How to Become a Wedding Celebrant Online
As more engaged couples search for personalized marriage ceremonies that reflect their unique love story, they’ve increasingly turned to people they know to fulfill the role of a wedding officiant or wedding celebrant.
In this guide, we will explain how to get authorized as a wedding celebrant, what celebrant training is available online, and how to start officiating ceremonies.
What Is a Celebrant at a Wedding?
In asking “what is a wedding celebrant?”, you will learn that it’s not one of the guests “celebrating” the union of the happy couple (common mistake). Rather, it’s the person performing the wedding! If that’s you, then you’ll conduct the ceremony, and then sign the marriage license with the couple. These are key parts of what makes the union valid in the eyes of the government.
From a legal standpoint, a wedding celebrant is similar to a religious officiant – such as a priest, a rabbi, or an imam. But unlike these strictly religious figures, the term “wedding celebrant” is sometimes (but not always) used to refer to people performing weddings who aren’t bound by specific doctrines or faith-based marriage rites.
Think of a celebrant as a storyteller, weaving the happy couple’s love story into a unique, tailored ceremony that prioritizes their needs and reflects their true selves. As a celebrant for wedding ceremonies, you can listen and empathize with couples, creating an event that can be flexible – and even unconventional.
How to Be a Wedding Celebrant
Whereas becoming a traditional religious officiant may require years of study and enrollment in a formal education program, becoming ordained and acting as a wedding celebrant need not be prohibitively expensive – especially when you secure ordination through the world’s largest online religious organization, the ULC.
The Universal Life Church is a nondenominational church that offers free ordination online to anyone who feels so-called. As a ULC-ordained minister, you’re legally authorized to officiate weddings throughout most of the United States. It takes no time to apply, and you can complete the process online in just minutes. Click on the button below to get started:
What Skills Are Needed to Officiate Weddings?
Anyone who feels drawn to ordination can become a wedding celebrant through the ULC, regardless of their personal beliefs or how they choose to identify. The ULC believes everyone should have the ability to take charge of their own spiritual life. This is why many couples looking for a less conventional ceremony turn to ordained loved ones to officiate their ceremony. That said, there are a few skills that will serve anyone who wants to serve in this capacity:
- Establish Trust: Couples should feel comfortable being vulnerable with their wedding officiant. Warmth, empathy, and active listening are essential for officiating marriage ceremonies.
- Storytelling: The ceremony itself should capture a couple’s unique journey. It’s important to inject humor, sincerity, and emotion when crafting narratives and scripts.
- Public Speaking: As the wedding celebrant, you should be able to lead the ceremony confidently, engaging guests while maintaining the right amount of solemnity for the big day.
- Adaptability: No two couples are the same, so you’ll have to adjust your approach based on the couple’s preferences.
Is the Wedding Celebrant the Same as a Wedding Officiant?
Basically. The term “celebrant” is generally used in Australia, the UK, and certain other countries, while “wedding officiant” is more commonly heard in the United States.
These terms are essentially interchangeable, although there is a small distinction to note. In some parts of the United States, some people are using the term “wedding celebrant,” especially in the context of nuptials that are nonreligious or nondenominational, or in wedding-related events such as vow renewals and commitment ceremonies. That said, the marriages performed by wedding celebrants certainly can include religious or spiritual elements!
Is Registration Required to Be a Wedding Officiant?
Although ordination authorizes you to officiate weddings in nearly every state, you need to know the requirements to be a celebrant in your area or jurisdiction.
Each state has its own processes for conducting a celebrant wedding, including procedures to follow regarding marriage license paperwork and what language must be included in the script. Often counties within a state have additional rules. You can find specific guidance about your area’s rules and regulations in our wedding laws state guide.
What Documents Are Required?
Wedding celebrants should be able to show credentials proving their ordination status before proceeding to officiate ceremonies. Although no two regions will have the same rules, our Classic Wedding Kit generally includes everything that celebrants will need, such as a copy of your ordination certificate, guidelines on how to officiate a wedding, and more.
Please visit our online supplies center to see a complete catalog of packages and other available wedding supplies.
How to Perform a Wedding Ceremony
Understanding and fulfilling the requirements to be a legal wedding celebrant is only a part of the picture. Performing a wedding ceremony also means mastering the little things, like crafting a wedding script that is right for your clients, and correctly completing the marriage license. To learn more about all aspects of a wedding celebrant’s job – and for access to our many tools and resources for celebrants – head over to our free Wedding Training Center.
Why You Should Get Ordained
While there are many ways to participate in the wedding of loved ones, there’s nothing quite like serving as the wedding celebrant. You are the most integral part of the ceremony (aside from the couple, of course) – without you present, the marriage generally isn’t legal!
By becoming a licensed celebrant, you can turn dreams into a reality for couples looking for a more personalized ceremony. Start by getting ordained today!
