Are you planning to perform a wedding in Wilmington? If you’ve been asked to officiate, congratulations! Presiding over a wedding ceremony is an incredible honor, though one that also comes with considerable responsibility. Let’s explore the process in detail to make sure you’re up to speed on everything that will be required of you. Below, we’ll cover how to prepare for a wedding ceremony, how to get in touch with the relevant office in charge of marriages, and how to ensure the union is legally recognized in Wilmington.
1 Become an Ordained Minister in Wilmington
Your first move will be to get ordained as a ULC minister (if you haven’t already). ULC ordination is provided online, free of charge, and gives you the power to perform legal wedding ceremonies! Best of all, the process takes just minutes to complete. Get started by clicking the button below!
Key Info for Ministers in Wilmington
- ULC Ordination Accepted:
- Yes
- Minister Registration Required:
- No
- Documents Required:
- N/A
- Minister's Residency:
- Irrelevant
- Minister's Minimum Age:
- 18
2 Confirm Wedding Officiant Requirements in Wilmington
Next, you should get in touch with the authorities that handle marriages in Wilmington. Explain that you’re an ordained minister and wish to know what documents or information they might need from you before you perform a wedding in their district.
Contact information for the office in Wilmington is listed below.
- Office Address:
-
800 N. French St. 2nd Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801 - Office Phone Number:
- (302) 395-7780
- Office Website:
- Wilmington Office Website
3 Order Necessary Documentation to Officiate in Wilmington
With that step done, you can proceed to our online catalog to order any documentation required to officiate in your area. We typically advise ministers in Wilmington to get a Classic Wedding Package, though ultimately your decision will depend on the specific information you receive when speaking with local officials.
4 Officiate a Wedding and Fill Out the Wilmington Marriage License
Now you’re ready to officiate the wedding! If it’s your first time officiating (or even if it’s not) be sure to check out our wedding training center for helpful tips and tools.
After the ceremony is over, the last important box to check is filling out the marriage license. In Wilmington, this license is valid for 30 days, there is a mandatory one-day waiting period, and the completed license must be returned before its listed expiration date. To learn more about how to fill out this document, please visit our marriage license training guide.
- Marriage License Waiting Period:
- 1 Day
- Marriage License Valid For:
- 30 Days
- Return Within:
- By Expiration
How to Write a Wedding Officiant Script in Wilmington
We regularly receive calls from wedding officiants in Wilmington asking for guidance on what they should say during a wedding ceremony after they've become ordained online.
Once you have all of the legal items sorted out, it's time for the fun part – planning and performing the ceremony itself! We realize that this can be a bit daunting for some folks, particularly if it's their first time officiating a wedding.
We would urge all of our Wilmington wedding officiants to lean on one of our helpful wedding guides mentioned earlier. We would further suggest that all officiants take advantage of the other free resources on our website, like our wedding ceremony script generator. This unique tool will allow you to input specific details about any planned wedding ceremony and the couple's preferences to generate a completely custom wedding script.
You might also enjoy reviewing some of our online sample wedding scripts. These pre-written wedding ceremony scripts can either be printed off and used as-is, or they may provide some additional inspiration as you draft your own script. Either way, they'll have you covered for just about any wedding ceremony you've been asked to officiate. And don't forget, if you need any wedding officiant clothing or other supplies for the big day, be sure to visit our wedding catalog, available exclusively to those who have been ordained by the ULC!
What to Know About Wilmington Wedding Ceremonies
The greater Wilmington area is just minutes from the interstate but feels like its own little world, making it an ideal place for a romantic wedding weekend. Home to gently rolling hills and beautiful French style chateaus and estates, this is a gorgeous locale to explore and find a wedding venue that suits your tastes. Don't forget to check the calendar for annual events in Wilmington that could complicate travel for your guests!
