Are you planning to perform a wedding in Maricopa County? 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 Maricopa County.
1 Become an Ordained Minister in Maricopa County
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 Maricopa County
- 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 Maricopa County
Next, you should get in touch with the authorities that handle marriages in Maricopa County. 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 Maricopa County is listed below.
- Office Address:
-
601 W. Jackson
Phoenix, AZ 85003 - Office Phone Number:
- (602) 372-5375
- Office Website:
- Maricopa County Office Website
3 Order Necessary Documentation to Officiate in Maricopa County
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 Maricopa County 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 Maricopa County 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 Maricopa County, this license is valid for one year, there is no mandatory 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:
- None
- Marriage License Valid For:
- 1 Year
- Return Within:
- 20 Days
How to Write a Wedding Officiant Script in Maricopa County
We regularly receive calls from wedding officiants in Maricopa County 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 Maricopa County 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 Maricopa County Wedding Ceremonies
The largest county in Arizona, Maricopa covers the major metropolitan areas of Phoenix and Scottsdale. The sun is always shining, which creates year-round opportunities for an exceptional wedding day (though outdoor events in high summer are not advised). Maricopa County offers everything from high-end ballrooms to a quiet and relaxed wedding in the mountains.
