How to Officiate a Wedding in Provo, Utah

If you’re from Provo, Utah then you already know that this university town is one of the best-kept secrets west of the Rocky Mountains. With spectacular mountain views, thriving music, dance, and art scene, and close proximity to mountains, forests, rivers, fishing, and biking, it’s hard to think of something not to like about Provo! But if you’re getting ready to tie the knot, you’ll find that it has plenty to offer couples, as well.

Here in our guide, we have everything you need to know about how to get legally married in Utah County -- plus, how to get your officiant-of-choice legally ordained to officiate your wedding!
 

Step 1: Get Ordained with American Marriage Ministries

Let’s start with the ordainment process. According to Utah Code 30-1-6, “ministers, rabbis, or priests of any religious denomination who are in regular communion with any religious society, and are 18 years of age or older” may perform marriage ceremonies in the state of Utah.

If you do not fall into any of these categories, no sweat. As long as you are 18 or older, you can get ordained with AMM to fall within the minister category. The process is free and takes just a few minutes.

The Utah government does not license, register, or certify ministers or wedding officiants, so once you are registered with us, you’re all set to start performing wedding ceremonies! However, you may still want to have your minister credentials on hand in case the couple would like to confirm your ordination status, or if you end up officiating other weddings in states where registration is required.

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Utah 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

It’s the couple’s responsibility to start their application (either in person or online.) Make sure that they have done so before the day of the wedding. After you perform the ceremony, complete the marriage license using the online link, which you should have received via e-mail. There is no need to drop anything off in person or mail anything in. You have 30 days from the day of the ceremony to complete your portion, although it’s best to take care of it the same day so that you don’t forget.

Once you have done so, you have successfully performed all of your functions as the wedding officiant. The couple will then receive a certified copy of their marriage license via email.
 

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

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

You can complete your marriage license application online or in-person at the Utah County clerk’s office (no appointment needed.)

You will need:

• Valid, state-issued photo IDs for both applicants
• A phone or camera to take pictures of your IDs (if applying online)
• A credit or debit card for the $70 marriage license application fees

You can get a $20 discount by completing a premarital education course or receiving couple’s counseling. To learn how to get the discount, visit www.strongermarriage.org.

Once you have been issued your marriage license, you will have 30 days to get married before the license expires. On the day of the wedding, your officiant will help you fill it out and notarize it correctly.

The Basics

One of the reasons Provo is such a great place to live is because of all of the festivals, parades and rodeos that occur throughout the year. But when choosing your wedding date, you’ll want to take note of these days so that you don’t accidentally plan your wedding day on top of one of them, as the traffic and parking can be nightmarish. However, if your venue is far enough from the town center, you won’t have to worry too much about traffic.

Speaking of venues, there are some great options to choose from in Provo and the surrounding areas.

If you’re looking for a classic style of venue, the Canyon Event Center, the White Shanty, and the Manor at Riverwoods are great, all-inclusive options located right in town.

But if you want something a little more unique, you’ll be surprised at the number of options that Provo has to offer. The Brick Room at Big Door, and the Bright Building both have that industrial, barebones feel that modern couples love. The Underground Social Hall is another outside-of-the-box option with a vintage, speakeasy kind of vibe.

If you’re willing to expand your search outside of Provo, you’ll find there are some real gems worth checking out, like the Millcreek Inn, located in the mountains near Salt Lake City. Or the Quiet Meadow Farm, a gorgeous indoor/outdoor venue in Mapleton, just 20 minutes south of Provo.

Transportation

Thanks to BYU, Provo has pretty decent public transportation for those days when you’re trying to get from point A to point B on the cheap. But if you’re coming in from out of town and you need to get around in a hurry, it’s best to have Lyft and/or Uber downloaded on your phone.

Weather  

The weather in the Happy Valley is fabulous if you enjoy having four distinct seasons. Fall is gorgeous, with the leaves changing color against the backdrop of the mountains; winter is cold and snowy, but near guarantees a white Christmas; spring is all over the place, but glorious to behold; and summer is rarely too hot, with lots of stuff to do. Depending on the venue that you choose, you can host your wedding during any of Provo’s beautiful seasons.