Night Elf Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Who comes to officiate a wedding when the couple is not religious and has no interest in marrying in a church? For my first wedding, I used my sister's house and my aunt's pastor came to officiate. When I remarried, we just went to the JP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 We were married in the chapel of a medical center. We wanted the chapel atmosphere more than the religious aspect. The medical center was because a family member worked there and suggested it. The chaplain (who was a woman) married us. We did have to sit down with her a few times, to get to know us. We were already living together, there was little religious aspect to her counsel (IIRC) more of marriage counsel. I think we had prayers during the service (which we didn't object to as I was christian, just not religious, if that makes sense). We used their organist, it was a small but lovely ceremony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lailasmum Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Here it is a marriage registrar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Mouse Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 We were married by a judge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Got married at my folk's house and our JOP was name Judge Malice. :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshin Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 We had a friends get registered to marry us, but if you look in the phone book there are usually listings of marriage officiants. We were originally going to hire one from the phone book. I believe the standard process is is you are supposed to interview them like you would a photographer, caterer, etc, then pick the one you like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I think a Notary Public can marry people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 My aunt was married by the mayor of our town! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter's Moon Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 We were married by a JP in my parents living room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavender's green Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 We had a non-denominational pastor perform the ceremony we wanted, and we were married outdoors under a pavillion at our reception venue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 To the best of my knowledge, in the US, anyone can be ordained to perform weddings through online "ministries". You don't have to be religious or belong to any church to do this. It satisfies th legal requirement for clergy to be able to perform legal marriages. You can do an internet search on how to be ordained to perform weddings. This way, you can have a friend or relative perform a wedding. You might find some that are free to do the ordination. Best wishes. ETA: internet search on how to be ordained online … Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 The venue where the wedding is being held (if if is a wedding venue, of course) often has a list of officiants who can perform the ceremony. Terri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ailaena Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Here in Colorado, one does not need anybody to marry them. You can literally both sign the paperwork the instant you receive it and you're married! Which means that in terms of a ceremony, it's a personal ritual and you can get anyone to do it, no ordainment necessary. To find an "official" person, phone book (i.e. interwebz) is a good place to start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In the Rain Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 We attended a wedding held on a boat. It was officiated by the captain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 We were married in the gazebo behind the B&B my husband lived in (he rented the basement apartment) by a JOP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 We had a non-religious wedding. It was held at a wedding hall. They had an indoor garden room. It was beautiful. I talked to the senior pastor at my dad's church. He was very progressive and agreed to adjusting the traditional Methodist wedding script. We removed the references to God and our vows were taken from the Wiccan handfasting ceremony. My dad (also a minister) did say a blessing over us, but because he respected us, kept it neutral. He did reference God, I think, but not Christ. I'd have to look at the tape again to be sure. The ceremony lasted about 15 minutes. The reception lasted 4 hours. The marriage has lasted 18 years so far. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrookValley. Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 We were married by a friend who happened to be ordained as a "minister," not sure exactly what she called herself, but it was not religous in any way. She could have tailored the ceremony to be more spiritual, if we had wanted it, but she didn't do religious ceremonies. There are plenty of folks out there like that, you just have to find them! I know of a few in our area. We got married outside in the rose garden of a small state park nearby. It was simple, fast (five minutes for the official stuff, maybe!), and actually quite nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 my sister was married in a park. I think she had a UU minister - even though she hardly ever attended any kind of services. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I wanted to be married by Your Friend Stephanie of the 24 Hour Church of Elvis, but DH was afraid she wouldn't show. We were married by a retired judge instead. http://www.24hourchurchofelvis.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elizabeth Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 There are many, many people who are ordained by online sources. Actually many of them take their job very seriously.I am one. It has been my experience that many gay couples are not only not welcome to marry in many. if not most churches. Thus I felt I needed to make myself and the nearby gorgeous park available for services of marriage between persons regardless of gender. I charge nothing. It is what i believe in doing. Just my conscience and certainly others feel quite differently as is their choice. Here is a link http://www.themonastery.org/ There are many Christians who do this as well. You should be able to find a Universal Life Church minister in your area. Another great option is a JP that is who we used as no rabbi would marry us so it would have been unseemly to only have a priest and alienate the entire guest list on dh side by not having both a priest and a rabbi. Silly but there you have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Check your state requirements--as a pp stated, a notary public can do it in some, but not all, states. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wabi Sabi Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Dh and I were married by a UU minister in a non-religious ceremony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StartingOver Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Call a UU church, and ask. That is what we did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 We were married by a JP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 We were married by the mayor of our small town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlmiraGulch Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 We were married on the beach by a legal "wedding officiant" in the state of Florida. She performs religious and secular ceremonies, and we selected the secular vows. I think I actually did a google search for "wedding officiant Key West" to find her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trlt Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 We were married by a UU minister, too. We basically wrote everything out the way we wanted it and showed it to him and he added to it. It was a beautiful, non-religious ceremony. It was very personal and we loved it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hypatia. Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 We had a civil officiant marry us at a gazebo on the waterfront in Charleston. I searched online and found her site, she would come and perform the ceremony wherever you wanted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TranquilMind Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Who comes to officiate a wedding when the couple is not religious and has no interest in marrying in a church? For my first wedding, I used my sister's house and my aunt's pastor came to officiate. When I remarried, we just went to the JP. Any attorney can be appointed a judge pro tem to perform a wedding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeschoolMamaOfTwo Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Our wedding wasn't religious, we used a county judge, she just happened to be a friend of the family. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somo_chickenlady Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 We were married at the country club where our reception was held, by a judge. We just went down to the courthouse and signed some paperwork, and he showed up on the day we requested. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 We had a JP come to officiate at our wedding among the redwoods in Northern California. He was a nice guy - butchered the poetry though. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elinor Everywhere Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 My niece & her husband were married last year, and they had one of their best friends register and officiate. It was lovely and very meaningful since he knew them well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest inoubliable Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Humanist celebrant? http://humanist-society.org/celebrants/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmamaz Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 i called my local UU church and didnt get a good vibe from them. the county had an official . . . a magistrate, maybe? call the office where you get the licence and ask them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted January 7, 2013 Author Share Posted January 7, 2013 I'll follow up on some of these ideas. When DH and I were married by a JP, it was in his office at the courthouse. We had no friends or family with us. His secretary was the witness. Dd20 is dropping hints and asked me outright about getting married without a church. At least we have some leads. I told her she might have to do what we did and go to the courthouse to be married, then hold a nice reception for everyone to celebrate with them. And then she said this was hypothetical. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 We are not married in the states. We have a civil ceremony at the Registry of Marriage after "reading of banns" for 21 days. Than we have a few wedding receptions for different group of people. Hubby is a free thinker so it makes sense to have a civil marriage. It is convenient for us because we need the marriage certificate for some papeprwork while we can take our time planning for the receptions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 My mom got her JoP and performed our ceremony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khselee Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 In California, anyone you choose can be deputized for the day to perform a marriage, as long as the date and time has been set. You just go down to the courthouse, fill out the paperwork, and bam! the person can perform your marriage ceremony. That is how DH and I were married. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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