Suffolk County Officiant Rules

sames52915

Does anyone know the requirements in Suffolk County to perform a legal wedding ceremony? We want to have a friend perform our ceremony and I know he needs to get ordained, but I have heard that certain NY counties have strict rules with this. I am having a hard time finding out exactly what will be needed. Has anyone had any experience with this?

Hummingbird125

Sorry I don't have an answer for you, but I'm planning on doing the same thing, so please share any info you find! 

lindaustin

Hi brides! 
I just got married, we had our family friend become an officiant just to marry us! It made the ceremony that much more special, and it saved us hundreds!

We got our marriage license from the Town of Oyster Bay, but the ceremony was performed in Setauket.

The best way to go about this is to call the town you plan on getting your legal marriage license filed in, and ask if they accept a marriage to be performed by an ordained minister in the "xxxx (whatever church, organization they get ordained in).

Our officiant was ordained in the Universal Life Church: http://www.ulc.org/ordination/

So in short, you have to ask the town, village, whatever that you plan on getting your MARRIAGE LICENSE registered in, not from the county.

hope this helps! Happy planning--

sames52915

thanks!!

Hummingbird125

@lindaustin - Thanks so much! I'm getting married in Setauket too! This is probably a silly question - but can you file your marriage license in any town/county in NY? Does it not matter what town you're actually having the ceremony performed in?

sames52915

@hummingbird125 that is actually a great question, I've been wondering it myself!

Hummingbird125

@sames52915

Looks like you can get it anywhere in NY state...

http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/new_york/marriage_licenses/index.shtml