Created and reviewed for accuracy by researchers at the Universal Life Church
Congratulations! If you've found yourself at this page it is likely that you are either planning to be married or have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony in Arkansas. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in Arkansas. The information provided below will walk you through the steps one must follow to become a minister and perform a valid wedding ceremony in the state of Arkansas.
- ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: Yes
- Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
- Minister's Minimum Age: 18
- Marriage License Waiting Period: 0 Days
- Marriage License Valid For: 60 Days
- Marriage License Return Within: By Expiration
Local AR Wedding Guides
For more specific information about performing a wedding in certain parts of Arkansas, choose a location above. If your area isn't listed, don't worry - just continue scrolling to review the helpful general information on this page.
1 How to Become an Ordained Minister in Arkansas
If you haven't already, you should get ordained online with the Universal Life Church. Ordination is free and can be completed in just a matter of minutes. Thousands of legally valid marriages are performed by ULC ministers around the world every year. Begin the process by clicking the big blue button below!
2 Officiating a Wedding in Arkansas
Next, you should contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk). Let them know that you are a minister of the Universal Life Church in Seattle, and ask what they will require of you to officiate a legal marriage.
Select a county clerk
Choose the county you'd like to contact from the dropdown menu above to see their office’s information.
3 Arkansas Officiant Requirements
After you've contacted your marriage authority, you should visit our online store to purchase whatever documentation will be required. We typically advise ministers in Arkansas to get an Ordination Package and to add a Letter of Good Standing to her or his order. Minister registration is required in Arkansas and you will be asked to display proof of your ordination to the county clerks before they will accept the marriage as having been legally solemnized. Having this proof of your ordination can also provide a great deal of peace-of-mind to any couple that you intend to marry. Additionally, please attempt to leave at least 3 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your order, to ensure that you receive all of your materials in advance.
4 How to get Married in Arkansas
Arkansas's Top Wedding Spot
Ozarks at Table Rock Lake or Beaver Lake, just outside historic Eureka Springs
Now that you've done all of the above, you are ready to perform the wedding! Be sure that the couple has picked up their Arkansas marriage license from the appropriate office. This license is valid for 60 days, and there is no mandatory waiting period between when the couple receives the marriage license in Arkansas and when the ceremony may be legally performed. Please be aware that the signed license must be returned to the issuing office by its date of expiry.
At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in Arkansas, after they've received their license to marry by getting ordained online, asking for guidance on how to perform a wedding ceremony. Once the legal matters have been taken care of, officiating a wedding (while a sometimes-daunting task) can be a great deal of fun. We would suggest that new Arkansas wedding ministers concerned about the ceremony peruse one of our helpful wedding guides. The minister training section of our website should offer a helpful refresher for more experienced ministers.
5 Advice for Performing Arkansas Weddings
Being asked to perform a wedding in Arkansas is a wonderful honor. When planning to officiate there, a few things that you should consider are weather, venue, and what to charge for your services. Summer outdoor weddings in Arkansas will be hot and humid, especially in July during the peak temperatures. For example, if the couple has selected one of the wedding barns in Arkansas, or a hot springs Arkansas wedding, then you should plan to dress comfortably for heat and humidity. If you are wondering how much an officiant should charge for weddings in Arkansas, there are several factors to consider, including how experienced the officiant is, how much preparation will be involved, and if travel will be required. Obviously, the more time-consuming the event will be, the higher amount of compensation you can reasonably demand.
Arkansas Marriage Code
Arkansas Marriage Code
Marriage in Arkansas is governed by Title 9 of Arkansas' Statutes. Ministers who got ordained online with the Universal Life Church have successfully solemnized thousands of weddings in the state. Below, you will find that we have reproduced a relevant excerpt of this code.A.C.A. § 9-11-215. Marriage ceremony. (a) When marriages are solemnized by a minister of the gospel or priest, the ceremony shall be according to the forms and customs of the church or society to which he or she belongs. When solemnized by a civil officer, the form observed shall be the one the officer deems most appropriate. View the Arkansas Statutes on the official state site.
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