Created and reviewed for accuracy by researchers at the Universal Life Church
Welcome to our guide for officiating weddings in Ohio! Ministers ordained through the Universal Life Church love performing weddings in the Buckeye State. In fact, our members have officiated thousands of legal marriage ceremonies in Ohio over the years. The process here is slightly different than in other states, so make sure you follow the detailed instructions below to learn what is required to officiate and how to ensure the ceremony will be legally recognized.
- ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: Yes
- Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
- Minister's Minimum Age: 18
- Marriage License Waiting Period: 0 Days
- Marriage License Valid For: 60 Days
- Marriage License Return Within: 30 Days
Local OH Wedding Guides
For more specific information about performing a wedding in certain parts of Ohio, choose a location above. If your area isn't listed, don't worry - just continue scrolling to review the helpful general information on this page.
1 How to Become an Ordained Minister in Ohio
The first step also happens to be the easiest one! Becoming an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church takes only minutes, it’s free to join, and – best of all – ULC ordinations are good for life. Join our global family of ministers who enjoy the power to perform legal wedding ceremonies! To sign up, just follow the button found below:
2 Performing a Marriage in Ohio
Ohio, unlike many other states, requires ministers to register at the state level. In order to perform a wedding, you must apply for a Minister License from the Marriage Licensing office at the Secretary of State. So, your next step would be to contact them or visit their office to learn what documentation they'll need to see from you. You can also begin the registration process by visiting the Ohio Secretary of State website.
Be aware that you make be asked to provide one or documents verifying the status of your ordination. Any documents or supplies you need are available in the minister supplies section of our site. The upside is that after registering at the state level, ministers are qualified to perform weddings anywhere in Ohio.
Here's more info about how to reach the Marriage Licensing Office:
Minister Licensing
Ohio Secretary of State
22 North Fourth Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: (614) 466-8770
3 Ohio Officiant Requirements
Once you’ve contacted the marriage licensing office to get more information, you should head over to the Church Supplies section to order any necessary documents or materials. The state of Ohio has stricter minister registration rules than almost every other state in the country. In Ohio, every ordained minister needs to register with the Secretary of State before she or he will be permitted to legally perform a wedding.
Please note that only the official documents included in the Classic Wedding Package will satisfy these requirements. That’s why we urge our ministers to order that package, as well as a Letter of Good Standing to be sure that their ordinations will be accepted by the Ohio authorities. Shipping times can vary, so please order documents well in advance of the wedding (at least 3 weeks prior is our recommendation) just to be safe.
4 How to Officiate an Ohio Wedding
Ohio's Top Wedding Spot
A lakeside ceremony at a Lake Erie winery
Don’t worry, we’re almost done with the legal stuff! The last thing to be aware of, as the officiant, is rules governing marriage licenses. A few tips:
- Double check that the wedding couple has an Ohio marriage license before the ceremony.
- In Ohio, marriage licenses are issued by probate courts and expire 60 days after they are issued, so it needs to be used before that date. There is no waiting period assessed.
- Officials need the signed and completed marriage license to be returned to them within 30 days of the ceremony.
To get contact information for the probate court in your area which will be issuing the marriage license, and to learn more about the process of performing a wedding specifically in that area, please select a location below.
5 Important Ohio Wedding Tips
Wedding officiants in the Buckeye State should bear in mind a few things when preparing to perform a ceremony. There are countless beautiful places to get married in Ohio, both in the larger cities such as Columbus and in the countryside. Lakeside weddings on Lake Erie and barn weddings are popular for large or small gatherings. If the ceremony will be at an outdoor wedding venue, know that the summer months can get a bit humid and warm so you may want to consider a short-sleeve clergy shirt to remain comfortable. Due to this, most couples prefer to set a date in late spring or early fall.
How much should an officiant charge for weddings in Ohio? That depends on a number of factors, including the officiant's experience level, need to travel, how involved they will be in the process, and how well they know the couple. Obviously, performing a ceremony for close friends or family may alter the equation, and some officiants choose to simply gift their ceremony services to the couple as it is an honor to be asked to preside over the event. However, if an officiant is being asked to perform a ceremony they would not otherwise be attending, most will want some reimbursement to the tune of at least $150 or more, depending on how much effort and travel is involved.
Ohio Marriage Code
Ohio Marriage Code
Marriage in Ohio is governed by Title 31 of the Ohio General Code. Ministers ordained online by the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of weddings in the state. Below, you will find that we have reproduced the relevant excerpts of this code.3101.08 Who may solemnize marriages. An ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation within this state who is licensed to solemnize marriages, a judge of a county court in accordance with section 1907.18 of the Revised Code, a judge of a municipal court in accordance with section 1901.14 of the Revised Code [...] View the Ohio Statutes on the official state site.
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