Created and reviewed for accuracy by researchers at the Universal Life Church
Congratulations! If you've found yourself at this page it is likely that you are either planning to be married or have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony in West Virginia. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in West Virginia. The information provided below will walk you through the steps one must follow to become a minister and perform a valid wedding ceremony in the state of West Virginia.
- ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: Yes
- Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
- Minister's Minimum Age: 18
- Marriage License Waiting Period: 3 Days
- Marriage License Valid For: 60 Days
- Marriage License Return Within: By Expiration
Local WV Wedding Guides
For more specific information about performing a wedding in certain parts of West Virginia, 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 West Virginia
If you haven't already, you should get ordained online with the Universal Life Church. Ordination is free and can be completed in just a matter of minutes. Thousands of legally valid marriages are performed by ULC ministers around the world every year. Begin the process by clicking the big blue button below!
2 Officiating a Wedding in West Virginia
Once ordained, you must register as a minister with the West Virginia Secretary of State before officiating a wedding.
Please Note: You can submit your application online through their website.
After completing the application and paying the $25 state fee, you should receive your registration certificate via email within a few business days. This certificate grants you the authority to officiate weddings throughout West Virginia.
If you’re not already in their system, you may need to create an account. Navigate to "Licensing" and select "Marriage Celebrant Registration." For "Denomination", choose "ULC" or "Nondenominational".
You may need to upload a digital copy of your Credentials of Ministry and Letter of Good Standing to verify your ordination. These documents can be ordered from our Minister Store after ordination.
For any questions about the registration process, contact the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office:
Office of the Secretary of State
State Capitol Building
Charleston, WV 25305
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Phone: (304) 558-6000
Fax: (304) 558-0900
Website: https://sos.wv.gov
3 West Virginia Officiant Requirements
After completing your ordination, you can log into your account on our website anytime to order the materials you need from our minister supplies catalog. In West Virginia, one of the most popular item combinations is an Ordination Package along with a Certified Letter of Good Standing.
As mentioned, ministers in West Virginia must register with the Secretary of State. During this process, state or county officials may request proof of ordination before approving your registration and authorizing you to officiate weddings.
Having official documents, such as your Ordination Certificate, can also reassure the couple that their wedding officiant is properly certified. To avoid any last-minute issues, we strongly recommend ordering your materials well in advance of the ceremony.
4 How to get Married in West Virginia
West Virginia's Top Wedding Spot
Opossum Creek Retreat, in Lansing with easy access to hiking, river rafting and state parks
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 West Virginia 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 applies for the marriage license in West Virginia and when they may pick it up and legally solemnize the marriage. Please be aware that the signed license must be returned to the issuing office before its expiry.
Choose a county from the drop-down menu below to view the local county clerk's address and contact information. Along with issuing marriage licenses, they can provide helpful guidance for ministers officiating weddings in the area.
Select a county clerk
Choose the county you'd like to contact from the dropdown menu above to see their office’s information.
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 West Virginia wedding ministers concerned about the ceremony peruse one of our helpful wedding guides. The minister training section of our website should also offer a helpful refresher for more experienced ministers.
5 West Virginia Wedding Need-To-Knows
The mountainous state of West Virginia has an ideal wedding venue for every couple, no matter what they're looking for. West Virginia is particularly perfect for couples envisioning a stylistically rustic wedding. More and more couples are opting for the favorable climate of a West Virginia spring for their wedding but summer and early fall are popular too. However, it is important to be cautious and aware of the summer thunderstorms as the weather can be temperamental during the warmer months. As the largest cities in West Virginia, Charleston and Huntington offer a variety of venue options with some very affordable options starting at $2,000 to more extravagant venues that'll cost around $13,000. The most popular time to get married is early fall, so be sure to book your venue well in advance if you are considering a wedding at that time. There are many factors to consider when deciding how much to charge as an officiant, such as how experienced the officiant is, how much preparation will be involved and if travel will be required. However, the typical cost for an experienced officiant is between $200-$500.
West Virginia Marriage Code
West Virginia Marriage Code
Marriage in West Virginia is governed by West Virginia Code 48-2-201. Ministers who got ordained online with the Universal Life Church have successfully solemnized thousands of weddings in the state. Below, you will find that we have reproduced a relevant excerpt of this code.§48-2-401. Persons authorized to perform marriages. A religious representative who has complied with the provisions of section 2-402, a family court judge, a circuit judge or a justice of the supreme court of appeals, is authorized to celebrate the rites of marriage in any county of this state. Celebration or solemnization of a marriage means the performance of the formal act or ceremony by which a man and woman contract marriage and assume the status of husband and wife. View the West Virginia Statutes on the official state site.
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Learn All About Marriage Law in West Virginia
See the Full StatutesAre you Considering Becoming a Minister in West Virginia?
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