How to Officiate a Wedding in Austin, Texas

Austin’s got it all. Southern charm? Check. Hipster coffee shops? Check. Nude beach? Junk museum? Uh… check. There’s a reason the city’s slogan is “Keep Austin Weird.”

If you’re planning to tie the knot in Austin, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve collected all the technical details about what you need to do to get married in Austin so you can focus on the fun stuff, like designing your custom wedding cake at Cakes ROCK!!!. (We’re not affiliated, just impressed.) Anyway, let’s get down to business.

Step 1: Get Ordained with American Marriage Ministries

Let’s start with the ordainment process. According to Travis County Clerk, the following persons may perform wedding ceremonies: 

• Judges, either active or retired
• Religious leaders of any denomination who are authorized to conduct marriages.

You can get ordained with AMM to fall within the category of religious leaders, and our ordination authorizes you to perform marriages in Texas (and everywhere else in the US). The process is free and takes just a few minutes.

Officiants aren’t required to register with any government office, but the Travis County Clerk’s Office might ask for your documentation, which you can order from our store.

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Travis 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 it can feel like a lot of pressure. You will appreciate our wedding training pages, which are a trove 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. The fact that you are here, doing your research bodes well, and as always, practice makes perfect, so get started early.

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, double-check that they a valid marriage license before the ceremony and that the information as it appears on the license is valid. 

In Austin, once you have performed the ceremony and notarized the marriage license, you have successfully performed all of your functions as the wedding officiant. The couple will take care of the rest.

File for a Marriage License from the Travis County Clerk's Office

To obtain your marriage license, you can start the process online here. Both members of the couple will have to visit the Travis County Clerk at 5501 Airport Blvd to finish the process.

When you go, just remember to bring:

• Valid Driver’s License or Identification Card
• Your Social Security Card or know your Social Security number 

If you take the county’s “Twogether” marriage preparation class, you only pay $21 instead of $81 for the marriage license, and you can skip the 72 hour waiting period. All payment methods are accepted except for checks.

The Basics

Austinites like their festivals, so when you’re planning your wedding, try to choose a day where a major event isn’t happening near your venue. For instance, the highly attended film and music festival South by Southwest (SXSW) take place in March. It draws in more than 150,000 people. You’ll want to avoid the higher hotel prices and traffic that come with the crowds. You can find a list of the city’s major annual events here.

As for wedding venues, whatever your vision, you’ll find it in Austin. The city has everything from old Victorian mansions to urban, minimalist spaces to old west-style ranches.

Transportation

The bus and rail system in Austin Capital Metro is pretty decent, so if you’re from out of town and you’re just trying to get around in the city limits, you may want to utilize it. Lyft and Uber are also good options if you want to avoid renting a car.

Weather

Austin may be weird, but it’s still Texas. Summers are long and hot, and the city typically gets about 16 days in which temps rise of 100 degrees. During the summer, you’ll be grateful you rented a venue with A/C. If you’re planning an outdoor wedding, spring and fall are ideal.