Who Can Officiate A Wedding? Anyone, Almost

The requirements to officiate a wedding vary depending on the location and type of wedding ceremony. In Illinois, for example, judges, retired judges, county clerks, public officials, mayors, and presidents of a city or town can officiate weddings. Religious weddings may also be officiated by someone in good standing with the religion. Some states allow notaries to officiate weddings, while others require proof of licensing and registration with the town clerk. In the Catholic Church, only priests are authorized to officiate weddings, and they must be performed indoors on church property. However, lay Catholics who are authorized by the state, such as judges, can officiate weddings for non-Catholics. Online ordination is typically not recognized as a valid form of ordination and may be considered disrespectful to some religious groups.

Lay Catholics can officiate weddings under certain conditions

In the United States, for example, judges, justices of the peace, and in some states, notaries, can officiate weddings. This means that a lay Catholic who holds one of these positions could officiate a wedding, but only for non-Catholics who are not bound by Catholic marital law.

It is important to note that Catholics are ordinarily required to be married in a Catholic Church, in a ceremony witnessed by a priest or deacon, due to the "canonical form" or Catholic matrimonial law. Additionally, a Catholic should not officiate the marriage of other Catholics in a civil context.

Furthermore, seeking ordination outside of the Catholic Church is not permitted, as it denies the Church's teachings on valid ordination and the sacrament. Catholics who wish to officiate a wedding must do so in accordance with the laws and requirements of the state and local jurisdiction where the wedding will take place.

Online ordination is not valid for Catholics

While some laypeople are authorised by the state to officiate weddings, such as judges, justices of the peace, and other recognised officials, online ordination is not a valid way for Catholics to become ordained.

The Catholic Church does not recognise online ordinations as valid. This is because such ordinations are seen as implying separation from the Catholic Church and, in some cases, making light of the serious and real effects of sacred ordination. Becoming an "online minister" to celebrate a wedding is considered disrespectful to Jesus Christ and the Church.

In addition, Catholics are ordinarily required to marry in a Catholic Church, in a ceremony witnessed by a priest or deacon, due to "canonical form" or Catholic matrimonial law. A Catholic should not officiate at the marriages of other Catholics in a civil context.

Therefore, while a Catholic layperson who is qualified by the state may preside at civil weddings for non-Catholics who are not bound by Catholic marital law, they cannot obtain "ordination" from an online source, even if their state recognises such ordinations.

A lay Catholic judge can officiate a wedding

In the Catholic Church, marriage is a sacrament and so must be performed by a priest, who is the only person authorized to administer sacraments. For this reason, a lay Catholic should not officiate the marriage of other Catholics in a civil context.

In addition, a lay Catholic cannot be ordained online or in another Christian denomination to officiate a wedding. This is because ordination in another religious group implies separation from the Catholic Church and makes light of the serious and real effects of sacred ordination in the Catholic Church.

If a lay Catholic judge does officiate a wedding, they must ensure that there are no obvious impediments to the marriage, such as a previous marriage or a close blood relationship.

A Catholic priest cannot officiate a non-religious, non-church wedding

The Catholic Church holds that it is the spouses who confer the sacrament of marriage upon each other. The priest who ""assists" at the wedding does so by receiving the spouses' manifestation of consent in the name of the Church. This is a big part of the canonical form that Catholics are required to observe when getting married.

A Catholic priest who attempts to officiate the wedding of two non-Catholics would be in breach of canon 1109, which states that a Catholic cleric may only assist at the wedding of his own subjects (members of his parish) or non-subjects if at least one spouse is Catholic. A Catholic priest who attempts to officiate the wedding of two non-Catholics could be reported to their superior for the crime of pretending to administer a sacrament (canon 1379), which is a punishable offence.

Furthermore, a Catholic cannot be ordained in another Christian denomination or religious group, as this implies separation from the Catholic Church.

A Catholic cannot officiate a wedding of a couple if at least one was baptised Catholic

A lay Catholic cannot officiate a wedding of a couple if at least one person was baptised Catholic. This is because, in the Catholic Church, marriage is a sacrament and therefore must be performed by a priest, bishop, or deacon—the only ones authorised to administer any of the sacraments. The only exception to this rule is if there is a lack of priests and deacons, in which case the diocesan bishop can delegate lay persons to assist at marriages, but only with the previous favourable vote of the conference of bishops and after obtaining permission from the Holy See.

If neither person being married is Catholic, a lay Catholic can officiate a civil wedding if they are qualified by the state to do so, for example, if they are a judge, justice of the peace, or another recognised official. However, they cannot obtain "ordination" from a mail-order or online "ordination" service, even if the state recognises marriages performed by individuals with such "ordinations".

In the Catholic Church, a mixed marriage refers to a marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic. If a Catholic marries a non-baptised person, the wedding is a non-sacramental marriage. If a Catholic marries a baptised non-Catholic, the wedding is a sacramental marriage. In either case, the priest must receive a special dispensation from the bishop in writing and meet with the couple to help them understand the spiritual importance of matrimony.

Frequently asked questions