How to Officiate a Wedding in Eugene, Oregon

When we think of Eugene, most of us think of the University of Oregon, but outside of the bustling university district is some of Oregon’s most stunning natural splendor -- they don’t call it Emerald City for nothing! And among its beautiful lakes, mountains, and forests, you’ll also find the area is also chock full of gorgeous wedding venues!

Whether you're an “Oregon Duck” yourself, or you’re just marrying one, you’ve come to the right place. Here in our guide, we have everything you need to know about getting legally married in Lane County, plus how to get your officiant-of-choice ordained! So without further ado, let’s get into the guide.

Step 1: Get ordained with American Marriage Ministries

Let’s start with the ordainment process. According to ORS 106.120, officiants of any secular organization that are authorized to solemnize marriages can officiate weddings.

You can sign up with AMM to become ordained through AMM! The process is free and takes just a few minutes. Once you have done so, you are free to start officiating weddings in Oregon! But you might want to do a little extra prep work before performing your first ceremony.

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Lane 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 can feel like a lot of pressure. 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, to brainstorming prompts, tips for preparation, and more.

Step 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License

When it comes time to complete the marriage license, it’s the couple’s responsibility to obtain it, but just be sure to double-check that they have their valid marriage license with them before you perform the ceremony.

After the “I do’s,” it’s time to complete the marriage license. It is important that the ceremony section be completed correctly -- if it is not, the registration of the marriage license could be delayed or rejected by the State of Oregon.

You can find full instructions on how to fill it out so that you’re prepared on the day of the wedding by visiting the county clerk’s website and clicking on “License Conditions” and then “Instructions for Officiant” at the bottom of the page.

Once you and the couple are finished notarizing the marriage license, it’s your job as the officiant to make sure that it is returned to be filed. Use the enclosed envelope or drop it off in person at the Lane County clerk’s office at 125 E 8th Ave within five days of the ceremony.

Now let’s turn our attention to the couple’s responsibilities.

You can fill out a marriage license application either online or from the computers in the county clerk’s office lobby. Either way, both you and your partner must visit the office in person to present your IDs and pick up your actual marriage license.

When you go, just remember to bring:

• Valid IDs (driver’s license or passport are acceptable)
• $70 ($60 for the marriage license fee + $10 for the waiver fee)

That day, you will be issued your marriage license. On the day of your wedding, your officiant will help you fill it out correctly and take care of returning it to the county clerk’s office for filing.

The Basics

Before committing to a wedding date, you’ll want to check the local events calendars in Eugene -- especially if you’ve chosen a venue near the university. Traffic gets especially crazy on game nights, so unless you want to grapple to find parking on your wedding day, you’ll want to avoid booking a venue on the night of a highly attended event.

Speaking of venues, if you’re looking for a location in the center of town, check out Civic Wines. It’s the perfect place for a large or small gathering, as it can accommodate up to 250 people. Plus, you can guarantee that the wine that’s served is going to be fantastic! The Hult Performing Arts Center and the Athletic Club also offer beautiful wedding facilities and are conveniently located downtown.

However, outside of Eugene proper, there are more fantastic gems in Lane County waiting to be uncovered.

The Noble Lodge, located next to Fern Ridge Lake, looks a little rough from the outside, but inside the facility is a rustic fantasy, with its floor-to-ceiling wood and beautiful exposed beams. Plus, you can take a quick trip to the lake to snap some beautiful waterfront photos before your reception. Score!

But if you’ve always dreamed of saying your “I do’s” on the beach, you can head out to the gorgeous Oregon coast. Heceta Lighthouse is a dreamy bed and breakfast only an hour-and-a-half from Eugene. Take a look at their photo gallery to instantly fall in love with the view of the ocean from the property, the vibrantly green grounds, and the quaint lighthouse in the background, all of which make for beautiful backdrops to wedding photos.

Transportation

Because Eugene is a college town, the public transportation system is quite decent if you want to get around on the cheap. However, if you’ll be visiting areas on the outskirts of Eugene, it’s easiest and fastest to go by car. There are an abundance of Lyft/Uber drivers in town, so you’ll never have a problem finding an Uber or Lyft “pool” (the cheapest way to use ride-sharing apps.)

Weather

The most beautiful weather in Eugene occurs between mid-May and early September when the sky will be clear and the temperature will stay in the range of the high 60s to low 80s most of the time. From late September onward, the sky will become overcast and there will be moderate to heavy rain regularly. Winter is fairly cold and rainy, and there is sometimes snow from December through February. Come March, semi-sunny days start to appear once or twice a week.

May, June, and September are probably the best months to host a wedding in Eugene, as the weather is not too hot, not too cold -- just perfect. However, if you’re planning a wedding on the beach, choose July or August, as the coastal temperatures are always quite a bit lower than they are inland.