As an ordained minister is it possible to officiate your own wedding?
I have to view this subject under a broader perspective.Marriage is a contract between A and B and the function is mere symbolism for others but for them(BRIDE AND GROOM) it needs legal validity.The need for presence of any legally authorized individual or individuals, depends upon legal necessity for legalizing such contract., validating it with witnesses in the presence of the authorized person (the minister in a church),a priest in a Temple or a Moulavi for the followers of Islam.Any law will say that the perpetrator (who causes the action) or the affected(the victim or beneficiary) can not be the witness, to validate the CONTRACT!Without witnessing the contract is not considered valid. Even cross witnessing is not a legally valid witnessing.(The groom can not witness the signature of the bride or vice versa).Even though the deity of a temple is considered as a legal entity for many legal purposes including taxation,such legal “PERSON” is not authorized to be taken as a valid WITNESS. Many people go to a temple, and do some rituals like exchanging garland and declare “themselves” man and woman saying GOD IS WITNESS, but that is NOT accepted by law.This is the basic principle around the world.PS: Solemnizing word used usually means only conducting the ceremony.Performance is by the Bride and Groom, of executing an agreement ,may be Vocally or by signing a deed. The minister (since he is ORDAINED) is a witness to execution,representing the law of the country. Some laws may insist on other 2 independent witnesses (not relatives) also for other legal reasons.
How can I become a ordained Minister?
To officiate a marriage does not require you to be an ordained minister. Despite the right-wingers' opinion, marriage in the US is a civil ceremony - that's why properly ordained ministers say "by the power vested in me by the State of _, I pronounce you husband and wife." If you want to perform civil marriages, you need the status that a JP or NP or CC has in your state. Determining whether you can perform marriages is a function of the state you live in. And you need to understand the requirements for the couple to get a marriage license. I am a notary public in the state I live in, it's legal for me to officiate at the marriage of a properly-licensed couple, but I am not about to do it!
Can you have a Catholic wedding without an ordained priest?
Technically your friend is correct but this could only occur in a rare instance. One thing you need to understand is the priest does not perform the sacrament of matrimony. He is a witness to the sacrament. The couple actual confer the sacrament upon each other(canons 1108-1116). This is a little known or understood fact of the sacrament. To go somewhat off topic this is the basis for the concept of an annulment. Since the couple confer the sacrament upon each other if one of the couple was not intellectually, emotionally, psychological capable of conferring the sacrament or did not freely do so there is no valid sacrament. Under normal circumstances a priest or deacon is required to WITNESS the sacrament. However in some bizarre circumstances the witnessing could come later. Picture some isolated part of the world where the only priest for hundreds of miles dies. Theoretically in a situation where a priest would not be able to get to the village for years couples could confer a valid sacrament on each other which could be witnessed later. Obviously in today's world this is a difficult situation to envision happening. To go further off topic in the event of a life threatening emergency a priest or deacon is not necessary for a recognized Catholic baptism. Anyone with proper intent using the the words "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" while pouting water of the person can perform a baptism in an emergency.
My friend got an Ordained Minister certificate online, is he able to legally perform ceremonies in Michigan?
My friend went to one of those silly online sites to become an ordained minister where he had to do very little to receive a certificate stating he is an ordained minister. He is booked to marry a couple?! Is this going to be a legally binding wedding? Looking for a site or personal knowledge... Thanks
How can someone get certified online to become a wedding officiant for a friends wedding, in Moncton NB?
Online ordination is only legal and valid in select areas of the US. For Canada, you have to contact your local city government office (City Hall, etc) and they can tell you what is legal in your area and what isn't.
How can someone get certified online to become a wedding officiant for a friends wedding??
I would love to ask a friend to perform my wedding ceremony however, I am not sure how to go about getting this person certified to be able to legally do this. I would prefer to pay for an online course where he could become certified. The wedding is in NY state. Anyone know how to do this?
How does one officiate a wedding ceremony?
Every province and state has its own rules about the legalities. I’m not sure that you were asking about that; if you were, Google up on marrying in your particular state of province.How To Officiate a Wedding If you were asking more about how to create and slam-dunk a ceremony, I’d love to throw a couple of resources your way. I'm a full-time professional wedding officiant; I can affirm that getting a friend of family member to do weddings is a huge growing trend and so I've have made it my mission to resource non-pro friends and family so it's as easy as possible for them to officiate a smashing wedding!Personally, I always tell the couple's story at their wedding in the ceremony; it's become a huge trademark that makes me one of the most sought-after officiants in Toronto. Here's the form I send the bride and groom. They each fill it out and I write their story from their answers. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/...Here's a spreadsheet that I use for my ceremony planning; I sit down with the couple and go over every element here - feel free to use it: https://docs.google.com/spreadsh...Also, you can get my ceremony cheat-sheet that guides anyone through putting a ceremony together and running the rehearsal and the wedding day well; it's at www.unboringofficiant.com.Any ceremony-related questions that you think I can help you with at all, please message me back!
Can you officiate a wedding in Canada without being ordained?
In BC, Canada (in Canada each province and territory regulates marriages) the cheapest people who perform marriages are marriage commissioners. They take the place of the Justice of the Peace. There are also marriage officiants who offer a more luxury service (including a rehearsal, for example. They cost more. They are also secular.)If a person is religious, religious officials of many different types can also perform marriages (if authorized to do so.) Some of these religious people would be Christian ministers who were ordained. Some might be Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, or Buddhist. But they have to go through a registration process and be properly authorized.Generally people would approach their usual church, temple, mosque, etc if that is the route they wanted to go. The minister or imam or priest will know who is authorized within their faith to officiate marriages in BC.Random people cannot officiate marriages in Canada. Everyone who wants to do this must be registered by the provincial government (or territorial government). If becoming a marriage commissioner, there is an application process to the provincial government in BC.
Can my friend perform a marriage ceremony in the UK?
In the UK the laws are much different to the US. In the UK you have to go to a licensed premises (registry office, church etc) and have the legal part of the ceremony conducted by an official, once the vows and paperwork are done you are officially married. You could do this a day or so before the actual wedding date and then have another ceremony as your wedding day itself and have your friend act like the officiant, this would not be legally binding but would be a good compromise. Check out the website www.confetti.co.uk for the UK laws about marriage.