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A Friend as our Officiant??

Ceremony Ideas

A Friend as our Officiant??

From who can walk you down the aisle to crafty ceremony decor, this board is a helpful area to plan your wedding ceremony.

We are having a secular cermony with a few touches from both out relgions. I am a non-practing jew and he is a non practing Catholic. We looked online at some officiants in our area but couldn't stom

0

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Ceremony Ideas

A Friend as our Officiant??

From who can walk you down the aisle to crafty ceremony decor, this board is a helpful area to plan your wedding ceremony.

We are having a secular cermony with a few touches from both out relgions. I am a non-practing jew and he is a non practing Catholic. We looked online at some officiants in our area but couldn't stom

0

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Forums > Wedding Boards > Ceremony Ideas > A Friend as our Officiant??

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A Friend as our Officiant??

posted at 2/8/2012 6:14 PM EST on theknot.com

Dayna217

Joined on
08-16-2010
CENTRAL FLORIDA

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Posts: 68

First: 10/27/2011

Last: 5/24/2012

We are having a secular cermony with a few touches from both out relgions. I am a non-practing jew and he is a non practing Catholic. We looked online at some officiants in our area but couldn't stomach the idea of a total stranger marrying us. So we have decided to ask my Fiance's cousin if he would marry us.

Has anyone else used a family member or friend to officiant their wedding and if so how did you go about getting it legal? I read on the knot to visit a few sites to have his cousin become offical but from there I am totally confused.

Please Help...

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Re: A Friend as our Officiant??

posted at 2/8/2012 6:20 PM EST on theknot.com

naomikb

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From what I understand it depends on your state. Check your local laws about it -- you don't want to have him marry you and find out later that it isn't legal!

In Canada you cannot be married by a lay person, it has to be an approved pastor/religious leader or judge/other legal type of person, I know it is different in the US.

08.20.2011

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Re: A Friend as our Officiant??

posted at 2/8/2012 6:47 PM EST on theknot.com

RetreadBride

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NORTH CAROLINA

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Call the county clerk in the county where you plan to wed. Ask them who can legally officiate at a wedding in your state.

"I'm not crazy. I've just been in a very bad mood for 40 years."

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Re: A Friend as our Officiant??

posted at 2/8/2012 7:58 PM EST on theknot.com

nrayyes

Joined on
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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First: 3/26/2011

Last: 2/23/2012

Yes, it defeinitely varies by state and even county within state. We are having our friend officiate. I think I googled "officiate marriage ceremony California" or something to that effect. It took me to the county clerk-recorder website. Contact your county office -- whichever office handles births, death certificiates,marriage licenses, -- they'd be the ones to help you.

Our officiant has to make an appointment with the county clerk, go in and take an oath and sign something. It's 75$ and seems pretty simple, but you defintiely want to find out what your county/state requires.

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Re: A Friend as our Officiant??

posted at 2/8/2012 7:59 PM EST on theknot.com

Dayna217

Joined on
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CENTRAL FLORIDA

8214175904421385

Posts: 68

First: 10/27/2011

Last: 5/24/2012

Thanks everyone that helps

I will contact my clerk of court right away.

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Re: A Friend as our Officiant??

posted at 2/9/2012 10:07 AM EST on theknot.com

melntaitt

Joined on
02-20-2011
UPSTATE NEW YORK

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First: 3/15/2011

Last: 5/24/2012

Our friend was ordained specifically for our wedding and it does vary by state; he's a great friend of our families' so it was absolutely thrilling to know that he would do that for us.

Pros: He was already invited so there wasn't an associated food costs and it won't be weird for him to sit with a bunch of strangers.

He's a great guy that actually knows us! The ceremony will be touching and personal without a question in my mind :)

120 ready to party!!

Wedding Date: 6/8/2012

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Re: A Friend as our Officiant??

posted at 2/15/2012 1:05 PM EST on theknot.com

MarissaY

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DETROIT

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Last: 5/23/2012

We had my husband's sister officiate over our ceremony, and it was wonderful. She loved having such a special part in our wedding and it gave a more personal touch to our secular nuptials.

I'd recommend looking into your local laws and having your friend be ordained online if that is acceptable per your state's regulations.

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Re: A Friend as our Officiant??

posted at 2/18/2012 9:26 PM EST on theknot.com

CEMurphy04

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NORTHEAST OHIO

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I live in Ohio and my fiance's best friend for years is already "ordained" to do weddings in Ohio. He was going to be the best man anyways and I can't stomach the idea of finding someone, a stranger, that my fiance and I both fall in love with to do something this special for us. My only problem is that now I have to develop the entire ceremony on my own. I am a non-practicing catholic and fiance is a non-practicing baptist so we have to come up with a ceremony that is non-religious but special for us. Good luck!!!

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Re: A Friend as our Officiant??

posted at 2/23/2012 3:14 AM EST on theknot.com

heatherfitz

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ARKANSAS

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My fiance and I are having our friend marry us. He got ordained on his iPhone at a bar one night through a Universalist website. Yes, it was that easy, haha. Now he just has to go through the process and paperwork of becoming officially ordained in the state of Louisiana (we're from Arkansas but getting married in NOLA) and we're all set! :)

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Re: A Friend as our Officiant??

posted at 3/1/2012 9:44 AM EST on theknot.com

calindi

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SOUTH FLORIDA

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Last: 5/13/2012

It depends on the state - Connecticut (where we're getting married) is a gray zone. I've heard on one side you can get ordained by the Universalist Life Church (seriously, as easy as the PP said - just fill out a form online) and others who said they don't recognize that. So just in case, we're having a Justice of the Peace present to co-officiate to make sure everything is legal.

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