How to Perform a Wedding in New Jersey

3 New Jersey Officiant Requirements

After you've contacted your marriage authority, you should visit our online store to purchase whatever documentation will be required. We typically advise ministers in New Jersey to get an Ordination Package. Minister registration may be required for ministers who are not residents of the state, but even if you are a resident you may be asked to display proof of your ordination. Additionally, please attempt to leave at least 30 days between the date of the wedding ceremony and your order, to ensure that you receive all of your materials in advance.

Please note that while minister registration is not codified statewide, we often hear from ULC Ministers and wedding officiants in New Jersey that they are asked by clerks in some counties to display proof of their ordination. The documents included in the Ordination Package should provide sufficient proof for any inquiring marriage authority.

4 How to get Married in New Jersey

New Jersey's Top Wedding Spot

Cape May, where venues include the town's Victorian gazebo and bed-and-breakfasts like Hotel Macomber

Now that you've done all of the above, you are ready to perform the wedding! Be sure that the couple has picked up their New Jersey marriage license from the appropriate office. This license is valid for 30 days, and there is a 3-day waiting period between when the couple picks up the marriage license and when the ceremony may legally be conducted. The signed license must be returned to the issuing office by its date of expiry.

At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in New Jersey, after they've received their license to marry by getting ordained online, asking for guidance on how to perform a wedding ceremony. Once the legal matters have been taken care of, officiating a wedding (while a sometimes-daunting task) can be a great deal of fun. We would suggest that new New Jersey wedding ministers concerned about the ceremony peruse one of our helpful wedding guides. The minister training section of our website should offer a helpful refresher for more experienced ministers.

5 How to Plan a Wedding in New Jersey

Have you been asked to officiate a wedding in New Jersey? If so, there are some things to take into account before you perform a marriage in the Garden State. The first thing to consider is the season that the wedding will be held in. The most popular season is the autumn, with nearly half of all ceremonies in the state taking place during. With a number of distinct climates throughout the state, you may encounter a hot summer rain storm or cold winter snows. Fall tends to be the driest season, hence its popularity, but the unique regions of New Jersey will lend itself to unpredictable weather so make sure you prepare for any eventuality. People are often curious how much a wedding minister should charge in New Jersey, but the truth is there’s no simple answer – fees can vary widely based on experience level, amount of involvement, and other responsibilities the couple might need covered. New Jersey has the highest average cost of a wedding ceremony in the United States at $36,700 per ceremony, with northern and central New Jersey ceremonies being significantly more expensive than those held in the south – so you will need to consider the couple’s financial commitments when setting a price for your services.