Weddingbee boards

Since my fiance and I don't really practice any religion (I was raised Cathoic and he's non denomination), we have asked my dad's best friend from high school to officiate over the ceremony. He has an unbelievable way with words, and is quite the comedian, so we thought why not? My question is, has anyone ever had someone ordained online or been ordained themselves? What exactly is the process for this and where is the most reputable online "church" that we could use to get him signed up. We live in Illinois if that helps, because I know that laws differ from state to state.

Hi, just chiming in to say that my friend/coworker got ordained on the internet about 15 years ago also through the 'Universal Life Church'; when I did a seach jut now loads of sites came up but this one claims to be the official one: http://www.ulc.net/

They advise as another poster has: to verify legality in your state/province & country.

On this site there are some 'tips' on running a wedding ceremony which your newbie officiant may/may not find helpful: http://www.themonastery.org/

My friend's motivation to get ordained was prompted by a particular non-religious co-worker asking her to do it (she, like your dad's best friend has a way with words and gravitas, and also she herself got married v young and we all sorta looked to her as we each progressed through our own marriage/wedding decision-making). For these non-religious couples, she's been just great! She'll be the 2nd officiant at my wedding in August (we can't use her on her own, as it's not legal in UK but we've found a progressive/liberal minister who's fine with doing tag-team).

My friend has shared that rehearsals can take quite a while, only because her presence  means that things can be (and are generally) done a little 'differently' (ie no 'script' to follow). And not all the parents/aunts/grandparents are comfortable with her sometimes but she makes sure she meets with the couples, alone prior to the rehearsal, and goes over things with just THEM, so that both she & they know she is the one they want there. Nothing too ugly with grandmas/aunts, it's just a little different for some people to have a non-robed, person-whose-day-job-isn't-doing-this kind of officiant.

All to say: it can totally work! Go for it! I think it's important to be comfortable with who is marrying you.

Let us know how you get on!

ps. Oh, and a minor point: my friend would recommend to ask your officiant to put the ceremony he's going to conduct in a 3-ring binder. And printed out in sorta large script, with each page put into one of those slip covers that are closed on three sides and open on top. Nearly all the weddings she's done have been outside and a few times it's been blustery and she was so grateful to have everything 'secure'! LOL She loves doing them but does get a bit nervous herself--such an honor!--but if you're not 'up there, leading groups, speaking to a crowd' regularly, it's something we may not realize or think of.