George Boyle
Yes, a congressman can officiate a wedding. In the United States, each state has its own marriage laws regarding who has the authority to perform a wedding. In legal terms, this act is referred to as Solemnization of Marriage. Although the wording and specifics of the laws vary from state to state, in all states, ordained ministers have the authority to solemnize marriage. In other words, being an ordained minister gives you the authority to act as a wedding officiant in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Washington DC, and US Territories.
In some states, ministers must be certified or licensed before performing a wedding. For example, in California, ministers must complete the marriage license and return it to the county clerk within four days after the marriage. In New York, ministers must complete a marriage certificate and return it to the town or city clerk who issued the marriage license within five days after the marriage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| --- | --- |
| Registration required | Yes/No |
| State | Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming |
What You'll Learn
- Yes, a congressman can officiate a wedding in the US
- The requirements vary from state to state. In some states, a congressman must be ordained or licensed to officiate a wedding
- In some states, a congressman must be ordained to officiate a wedding
- In some states, a congressman must register to officiate a wedding
- Yes, a congressman can officiate a wedding in Washington DC
Yes, a congressman can officiate a wedding in the US
Who can officiate a wedding?
In the US, the laws regarding who can officiate a wedding vary from state to state. However, in all states, ordained ministers have the authority to solemnize marriage. In other words, being an ordained minister gives you the authority to act as a wedding officiant in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Washington DC, and US Territories.
In some states, a congressman is one of the few people who can officiate a wedding. For example, in Washington, a congressman is one of the few people who can officiate a wedding, along with a regularly licensed or ordained minister or any priest of any church or religious denomination anywhere within the state.
In other states, a congressman is not explicitly listed as someone who can officiate a wedding, but there are no laws prohibiting them from doing so. For example, in New York, a congressman is not explicitly listed as someone who can officiate a wedding, but there are no laws prohibiting them from doing so.
How to officiate a wedding as a congressman
If you are a congressman and want to officiate a wedding, the first step is to check the laws of the state where the wedding will take place. If you are allowed to officiate, the next step is to obtain a marriage license from the county clerk's office. Once you have the license, you will need to perform the wedding ceremony and sign the marriage certificate. After the wedding, you will need to return the signed marriage certificate to the county clerk's office.
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The requirements vary from state to state. In some states, a congressman must be ordained or licensed to officiate a wedding
The requirements for a congressman to officiate a wedding vary from state to state. In some states, a congressman must be ordained or licensed to officiate a wedding.
In Alabama, for example, a congressman must be a "licensed minister of the gospel in regular communion with the Christian church or society of which he is a member" to officiate a wedding. In Alaska, a congressman must be a "minister, priest, or rabbi of any church or congregation in the state". In Arkansas, a congressman must be a "regularly ordained minister or priest of any religious sect or denomination".
In other states, a congressman does not need to be ordained or licensed to officiate a wedding. For example, in California, a congressman must be a "priest, minister, or rabbi of any religious denomination, of the age of 18 years or over". In Colorado, a congressman must be a "minister". In Connecticut, a congressman must be an "ordained or licensed clergyman belonging to this state or any other state".
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In some states, a congressman must be ordained to officiate a wedding
In some states, ministers must register with a government office before performing marriage. Some states keep a registry of wedding officiants and may require certain documents to be presented and applications to be filled out and submitted.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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In some states, a congressman must register to officiate a wedding
For example, in Arkansas, any regularly ordained minister or priest of any religious sect or denomination may perform marriages. However, ministers must have their ordination credentials filed by the county clerk, who will then issue a certificate to the minister. The minister must then return the marriage license to the county clerk within 60 days from the date the license was issued.
Similarly, in Alabama, any licensed minister of the gospel in regular communion with the Christian church or society of which he is a member may perform marriages. Ministers must provide a certificate of the marriage to the judge of probate within one month after the marriage.
In contrast, in states like Colorado, marriages may be performed by any minister. Ministers must send a marriage certificate to the county clerk, but there is no mention of registration requirements.
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Yes, a congressman can officiate a wedding in Washington DC
Yes, a congressman can officiate a wedding in Washington, DC. In fact, Rep. Suzan DelBene officiated her chief of staff Aaron Schmidt's wedding to his now-husband Justin Zielke in 2015.
In Washington, DC, the following individuals are authorised to solemnise a marriage:
- A judge or retired judge of any court of record
- The Clerk of the Court or such deputy clerks of the Court as may, in writing, be designated by the Clerk and approved by the Chief Judge of the Court
- A minister, priest, rabbi, or authorised person of any religious denomination or society
- A civil celebrant
- A temporary officiant
- Members of the Council
- The Mayor of the District of Columbia
- The parties to the marriage
To be authorised to solemnise a marriage, an individual must be at least 18 years old.
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Frequently asked questions
No, there is no requirement for congresspeople to be certified to officiate weddings. However, some states require ministers to be certified or licensed.
Yes, a congressperson can officiate a wedding in any state.
Yes, a congressperson can officiate a wedding in Washington, D.C.
Yes, a congressperson can officiate a wedding outside the U.S.
Yes, a congressperson can officiate a same-sex wedding.
