How to Become a Wedding Officiant in Massachusetts

How to Officiate a Wedding in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, all ministers must register with the Secretary of the Commonwealth to officiate marriages. Important: the registration process differs for resident ministers and out-of-state ministers.

Below, you’ll find both types of applications. Be sure to choose the correct application, then complete it and send it to the address provided on the form.

Massachusetts Resident Clergy Form
Massachusetts Out of State Clergy Form

As part of the application process, you’ll need to include copies of your ministerial credentials and a Letter of Good Standing. These documents are available to purchase in our minister store. To learn more about how to request these important items, continue reading the next section of this page.

How to Get a Massachusetts Marriage License

Marriage licenses in Massachusetts are issued by the City Clerk's office, and will be picked up by the couple. As a minister, it's your responsibility to understand how marriage licenses work in Massachusetts and its individual counties. For example, if the couple plans to get a Salem marriage license, you should double-check if there are any rules specific to Salem that everyone should know about.

In the state of Massachusetts, the license is valid for 60 days. There is a mandatory 3-day waiting period between the time it is picked up, and when the ceremony can be legally performed. Finally, the signed marriage license must be returned to the issuing office by the expiration date.

To contact the government office that issues marriage licenses in your area, or to learn more about the laws governing marriage in your specific area in Massachusetts, please select a location from the dropdown menu below.

How to Perform a Wedding

Congratulations, you're ready to officiate the wedding! If you need any assistance in this important task, we encourage you to utilize the tools below. Together these exclusive resources include everything you'll need to craft the perfect wedding ceremony for any couple. Created with our ministers in mind, they offer tips and helpful information for all aspects of performing a ceremony. Fun fact: many ULC ministers have become professional officiants using these tools as a guide!

Finalizing the Marriage

After you perform the ceremony, you will sign the marriage license along with the couple and their two witnesses. Your title is 'minister', the ceremony type is 'religious', and the denomination is 'non-denominational'. You will not be required to provide a license number. You may also wish to give the couple a commemorative gift, like a marriage certificate to mark their special day. Last thing: make sure the signed license gets resubmitted to the marriage office before the deadline!

Video: How to Perform a Wedding in Massachusetts

Whew, you made it through the entire Massachusetts wedding guide! More of a visual learner? Check out this in-depth video guide to performing weddings in Massachusetts! We'll walk you through each step of the process and provide clear action items to ensure you're properly prepared.