Can a friend of Mine Marry Us? she is a Youth Minister

I heard it takes only a few minutes to be ordained online. Anyone can do it. I think your idea is wonderful. Its always nice to have a connection with the person who is performing the ceremony.

You have to be ordained in order to perform weddings. And although many people go online and get ordained to marry their friends. If she is going to divinity school, I don't know that she would cheapen the process of becoming ordained b/c it is a pretty detailed process to do it the "right" way. My FH is a pastor and he just ordained 2 deacons and a minister last week. He spent about 6 months with them preparing them for the ordination.

Well i hope its turns out to be that easy. : D

MissTabbi, it IS a very special touch to have someone close to you perform your wedding. We are very good close to our pastor who will be performing our wedding. He has moved out of state but we'll be flying him in for our wedding. He pastored at the church where we met and we just wouldn't dream of having anyone else do it. FH's other preacher friends are clamoring to be involved. His one friend said "Tell William (our pastor) I'm doing the prayer or something. I'm doing something!" lol So it's very sweet to have that connection with people who'll be involved in such a special day for you. I hope it all works out for you.

It depends on your state. In Florida for instance any notary public can marry someone.

Thanks Everyone for your inputs!

Congrats to all and I hope everything goes Smoothly on your special Day!

Yadayayda is right, it really depends on the state, in MA you don't even need to be ordained you can apply for a special one day allowance to marry someone, but NY is much stricter and you have ot not only be ordained but you have ot be affiliated with a congregation or recongnized by a church with a congregation in NY, if you google marriage laws in your state it should tell you what needs to be done.

Illinois is really quite easy about the whole thing, especially if she is studying for ministry, you are covered. She doesn't have to be ordained. Depending on the county I could send you a copy of what the license will look like. But usually they just ask the "Officiant" to state their title and "Minister" is fine. She may not be done with her education but she will tell you her calling is not a matter of paperwork.

She is good, go for it!

If you want a copy of the license, email me your county.

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