Planning a wedding in Texas is such an exciting event because it is a great place for a beautiful marriage celebration. Nowadays, many couples in Texas prefer to have a close family member or friend to perform their weddings; this can make your day even more special and intimate. Increasingly, people who aren’t affiliated with any religious organization or those who desire a secular ceremony are choosing this option. However, to perform a wedding ceremony in Texas, there are some steps an officiant must take. Here’s your guide:
- Get ordained online.
- Look over country marriage requirements.
- Prepare for the wedding.
- Perform the wedding.
- Do the after officiating responsibilities.
Get Ordained Online
According to the marriage laws of Texas, the initial stage you must undergo is legal ordination. Good news— the marriage ordination can be completed online! Online platforms such as the American Marriage Ministries provide this kind of service, which is simple, quick, and has no cost attached. You’ll be able to officiate weddings once you acquire your minister license.
Look Over County Marriage Requirements
To perform a wedding ceremony in Texas, the next step is to check for the marriage requirements of the county. Some need more than just the marriage ordination to have taken place. There are documents and materials you will need to provide as the wedding officiant. You will need to contact the county clerk’s office in the county where the ceremony will be held. Introduce yourself as a minister and inquire as to what you will need to provide. They may request a variety of items, and be aware that these criteria vary by county.
Prepare for the Wedding
You might be here because this is your first time officiating a wedding. Just the mere thought of it can be daunting. But don’t worry, it’s simple! First things first, familiarize yourself with the terms and conventions of wedding ceremonies. Next is to write a script and develop it. After that, the ceremony script should be practiced and rehearsed until you’re confident performing it.
Perform the Wedding
At this point, you’re now ready to perform a wedding ceremony in Texas. Your primary responsibility as a wedding officiant is to provide the best possible experience for the bride, groom, and guests. During the planning session, you collaborated with the couple to create a wedding plan. Now it’s up to you to see that these ideas are carried out. Meet and greet family members before the event begins. Make yourself available to individuals attending the ceremony in case they have any queries. Then do the work!
Do the After Officiating Responsibilities
Following the completion of the wedding ceremony in Texas, the only thing left to do is finish the paperwork. In compliance with the marriage laws, this entails filing a completed marriage license to the state or county clerk’s office, depending on where you live. Do this right away because marriage licenses expire after a certain time period. In addition to the signatures of the bride and groom, the marriage license will typically require the signatures of multiple witnesses. The marriage becomes official once the paperwork has been completed correctly and returned to the appropriate party. After that, your job is complete!
You can now share this experience at the AMM Wedding Wall as you can become a certified AMM minister for officiating a wedding ceremony in Texas.