Become a wedding officiant

As my partner and I plan our wedding, we obviously had to plan the official part of the wedding. The actually getting married bit! We have ended up asking a friend to officiate our wedding because it's a) cheaper and b) a more fun story! Since we are still in the process of officiant registration this document will evolve but here goes nothing!

Become ordained

• Fill in the simple 2 minutes free form here.
• Get your ordination packet here (select the state you are interested in). This costs $45. It takes X weeks to arrive. 

Become a registered officiant

Caveat: This section belongs to the state of New York, but other states have similar processes.

• (While waiting for ordination packet) Fill in the online NYC Officiant registration form here: https://www1.nyc.gov/cityclerkformsonline/officiantRegistry.htm 
  • Page 1: 
    • Position: Minister
    • Denomination: pick one
  • Page 2: 
    • Step 2: Eligibility - select MY DENOMINATION DOES NOT PUBLISH A DIRECTORY OF CLERGY AND …
  • Page 3: 
    • Nothing special here
• Save the confirmation number page as a PDF.
• Click on “Print Officiant Registration” button and save that PDF.
• Print the form - DO NOT SIGN IT!
• Create a money order payable to the City Clerk for $15.

Office of the City Clerk
Marriage Officiant Registration Clerk
141 Worth Street
New York, NY 10013

• (Once you have the ordination packet) Put the following in an envelope:
  • Your printed confirmation number
  • Payment of $15 by money order payable to the City Clerk,
  • Ordination certification
  • Letter of consent
  • Articles of incorporation
  • A photocopy of TWO of the following forms of proper identification:  
    • Driver License with photograph (from the United States of America or any of its territories)
    • Non-Driver Identification Card with photograph (from the United States of America or any of its territories)
    • Learner Permit with photograph (from the United States of America or any of its territories)
    • Active United States Military Identification Card
    • Passport
    • United States Certificate of Naturalization (good for 10 years after date of issue)
    • United States Alien Registration Card
    • United States Employment Authorization Card
    • IDNYC
• Go to USPS
  • Get your signature on the application notarized. 
  • Add the application to the above envelope. 
  • Ship the envelope to:

Office of the City Clerk
Marriage Officiant Registration Clerk
141 Worth Street
New York, NY 10013

• WAIT to get your registration details. You will receive a Certificate of Registration with your Registration Identification Number.

We are still in the process of finishing this flow so I will update this document as things change! Hope this is helpful! I will also create a New York specific post on how to get married!