How to Officiate a Wedding in Erie, Pennsylvania

The city of Erie, located on the Northeast tip of Pennsylvania, offers an amazing variety of things to see and do, including museums, outdoor recreation, unique shopping options, and historical landmarks. The big attraction is Lake Erie with it’s the fresh water beaches and stunning sunsets. Erie offers visitors and residents that big city feel with all the best parts of a small town and makes a perfect location for a wedding.

STEP 1: Get ordained with American Marriage Ministries

Let’s start with the ordainment process. According to Pennsylvania state law, “every religious society, religious institution or religious organization in this Commonwealth may join persons together in marriage when at least one of the persons is a member of the society, institution or organization, according to the rules and customs of the society, institution or organization." 

If this doesn’t sound like you, don’t panic. Just get ordained with us and you will be a minister of AMM. The process is free and takes just a few minutes.

When it comes time to officiate the wedding ceremony, Erie County may ask you to present documentation. You can get these from AMM for a small 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).

The Pennsylvania Government does not license, register, or certify ministers or wedding officiants, so once you are signed up with us, you may start performing weddings in the state!

STEP 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Erie County

Now that you are ordained with American Marriage Ministries, it’s time to you’ll need to prepare for the wedding ceremony. Being asked to officiate a ceremony is an honor, but can feel like a lot of pressure.  New officiants will appreciate our wedding training pages, which cover everything you’ll need to know to perform your first wedding ceremony, from your legal responsibilities as an officiant, to sample ceremony scripts. 

To check out the specific laws in the state of Pennsylvania, you can visit our dedicated marriage law pages, where you’ll find some helpful tips and links.

STEP 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License

Obtaining the marriage license is the responsibility of the couple, but it’s good for the minister to double check that it is present on the day of the ceremony. As the minister, you will need to help them complete it in order to make the marriage official.

The Clerk of Orphans’ Court, which is responsible for issuing and filing marriage licenses, will expect the marriage license to be returned within 10 days of the ceremony. Someone should be designated to ensure that the marriage license is mailed back to the office. If you want to be an A+ officiant, offer to take care of this final step for the couple so that they can enjoy their honeymoon without having to worry about returning their marriage license.

Filing for a Marriage License in Erie Pennsylvania 

Both applicants, by appointment only, must appear in person with the following:

• Driver’s license or photo identification that shows your date of birth
• Social Security number (Social Security card is preferred, but if unavailable, please provide Social Security number in a written form)
• Each applicant will need to know your mother’s maiden name, your parents’ current addresses, the state where your parents were born, and your parents’ occupations.
• $60 fee, cash only

You may contact the Marriage Bureau at 814-451-6347 to make an appointment for your marriage license. Although it is not required, filling out the marriage license application before you head in to the office, will help save time at your appointment.

The Basics

If the couple is looking for a ceremony on the water, no venue would be better than The Victorian Princess. Give your guests an authentic paddlewheel boat cruise experience that will provide them with a wedding they’ll never forget. Everyone will head indoors for dinner and bask in the view of the coastal scenery through many expansive arched windows. 

If you want to stay on land, we recommend the Watson-Curtze Mansion. This three-story museum and event space dates back to 1892. Details from mosaic tiles to elaborately carved wooden features will give any wedding the elegance it deserves.

Transportation

People traveling to Erie can arrive by car, plane, and train. An Amtrak train calls on the city twice daily at Union Station in downtown Erie: the Lake Shore Limited, running between New York, Boston, and Chicago. The Erie International Airport is located 5 miles outside of the city and hosts United Airlines, American Airlines, and Northwest Airlines. The Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority (EMTA) operates local and regional bus service seven days a week and makes getting around the city easy for any out-of-town guest. 

Weather

In Erie, the summers are warm and partly cloudy and the winters are freezing, windy, and mostly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 21°F to 79°F and is rarely below 7°F or above 86°F. The best time of year to plan a wedding in Erie for warm weather is from mid-June to mid-September.