How to Perform a Marriage in Washington 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 Washington County, and everything in between.

1. How to Become a Minister in Washington 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 Washington County

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

2. Learn Washington County Marriage Requirements

After ordination, the next step is contacting the specific office that issues marriage licenses in Washington 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 Washington County is listed below.

Office Address:: 4800 Tower Hill Rd # 173
Wakefield, RI 2879
Office Phone Number:: (401) 782-4121
Office Website:: Washington County Office Website

3. Who Can Officiate a Wedding in Washington 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 Washington County:: $52,000

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

Once you've contacted the office issuing the marriage license in Washington County, you should have an understanding of what exactly you'll want to order from our online store. A popular option in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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:: None
Marriage License Valid For:: 90 Days
Return Within:: Within 72 hours of ceremony

6. Performing a Wedding in Washington County

Washington County, Rhode Island gives a feeling of a small town with a tight community and would be a perfect place to hold a wedding. The area is very old, and it is reflected in the architecture. The older traditional buildings emphasize the history of this town. Everything you may need is all within walking distance. Most of the time, unless it's a main street or newer development, businesses are just converted homes. Main Street is full of stores and restaurants to suit the taste of the many people that visit this town during the summer. All of those things add up to a charming feel that Washington County gives off. There are plenty of natural sights around the area from the woods to the beaches.

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

Washington County has warm summers reaching almost 85 degrees. This county can be very cold and does have a snowy season so aim for spring, fall, and late summer to get the most out of the more favorable weather if couples are planning an outdoor wedding.

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