I'm about to ask my aunt to....

be the officiant at our wedding. She would have to become ordained though. Is anyone doing this...asking a family member to marry them?
I've seen some posts about internet sites but I would love to hear from anyone who is actually doing this. Or anyone who has been to wedding where a friend or family member officiated the ceremony.


{FH and I aren't tied to our family's religions (his are christian and mine are jewish) but I still want a spiritual and sentimental ceremony. And my aunt seems like the perfect candidate}

Thank you in advance.

i would check the legality of that. cause when we met our officiant--she made a HUGE deal about making sure we understood that she is LICENSED in NYS to perform marriages. while anyone can become ordained by the internet---it's a whole different thing to be licensed to perform weddings in NYS.

i believe our minister said that NYS is one of the states that doesn't allowed 'interent' ordained ministers to perform ceremonies. they MUST be licensed.

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Posted by MJDoc12

i would check the legality of that. cause when we met our officiant--she made a HUGE deal about making sure we understood that she is LICENSED in NYS to perform marriages. while anyone can become ordained by the internet---it's a whole different thing to be licensed to perform weddings in NYS.

i believe our minister said that NYS is one of the states that doesn't allowed 'interent' ordained ministers to perform ceremonies. they MUST be licensed.

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But, Joey from Friends performed Monica and Chandler's New York wedding?!?! (I'm kidding... I'm not that delusional that I think that's real life. lol)

I think that's a really nice honor for your aunt... I don't know the legalities of it, though! Sorry I'm no help... just wanted to add my stupid comment. Good luck!

The only advice I can offer, is that whoever marries you - priest, rabbi, officiant, etc...must be registered with NYC/NYS.

We got our marriage licecense in NYC, and had to call a toll free number to confirm that our Priest was registered w/them.

I'm going to do some more research on this for you, b/c I'm really curious.

UPDATE:

Who can perform a marriage ceremony?
To be valid, a marriage ceremony must be performed by any of the individuals specified in Section 11 of the New York State Domestic Relations Law. These include:

-the mayor of a city or village;

-the former mayor, the city clerk or one of the deputy city clerks of a city of more than one million inhabitants;

-a marriage officer appointed by the town or village board or the city common council;

-a justice or judge of the following courts: the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern or Western Districts of New York, the New York State Court of Appeals, the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, the New York State Supreme Court, the Court of Claims, the Family Court, a Surrogates Court, the Civil and Criminal Courts of New York City (including Housing judges of the Civil Court) and other courts of record;

-a village, town or county justice;

-a member of the clergy or minister who has been officially ordained and granted authority to perform marriage ceremonies from a governing church body in accordance with the rules and regulations of the church body;

-a member of the clergy or minister who is not authorized by a governing church body but who has been chosen by a spiritual group to preside over their spiritual affairs;

-other officiants as specified by Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law.

The person performing the ceremony must be registered with the City of New York in order to perform a ceremony within the New York City limits. The officiant does not have to be a resident of New York State. Ship captains are not authorized to perform marriage ceremonies in New York State.

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Posted by sarahradio5

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Posted by MJDoc12

i would check the legality of that. cause when we met our officiant--she made a HUGE deal about making sure we understood that she is LICENSED in NYS to perform marriages. while anyone can become ordained by the internet---it's a whole different thing to be licensed to perform weddings in NYS.

i believe our minister said that NYS is one of the states that doesn't allowed 'interent' ordained ministers to perform ceremonies. they MUST be licensed.

---

But, Joey from Friends performed Monica and Chandler's New York wedding?!?! (I'm kidding... I'm not that delusional that I think that's real life. lol)

I think that's a really nice honor for your aunt... I don't know the legalities of it, though! Sorry I'm no help... just wanted to add my stupid comment. Good luck!

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hahaha...i was thinking the same thing!!!

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Posted by myslideshow

be the officiant at our wedding. She would have to become ordained though. Is anyone doing this...asking a family member to marry them?
I've seen some posts about internet sites but I would love to hear from anyone who is actually doing this. Or anyone who has been to wedding where a friend of family officiated the ceremony.


{FH and I aren't tied to our family's religions (his are christian and mine are jewish) but I still want a spiritual and sentimental ceremony. And my aunt seems like the perfect candidate}

Thank you in advance.

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Well FH's father is marrying us, but he has been a deacon for 26 years. I really love that he will be the one to marry us, it makes it that much more special. Plus he knows us both so well that I know that what he says int he ceremony will be heartfelt.

Well good luck, but I would definitely make sure that its all legal getting ordained on the internet, as far as marrying someone in NYS.

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Posted by ChrissynRicky

The only advice I can offer, is that whoever marries you - priest, rabbi, officiant, etc...must be registered with NYC/NYS.

We got our marriage licecense in NYC, and had to call a toll free number to confirm that our Priest was registered w/them.

I'm going to do some more research on this for you, b/c I'm really curious.

UPDATE:

Who can perform a marriage ceremony?
To be valid, a marriage ceremony must be performed by any of the individuals specified in Section 11 of the New York State Domestic Relations Law. These include:

-the mayor of a city or village;

-the former mayor, the city clerk or one of the deputy city clerks of a city of more than one million inhabitants;

-a marriage officer appointed by the town or village board or the city common council;

-a justice or judge of the following courts: the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern or Western Districts of New York, the New York State Court of Appeals, the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, the New York State Supreme Court, the Court of Claims, the Family Court, a Surrogates Court, the Civil and Criminal Courts of New York City (including Housing judges of the Civil Court) and other courts of record;

-a village, town or county justice;

-a member of the clergy or minister who has been officially ordained and granted authority to perform marriage ceremonies from a governing church body in accordance with the rules and regulations of the church body;

-a member of the clergy or minister who is not authorized by a governing church body but who has been chosen by a spiritual group to preside over their spiritual affairs;

-other officiants as specified by Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law.

The person performing the ceremony must be registered with the City of New York in order to perform a ceremony within the New York City limits. The officiant does not have to be a resident of New York State. Ship captains are not authorized to perform marriage ceremonies in New York State.

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yeah i just read this too.. unfortunately i'm not the smartest girl... who does this: -a member of the clergy or minister who is not authorized by a governing church body but who has been chosen by a spiritual group to preside over their spiritual affairs; refer to.

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Posted by myslideshow

yeah i just read this too.. unfortunately i'm not the smartest girl... who does this: -a member of the clergy or minister who is not authorized by a governing church body but who has been chosen by a spiritual group to preside over their spiritual affairs; refer to.

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Someone like a Shaman or Religious Leader....

I know someone who did this in Massachusetts. I'll find out what he had to do to get licensed and pass along. I also met a woman at a conference this year who did the internet thing and presided over her bro's marriage. I think you can do it, you just need to make sure she goes through all the right hoops.

I'll get back to you...