My fiance and I don't want to get married in church, but we are having problems getting a judge to perform an outdoor ceremony.... Can anyone help???
2007-03-15 08:30:07 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Each state's laws vary on who can perform a wedding. While some states do authorize a public notary to perform a wedding ceremony, other states do not.
For example in the state of Michigan only ordained minsters, magistrates (a civil officer with power to administer and enforce law -- Justice of the Peace), mayors of a Michigan cities or a judges can perform ceremonies; notaries cannot.
But in the state of Florida ordained ministers or other ordained clergy, and all judicial officers, including retired judicial officers, clerks of the circuit courts, and public notaries can perform marriage ceremonies.
You can visit the official website of any state to obtain their regulations on who has the authority to perform marriage ceremonies.
Also, some people have their family or friends become ordained through the Universal Life Church or similar organization so they can perform their marriage ceremony. There are also a lot of non-denominational ordained ministers who are willing to perform both religious and civil ceremonies (no reference to religion is given during the ceremony) at any location including outdoors locations.
2007-03-15 09:23:02 · answer #1 · answered by Veronica W 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to get married in a church to have a minister perform the ceremony. I'm nondenominational & perform civil as well as spiritual ceremonies, indoors or out.
Judges & JPs can only perform ceremonies in their jurisdiction. Some notaries can perform ceremonies, but I don't know any details about that. And no, ship captains cannot perform a wedding legally unless they are ordained and/or licensed. Here in Ohio we must be both; ordained by a church; licensed by the State.
Only ministers can cross county & state lines.
To find an officiant type into Yahoo your city, state & wedding officiant (no 's' on the end) You will have a few to choose from, usually on the 2nd page. The larger bridal sites seem to get top billing. If you do go to the bridal sites, please visit the site of someone you think you might like. Those bridal sites make vendors & officiants pay for your contact info so you may not hear back from someone you'd hoped.
2007-03-15 09:45:04 · answer #2 · answered by weddrev 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm in the same boat you are. It depends on what state you live in. Where I'm from, anyone who is a notary can officiate. There are lots of options. Some people who aren't really "Ministers" get licensed to marry people and do it for a living. If you search around you can find people online who are local and willing to officiate. We actually may have found an officiant through a dj service. One of the dj's is a notary and if you book their services he will officiate for $50! All the other non-church affiliated officiants charge like $250. A friend of mine got married and had another friend's mother officiate. She got "ordained" through one of those alternative churches. They even ordain people online these days. Good luck to you and congratulations!
2007-03-15 08:37:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
i always heard sea captains can.that's prolly just in movies tho. and - an outdoor ceremony won't be in a church...so is it that you don't want a reverend marrying you,because a preacher would be happy to do an outdoor wedding at another location,and avoid a church that way.
2007-03-15 08:39:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anyone that is a Notary Public can perform the ceremony for you.
2007-03-15 08:34:52 · answer #5 · answered by leslie 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
might want to check with your state website regarding marriage licenses and certificates.
here in british columbia, canada, the website lists people allowed to perform wedding ceremonies. they're called marriage commissioners. they just go wherever your wedding is ... but they might have travel fees though.
2007-03-16 01:00:24 · answer #6 · answered by Vanessa 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ship Captains
2007-03-15 08:39:05 · answer #7 · answered by onyxdraco99 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Anyone that's a notary public can do the ceremony.
2007-03-15 09:03:47 · answer #8 · answered by Felecia J 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
you can have a friend get certified from your state's Governor to act as a solemnizer...that is that I am doing. Go to your state's government website (i.e. www.mass.gov) and look up what the process is in your state.
2007-03-15 08:48:12 · answer #9 · answered by ♥Mommy to 3 year old Jacob and baby on the way♥ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't know where you live but recently I read that in Colorado it is legal to marry yourselves.
2007-03-15 17:47:15 · answer #10 · answered by Deeday 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋