardens surrounding the indoor party spaces. But if you’re interested in hosting a more low-key affair, there are a lot of beautifully renovated ranch and barn spaces, like the Rustic Redbird Lodge and the Hillside Manor, which will set the scene for a relaxed but romantic gathering while showcasing Oklahoma’s unique landscape. 

Transportation

Oklahoma has over 900 miles of highways, so it’s truly a driving state. Public transportation is pretty limited outside of downtown areas, so if you or your guests are from out of state, we’d advise you and your guests to rent cars to get around most easily. Lyft and Uber are also available, but may not be reliable for traveling long distances outside of city areas, especially at night time.

Weather

Locals already know that volatile weather is a regular part of life in Oklahoma. The state gets an average of about 56 tornadoes per year, but they are mostly concentrated in the springtime between April and June. So, a spring wedding is might not be advisable, unless you have enough room for all of your wedding guests to cram into the cellar in the event of a twister or hail storm.

Summers are pretty hot, with average temperatures reaching 94 degrees. Winters are mild, with average daily highs around 50 degrees, but there can still be the occasional snow or ice storm.

The ideal time to get married in Oklahoma is between September and November when the temperatures are in the 60s and 70s and the weather is calm. However, take note that the Oklahoma State Fair takes place mid-September each year, and attracts close to one million people, so try to avoid setting a date during this eleven-day celebration.