Advice on officiant

Technically you can have a ceremony without it but it would just be symbolic and not legal. the marriage license makes the marriage legal.

If you want to marry legally, you need a marriage license from your state. The date you need to get it by depends on your state. At the wedding ceremony, you can give the form to your preacher to sign and send if s/he is licensed in your state. If you can’t find a licensed officiant or preacher then you can always get married symbolically if not legally. Or you can get married legally at the courthouse and then have a symbolic ceremony.

Yes if you want it to be legal then you need to get a license from the government office that issues them. Officiants including ministers will not perform the ceremony without one.

A legal marriage requires a marriage license. Typically, you set the date (with everyone - vendors, officiant etc.) and then get the ML. In PA, you have 60 days from the day it was issued to use it. Since COVID, PA also allows for a self-uniting marriage (just a witness without an officiant).

You need the license for it to be legal and recognized. Some counties in some states are doing online applications since so many places are still closed. The standard is having to go in person to apply, though. Requirements and rules for the license vary by state.