ordained for a day

Honestly, I'd consider getting a pro officiant before getting a new venue.

If his cousin wants to be involved in the ceremony, it'd be far easier for him to do a reading than figure out how to get him ordained and where that will be accepted.

Hiring a pro will be your best bet.

Hire a professional who will meet the legal requirements of the State of CT.

The cousin can do a reading or say a prayer.

Can he do a reading? It should be done by a professional. You want to make sure, above all, that you are actually married at the end of all this.

Your cousin can be involved in the ceremony, but ordaining him for a day seems a little sketchy and like you said, could potentially cause some issues with the legality. Not to mention the pain of switching venues just to accommodate. Hire a professional

Finding another venue and losing a deposit so a cousin can play celebrant for a day? That would be a big no from me. Hire a professional.

Keep your venue, hire someone else. I agree with other PPs, a reading or other role would let your cousin be a part of your day.

Thanks for the advice! I actually figured out the perfect plan. We'll hire a JP for the legal & official portion and we'll have his cousin do the ceremony. One of my coworkers did the same thing for her Connecticut wedding a year ago. Thanks for the help everyone!

The ceremony IS the legal part.. So that won't work unless you get married before or after your ceremony.

And don't do that. People spend all that time and money to see you GETTING married, not PRETENDING to get married. Unless you are going to have two people up there, which would be odd, tell your cousin to come as a guest. Inexperienced officiants often show.

One bride wanted her stepfather (a retired minister) to officiate. He took care of the religious portions of the ceremony and I took care of the legally-required portions.

I have co-officiated with someone who could not legally marry the couple. Usually, I have that person take care of the ring exchange while I take care of the legally-required bits.

A judge from another state 'officiated' a ceremony while I sat in the back. Immediately afterward, I took care of the legalities.

Hire a pro, seriously. A 'perfect plan' includes someone who knows what they're doing.