Steps to become an officiant in Chicago
STEP 1: Get Ordained
In order to officiate a wedding in Chicago, you must get ordained. According to Illinois State Law, you must be at least 18 years old, of any religious denomination, and provide proof that you are in good standing. You can get ordained right on the AMM or ULC websites, AMM is a free and very easy process. ULC does charge a minimal fee for credentials. Below are the links to the application:
American Marriage Ministries: https://theamm.org/ordination-application
Universal Life Church: https://getordained.org
STEP 2: Prepare For Officiating the Wedding
When it comes to preparing, it’s important to note that you will have two main duties as an officiant. The first is a non-legal duty, which is officiating the wedding. This includes all of the performative aspects of the ceremony. This could be what you will say and how you perform. The next duty is your legal duty, signing the marriage license, which will be talked about in the next step. Being an officiate at a wedding ceremony is an honor. Although it may feel like a lot of pressure, it is very fun. There are many training sites and resources available, such as on the AMM website, that can help prepare and ensure your first ceremony runs smoothly.
Step 3: Officiate the Wedding and complete the marriage license
For marriage licenses in Chicago, it is the responsibility of the couple to obtain the marriage license from the Clerk. It’s always a good idea to double-check with the couple before performing the ceremony that this has been obtained from their county clerks office. During the wedding day, the couple must present to you their marriage license. As an officiant, it is your responsibility to complete and sign it. It’s important that all the fields are completed and signed properly. Once this is completed, it is your job to return the license to the Clerk’s office either by mail or deliver it in person.
Pros & Cons of Having a Friend or Family Member Officiate Your Wedding
Pros:
A More Personalized Experience: Having someone you know whether it's a friend or family member definitely adds a more personalized approach to your wedding ceremony. It will create a more emotional element which is what everyone wants to see during a wedding ceremony. When someone adds an inside joke or a story of the couple that makes it more of a memorable experience for everyone.
It’s another way to include someone you love: If you have someone like an aunt, cousin, or lifelong friend that you would like to honor or that means a lot to you, this is a great way to have them be involved, rather than sitting back, watching it all happen. They get to express their love for you at the most important time of the day.
You have more control over what is said: Because you know this person well, you probably feel more comfortable telling them what you want them to add or take off from their script. It can solely be about you and what you want. Having your officiant take over and do it completely on their own can be risky, so this adds that extra safety net.
Cons:
The person you choose may not really know or understand how to do it properly: Even if this person you choose is comfortable speaking in front of people and can charm a crowd, they need to also incorporate all of the major milestones of a ceremony to ensure its binding. There are plenty of resources out there including our Wedicity Officiant Guide!
It’s extra prep work for you and them: If you are not hiring a professional who knows the right script and has done this before, it is your job to come up with a script and make sure you and your friend or family member are comfortable with what they will be saying and be prepared for any mistakes that may occur. If you do not want another thing added to your plate for wedding prep, hiring a professional officiant might be the way to go.
Legal Issues May Arise: The officiant must know how to properly fill out the legal forms to ensure it the marriage license can be finalized. If not filled our correctly, the form may be null and void until turned in with corrected language.
Blog post written by Elyse Dawley and Emily Matravers of Wedicity
Photography Credits:
Austin O'Brien Photography - @aobrienphotography
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