Having a family member marry you in pa

The laws in Pennsylvania are actually very clear. A friend or family member can't officiate a ceremony unless they are ordained. In Pennsylvania, you can't become ordained online as that is illegal. I am from Pennsylvania and my brother at one pointed talked about performing the ceremony, but he couldn't be ordained because of Pennsylvania's laws. As for the self-uniting option, that is literally where you and your fiance perform the ceremony without any kind of officiant hence the word self. Having an officiant of any kind for a self-uniting ceremony is actually breaking marriage laws in Pennsylvania. My husband doesn't believe in God, but I do. Religion isn't at all a part of our relationship so we didn't want a religious ceremony. I looked here for a celebrant to perform the ceremony. I ended up hiring a former mayor to officiate our wedding. He was very nice and made the ceremony very personal to use including our own love story and vows.

Hi Kendra! I'd triple check with your county clerk the exact requirements of a self-uniting marriage ceremony, but it certainly sounds like you could have a friend or family member help lead the service in more of an "MC" capacity than an officiant. Theoretically they could welcome people, prompt your vows, and do a reading or a homily - they just don't have any legal or religious power to marry you! (And to be safe I would make sure the person who emcees is not ordained - online or otherwise!)