Eligibility to Perform a Wedding in New York

Who qualifies for this single, one-off marriage license? According to the bill signed into law by Governor Hochul, any layperson, regardless of clergy status, can perform one wedding ceremony in New York without being a county judge or holding ordination. Traditionally, New York law has recognized two categories of individuals authorized to perform weddings: religious ministers and magistrates.

“Minister” is defined as someone who holds some power within a recognized religious group such as the Universal Life Church. On the other hand, “magistrate” refers to a judge. Below is the applicable legal text:

"The designation of 'minister' is granted to any person who has applied for ordination through the ULC, entitling them to legally officiate weddings in New York and beyond. The Universal Life Church is non-denominational and has ordained some 20 million individuals globally, including thousands right there in the state of New York. Ordination is a free, online process that can be completed by anyone who feels so-called within minutes. If you haven’t already, you can start that process below."

As for New York’s new law, a one-day marriage officiant license is also available, expanding those authorized individuals to include temporary officiants licensed under this provision. The complete guidelines for the single-ceremony officiant license are attached below.

Obtaining Your “Officiant-for-a-Day” License

To apply for the one-day marriage officiant license, you must contact the specific office responsible for issuing marriage licenses, usually the Town or City Clerk's Office where the wedding is taking place. Aspiring wedding officiants should always apply to the appropriate office in the actual location where the wedding will occur.

Residency in New York may not be a requirement, and in-person application submission may not always be necessary. While application requirements may vary across counties, applicants generally need to provide relevant details about the ceremony such as the date and location, and specific personal details about themselves, like name, date of birth, and home address.

Cost of Being a One-Time New York Wedding Officiant

Applying for this single-day wedding officiant status incurs a significant fee: the one-time license comes out to $25! This is a mandatory charge that is applicable statewide. This cost can be paid to the city clerk's office and may be settled using the office's accepted payment methods. In certain locations, additional fees may apply when using your credit card.

When the officiant application is approved by the clerk's office, an email confirmation will be sent, although the process could run two weeks or even longer, according to some applicants' experiences. Once the officiant receives the go-ahead, they may proceed with conducting the wedding.

One-Day Officiant License vs. Becoming Ordained Online

Becoming ordained online remains the favored method among New Yorkers hoping to officiate weddings for their loved ones. How does obtaining New York’s “officiant-for-a-day” license measure up to becoming ordained online? There are several crucial differences to consider.

A view of the New York city skyline

Expiration Dates

The obvious distinction is that New York's “officiant-for-a-day” license is valid only for one wedding. Should you plan to officiate multiple ceremonies, you will need to repeat your entire application from start to finish, including the waiting period, and pay $25 dollars each time.

While this may not be a problem if you intend to officiate only one wedding, we advise caution because our own ULC officiants initially obtained ordination after being asked to perform one ceremony, but later went on to perform more weddings.

Indeed, some of them have gone on to conduct many ceremonies, from multiple weddings to vow renewals and beyond. In contrast, becoming ordained online through Universal Life Church (ULC) is good for life and allows for an unlimited number of weddings. If there is even a slight chance you may officiate any additional weddings, obtaining online ordination is likely the better choice.

Associated License Costs

The next significant difference is the cost. New York's one-time wedding officiant designation carries a $25 fee, whereas becoming ordained through ULC is entirely free. Immediately after becoming a ULC minister online, you will receive an exclusive account on our site and access to a digital copy of your ordination certificate you can view at any time. Hard copies of your ordination certificate are also available through our online minister supplies shop, although purchasing them is optional.

Regardless of whether you opt to purchase official paperwork, your ordination will always remain valid through ULC. However, please note that specific locations in the state of New York state may require confirmation of your ordination status to perform a wedding ceremony. To learn all the rules and regulations of officiating a wedding in your area, please refer to our handy New York state wedding officiant guide.

Depending on the location where you plan to officiate ceremonies in the state of New York, you might be required to pick up certain legal paperwork or other credentials from our online web store. We offer convenient packages that give you everything you need, including all the necessary info, minister training guides, and officiant supplies and merchandise to officiate multiple weddings and other ceremonies throughout New York.

Application Approval Times

Lastly, there are considerations regarding lengthy wait times and confusing application deadlines. New York’s one-day officiant application must be submitted 30 days ahead of the wedding. Yet, the approval process can take up to 23 days, which means applicants may not receive notification of their acceptance until just seven days before the wedding. This scenario could be alarming and may require couples to search for a last-minute replacement should the application be denied for any reason.

However, becoming ordained with ULC provides almost instant confirmation, with an email confirming successful ordination sent immediately after sign-up. This swift confirmation offers immediate assurance that you are legally able to officiate wedding ceremonies. Universal Life Church prioritizes this prompt response because we hold strong convictions that everyone should be able to be ordained and guide their own spiritual journey - a right that far too many were denied for far too long.

Officiating a New York Wedding

Regardless of whether you are preparing for your own wedding or have been tasked with performing a wedding in New York, it is crucial to know the pluses and minuses of each option for obtaining authorization. If you determine that online ordination works best for you, get started by clicking below to begin the process.

No matter the route you choose, either of these accessible pathways permit an engaged couple to select a friend or family member they love to officiate their big day. Ultimately, that is the most important thing.

Speaking of the ceremony – if you’re tasked with preparing a script and feeling like you might need some pointers or inspiration, don’t forget to check out our wedding ceremony scripts resource center.