How to Officiate a Wedding in Dallas, Texas

We can’t say enough great things about Texas’ northern metropolis, Dallas, as a location for a quintessential American wedding. The Southern city is home to beautiful parks, famous horseback trails, and of course, there’s the AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. It also has some of the state’s most regal event spaces, where thousands of classic country western weddings take place each year. But before you start scouring Etsy for the perfect bolo tie, we’ll help you familiarize yourself with the pertinent details regarding Dallas County’s marriage laws.

Our guide explains how to apply for, fill out, sign and submit marriage licenses and lists the most important tips for wedding officiants and couples looking forward to a Dallas wedding.

Step 1: Get Ordained with American Marriage Ministries

The Texas Statutes § Sec. 2.202 states that "...a person who is an officer of a religious organization and who is authorized by the organization to conduct a marriage ceremony..." is authorized to solemnize marriages.

If you have been asked and have agreed to officiating a wedding the first thing you need to do is get ordained with AMM. Our ordination is free, takes only a few minutes, and meets the Texas Statute § Sec. 2.202, giving you the legal ability to officiate wedding ceremonies.

Minister Registration in Dallas
Ministers are not required to register with Dallas County before officiating weddings, nor does Texas law require minister registration with the state. However, if you are performing weddings in the capacity of a minister, the State of Texas requires that you be ordained, such as through AMM. We advise that you keep proof of your ordination for your own records. It is good practice to keep your ministry credentials on hand in case you are asked to produce them for the couple.

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Dallas

Getting ordained as an AMM minister is the easy part. Your next step is to prepare for the wedding ceremony. For first-time officiants, our wedding training pages are a great resource for learning everything you need to know to perform your first wedding ceremony.

Here we cover everything from explaining the structure of a wedding ceremony, step-by-step instructions on how to write a wedding ceremony script, sample wedding ceremony scripts, and more.

Step 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License

By this point, you should be well prepared to conduct the wedding ceremony. Your one legal responsibility is to complete your section of the couple's marriage license.

Once you, the officiant, have conducted the marriage ceremony, you will be required to verify information on the marriage license, like the date, the couple’s names, and the county in which the ceremony is being performed. Then, hand it off to the couple, who will submit it to the Dallas County Clerk’s office within 10 days of the ceremony.

For more details on filling in the individual fields such as “type of ceremony,” please consult our guide on how to complete a marriage license.

Once the completed marriage license is returned, you have performed all of your functions as the wedding officiant.

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

For the couple to obtain their marriage license, both parties must appear before the county clerk, provide proof of identity and age, complete the necessary forms and take the oath printed on the application before the county clerk.

Dallas marriage license applications can also be completed online. Once this is completed you will recieve an order number with which you can book your appointment.

When you go, remember to bring:

• Current photo ID (driver's license, state-issued photo ID, U.S. passport or U.S. passport card, U.S. military ID, permanent resident card, or a birth certificate with a valid photo ID)
• $81 in cash

Make sure you arrive on time for your appointment!

The Basics

Dallas offers a wide array of venue options that run the gamut from high-end urban hotels, to scenic country clubs, to low-key refurbished barn spaces. Whether you’re planning a black-tie affair, or a laid back country-western hoedown, Dallas has you covered.

Take note of the various festivals that take place throughout the year, like the Dallas International Film Festival in May, the State Fair of Texas during the fall, and the Pride parade in June, which may draw in extra crowds and hike up hotel prices. It’s better to plan your event outside the dates of these highly attended Dallas traditions.

Transportation

The city is not well-known for having good public transportation. Residents like to complain about the DART system’s frequent transfers and long rides. Depending on the venue’s location, guests might want to take a Lyft and Uber, which are available throughout the city.

Weather

The city’s climate is important is also a factor in choosing your wedding venue, with four distinct seasons to consider. Temperatures can soar during the summer months, but winter is quite autumn and winter are mild, with daytime highs averaging at about 65°F, making both seasons good options for a wedding date. Spring temperatures are usually bearable, but the season is known for an occasional thunderstorm, so if you are planning an outdoor wedding, mitigating for a potential downpour during festivities is wise.

Tips For Finding The Right Wedding Officiant

Finding the right wedding officiant starts with a conversation about what sort of wedding ceremony you want to have. Will it be a big, public event, or a small intimate ceremony with family and close friends? Once you’ve got that squared away, here are some points to consider when choosing an officiant:

• You want an officiant who is compatible with the ceremony you are planning. That means someone who is articulate, who is not afraid to speak in front of an audience, and who understands the honor of being asked to deliver your ceremony.
• Find a friend or family member who is going to create and deliver a wedding ceremony that fits you.
• Find an officiant who shares your values and beliefs. You want someone who will work with you to create a ceremony that is meaningful and personal to you. Consider asking someone who has known you since you were both kids, has grown with you, and who shares your vision and spiritual disposition.
• Make sure to give the family member or friend time to think about their answer, and (this is a tough one!) don’t take it personally if they say ‘no.’
• Seek guidance and assistance, especially if this is the friend or family member’s first time delivering a wedding ceremony.