having a friend as officiant

We had our friend officiate because we both loved the idea. The only thing to remember is that your friend will probably be very nervous (as ours was!). Every time he had me repeat after him he tried to give me four or five lines before he had me repeat so I kept having to ask him what over and over. Of course, for my husband, he would give him two or three words at the time. It was just because he was nervous and everyone there thought it was funny and we got married (the most important thing). We also saved money because we didn't have to pay him anything! Unless you are really religious, this is a good option, as long as the law allows it!

So can someone please let me know know how to would work.

We are getting married in May in Philadelphia PA- and we are having our friend to officate our wedding.

We are residents of the State of VA ... so if we are following the who can marry us rule- should we follow the VA one or the PA one?

Looks like VA's rule isnt as strict as the PA ones...

Can someone please clarify that for me?

I want to provide our friend as much info as possible to get him ordinated ... I just dont know how to go about doing that

Much appreciated!

In Virginia, online ordination is not accepted. All Courthouses have a blacklist of all the online ordinations. Most brides that I have talked to don't want to pay at least $500 to a total stranger to marry them.

The best solution is HLAM Ministries who has a network of churches who issue the ordinations, not HLAM Ministries. Don't wait till the last minute since they are very busy getting all the ministers the paperwork from the churches that are needed to take to the courthouse.

All the Virginia couples' that I know agree that it is worth the small fee to go the way I did. Our officiant turned out great because of HLAM and the local church that helped out.