How to Officiate a Wedding in Garland, Texas

If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and you’re planning a wedding (or getting ready to officiate one!) then you’ve come to the right place. Locals already know that Garland is the perfect balance between small town and big city, managing to maintain its community feel without sacrificing on any of the amenities that Dallas has to offer. That’s why we think it’s the perfect place to host a good, old fashioned Texas wedding!

We have all of the important info on how to get married in Garland, as well as how to get your officiant-of-choice legally 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 Dallas County Clerk’s website, any person who is an officer of a religious organization and is authorized by the organization to conduct a marriage ceremony may officiate a wedding.

If you do not fall into any of these categories, no sweat. You can get ordained with AMM to fall within the priest or minister category. The process is free and takes just a few minutes.

When it comes time to perform your duties as the officiant, Dallas County may ask you to present documentation, which AMM provides for a 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.)

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Dallas 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

On the day of the wedding, you have two jobs. First, to lead the ceremony, of course, but also to handle the marriage license. Make sure to help the couple fill it out and notarize it correctly.

Then, it’s your job as the officiant to return the license to the Dallas County clerk’s office no later than 30 days after the date of the ceremony.

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

To obtain your marriage license, complete the online marriage license application here, then call the county clerk’s office at (214) 653-7099 with your reference number to schedule an appointment to come in with your partner to present your IDs and pick up your marriage license.

• When you go, just remember to bring:
• Valid, state-issued ID
• $81 for the marriage license application fee

Once your marriage license has been issued, you have 90 days to get married before it expires.

The Basics

If you want to avoid hosting your wedding in the craziness of Dallas, no worries! There are some great options right in Garland! The SpringPark Club is one of our favorites, located on the rolling fields along Spring Creek. You can have your ceremony outside in its manicured courtyard and then take the party inside to its 4,000 square foot clubhouse.

If you’re a fan of the arts, you can even host your big day at the Granville Arts Center and dance the night away with the stars shining inside from its beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows. This is a good option if you’re considering an off-season wedding date, as you’ll be sheltered from the elements.

Also, check out the Poetry Place -- originally a car dealership that has been transformed into a unique venue, but kept its vintage details, which gives it a warm, nostalgic vibe.

If you want to venture a bit further outside of the metropolitan area of Dallas-Fort Worth, there are also some gorgeous country venues in Rockwell, Parker, and Royse City, all just about half an hour from Garland. Your marriage license is valid anywhere in the state of Texas, so the sky’s the limit!

Transportation

If you’re coming in from out of town and you want to get around Garland on the cheap, you can find a map of the city’s bus routes, heavy rail, light rail, passenger rail on the city’s public transportation page. But if you don’t want to bother with route planning, ride-sharing apps Lyft and Uber are available in town, so no need to rent a car if you want to save a little money.

Weather

Average highs during the summer hover in the mid-90s, but there are usually a good handful of 100 degree days. Winters are generally mild and can even get days in the 60s and 70s. However, the average daily high is usually around 55 and with some rain and wind to be expected.

Fall and spring are the best months to visit the Dallas area, when temperatures are in the comfortable 70s. However, these are also the most popular times to plan a wedding, so you may find that venue and accommodation prices will be a bit higher.