How to Officiate a Wedding in Memphis, Tennessee

The home of Graceland and blues is a great spot to have a wedding, especially if the classic Elvis Presley song “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” captures your thoughts about your special someone. Memphis has deep roots and a prominent role in American culture and music and could be the perfect spot to get hitched. Whether you are a music lovers or fan of traditional BBQ, or both, you will have a lot of choice when it’s time to play your ceremony.

Whether you’re a native of Tennessee or you plan on marrying one, we feel that Memphis is a superb spot to hold a classic Southern gathering of friends and family and celebrate a new path in life.

Before you get involved in planning the fun stuff, let us help you with the technical details, starting with getting your minister of choice ordained and prepared to help you exchange vows.

Step 1: Get Ordained with American Marriage Ministries

Per the Shelby County Clerk’s website, wedding officiants need to be ordained through a religious organization or meet other requirements such as being a judge. If you’re not a clergy member or affiliated with a religious organization, you are in luck. You can get ordained with AMM -- the process is free and will take just a few minutes. Once you’ve got that box checked, we’ll get to the good stuff. 

As of late 2019, legislation barring online-ordained ministers from officiating weddings in the state of Tennessee remains suspended pending a resolution. That means you can still get ordained with us and perform a wedding in Memphis TN. That said, please check with your clerk to make sure this is still the case, and the case is current. 

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Shelby County

Now that you’ve got your credentials taken care of, and you’re an ordained minister (right?) we can help you prepare for the wedding ceremony itself. Being asked to officiate a ceremony is a true honor, but requires a bit of preparation. 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 sign the marriage license, the couple getting married have the responsibility to obtain and complete the marriage license, but just be sure to double check that they have a valid marriage license before the ceremony.

Once you have performed the ceremony and signed the marriage license, you have successfully performed all of your functions as the wedding officiant. As the officiant, it is your duty to return the signed and completed Tennessee Department of Health Marriage License and the bottom portion of the Rites of Matrimony form to the Shelby County Clerk’s office after the ceremony.

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

To get your marriage license, both members of the couple will have to visit the Shelby County Clerk’s office at:

Shelby County Clerk
Attn: Marriage Department Suite 201
150 Washington Avenue
Memphis, TN 38103

If you or your partner live in Tennessee, you can apply in one of the counties where either or both of you live. You can hold your wedding in Memphis, or any other county in Tennessee and the marriage license will be valid, just make sure if you obtain a marriage license in Shelby County is must be returned to Shelby County.

When you go, remember to bring the following:

• $97.50
• Photo ID if over 21 years old
• Social Security Number
• A certified copy of a birth certificate issued by the state or county where you were born if you are 18-20 years old

Once you’ve completed your marriage application and obtained your license you have 30 days from the date of issuance to conduct the ceremony and return the completed form, or you will need to file for a new license. If you have proof of completing a state-recognized Premarital Course the marriage license fee is only $37.50.

The Basics

Memphis is a classic Southern city, with lots of events throughout the year, even during the winter! May has the most activities, such as a street music festival in early May and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest in mid-May.

Just check the city’s event pages before you pick your wedding date. It’s also a good idea to check the university’s calendar if your wedding venue is in close proximity to the University of Memphis campus so you don’t wind up fighting the crowds flocking in to see a Tigers game.

If you are starting to look at venues, Memphis has plenty of traditional spaces, like the gorgeous antebellum estate Cedar Hall, situated on 10 acres of English gardens, magnolia trees and beautiful brickwork. Another idea is holding your ceremony at the Lichterman Nature Center, a beautiful and affordable option on 65 acres of green forests.

You could even have a wedding right by the home of Elvis Presley! You might be interested in Graceland's Chapel in the Woods, another great alternative to a traditional venue space. The options are limitless! Make sure to do plenty of research so you don’t miss any of the hidden gems Memphis has to offer.

Transportation

If you don’t want to get a rental car, it’s easy to get around downtown Memphis on foot or by bicycle. The local bus system MATA is well-liked by residents, with easy access to the downtown area all for only $3.50 per day. Rideshare services are available as well.

Weather

Winters are pretty tolerable in Tennessee, with average highs in the 50s for December and January. During the summer, temperatures can climb to the 80s and 90s and it will be hot and muggy from May till September.