Post # 1
Member
367 posts
Helper bee
Hi All,
I know there are old threads on this but I think the law has changed a bit over the years. My best friend is officiating my wedding in New Hampshire this October. We are all from MA. It looks like we can get a one day pass but he has to be “ordained” online. Are there any past brides who have done this? Was it easy? I am really set on this decision as we want someone close to us to perform the ceremony.
Thanks for your help!
Post # 2
Member
9314 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
winewithwedding : My husband did it to marry our friends – it was like $30 online to get ordained. Super easy! American Marriage Ministries was the one he used I believe. If the wedding was in Mass you just need the one day pass without an online ordainment (which is what we did for our wedding).
Post # 3
Member
969 posts
Busy bee
Yes you can do this no problem. We got married in New Husband by our friend in December. My Brother-In-Law also got married in New Husband by his friend in October. We live in CT and Brother-In-Law lives in NC- our friend was a New Husband resident though.
The easiest way to be allowed to perform a wedding is to get ordained. Our friend got ordained online through the Universal Life Church no problem. If the officiant is not a resident of New Husband, they have to get permission from the Secretary of State to perform the wedding. Which, again, is no big deal. You just have to have your officiant fill out a form once they are ordained. Its easy to google I just can’t paste the link for some reason.
When you go to fill out your marriage license, you select ceremony type as religious and officiant title as minister. That’s it, you’re done! There is no waiting period for a marriage license in New Husband but you do have to get to the clerks office pretty early on a weekday (usually before 3) before the wedding to get the license.
One last thing that threw us off- once you get married you have to mail in your marriage application and wait about a week for your marriage certificate to be ready. You MUST pick up your marriage certificate in person and pay with a check. During the weird weekday office clerk hours. BUT you can have someone who is listed on the marriage certificate (eg a parent) pick it up for you. So we had his mom who lives in New Husband go get it for us and mail it to us.
Post # 4
Member
367 posts
Helper bee
12_Elle : Thank you so much! I think when I saw Secretary of State permission I got nervous that this will be held up for month. Great to hear that it’s not that difficult or time consuming.
You’re a peach 🙂 Have a great day!
Post # 5
Member
969 posts
Busy bee
winewithwedding : I definitely wouldn’t leave it to the last minute but New Husband is about as non-beurocratic as states come so you’ll be fine 🙂
Post # 6
Member
367 posts
Helper bee
LilliV : Thanks! I’ll send that link over to my friend!!
12_Elle : and Good Point! We are getting married in October but it’s on my list this month to get everything organized for him to be ordained and figure out where and when to get the marriage license.
Post # 7
Member
9314 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
winewithwedding : oh! yea listen to Elle she is right. I just realized that my husband technically married them in Maine, even though we were all staying in New Hampshire for the wedding (silly state borders).