How to Perform a Marriage in Orange County

Researched and edited for you by trained team members at GetOrdained.org

There are few greater honors than presiding over the union of two happy people ready to begin a new life together. Being asked to officiate a wedding is exciting, but it's also a great responsibility; it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by it all. That's why our goal is to make the process as smooth as possible! This guide will take you step by step through the officiating process, from how to get ordained online to the specific registration requirements in Orange County, and everything in between.

1. How to Become a Minister in Orange County

The first thing you'll need to do is get ordained as a minister of the Universal Life Church. If you're already ordained you can skip to the next section, but if not, you'll want to go ahead and click the button below to sign up as a minister. Get Ordained™ provides free ordination through ULC, has no specific faith requirements, and can be completed in moments. Congrats, you're on your first step towards officiating completely legal wedding ceremonies!

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Important Info for Ministers in Orange County

ULC Ordination Accepted:: Yes
Minister Registration Required:: No
Documents Required:: N/A
Minister's Residency:: Irrelevant
Minister's Minimum Age:: 18

2. Learn Orange County Marriage Requirements

After ordination, the next step is contacting the specific office that issues marriage licenses in Orange County. Inform them that you're an ordained minister officiating a wedding, and ask them if they need to see any specific credentials or documents from you in order to perform a wedding. The contact information for that office in Orange County is listed below.

Office Address:: 601 N. Ross Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Office Phone Number:: (714) 834-2500
Office Website:: Orange County Office Website

3. Who Can Officiate a Wedding in Orange County?

Well, you can, for starters! More and more, couples are asking a close friend or family member to help them tie the knot, cutting costs by foregoing costly professionals and making their wedding more personal all in one go.

Not everyone knows that they can get an officiant ordained online, however! If you're close with a couple who've recently announced their engagement, you may consider informing them that anyone can perform their wedding by getting ordained online. You might even consider offering yourself as a prospective officiant!

Average Cost of a Wedding in Orange County:: $32,500

4. What You'll Need to Officiate in Orange County

Once you've contacted the office issuing the marriage license in Orange County, you should have an understanding of what exactly you'll want to order from our online store. A popular option in Orange County is the Classic Wedding Kit, which will cover all your bases and more.

Now that you've done your homework and ordered your package, it's time for the fun part: Officiating the actual wedding! If this is your first time helping a couple tie the knot (or you just need a quick refresher), we'd encourage you to take a look at our wedding training center, which has all the resources you'll need to pull off an incredible ceremony.

5. How Orange County Marriage Licenses Work

Once you've officiated the wedding, all that's left to do is sign and return the marriage license. We get it, this is the unexciting legal part, but this is a crucial step to ensuring the wedding you just performed is valid in the eyes of the law. Once the marriage license has been picked up, there is no mandatory waiting period. A Marriage license in Orange County is valid for 90 days, and it must be return within the time limit given after all parties sign it.

We highly encourage you to double and triple-check that the marriage license is filled out properly before it is returned to the appropriate office. After all, this is a legal document. If you have questions about how to fill it out properly, please take a look at our marriage license training page for detailed instruction.

Marriage License Waiting Period:: 0 Days
Marriage License Valid For:: 90 Days
Return Within:: Return within 10 days of ceremony

6. Performing a Wedding in Orange County

Couples come here from around the world to take advantage of the beautiful coastal landscapes and elegant venue options offered in Orange County, California. No matter the size or style of the wedding ceremony there is certain to be a fit here. The weather lends itself to indoor and outdoor events year-round, and the proximity to one of the largest cities in the U.S. gives world class food and entertainment options as well.

7. What You Should Do Now for a Wedding in Orange County

California is known as the sunshine state for a reason! Nearly any time of year is perfect for hosting and epic indoor or outdoor wedding celebration in Orange County.

If you've come this far, you're practically an expert on performing weddings in Orange County! If you haven't already, remember to get ordained online with the ULC by clicking the button below, and start officiating!