The seal for Contra Costa County, California.

Preparing to officiate a wedding in Contra Costa County? If you’ve been asked to perform a wedding ceremony, congratulations! Presiding over the formation of this important bond is an incredible honor, but it comes with considerable responsibility as well. Let’s explore the process in detail to make sure you’re up to speed on everything that will be required of you. In this guide, we’ll touch on how to prepare for a wedding ceremony, how to get in touch with the relevant office you'll be dealing with, and how to ensure the marriage is legally recognized in Contra Costa County.

1 Become an Ordained Minister in Contra Costa County

First up: you'll want to get ordained as a minister of the Universal Life Church (if you haven’t already completed this step). ULC ordination is available online, free of charge, and gives the recipient the power to perform legal wedding ceremonies! Best of all, the process takes only moments to complete. You can begin by tapping the button below!

Key Info for Ministers in Contra Costa County

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

2 Confirm Wedding Officiant Requirements in Contra Costa County

Your next move will be to contact the government office that handles marriages and marriage licenses in Contra Costa County. Let them know you’re an ordained minister planning to perform a wedding in their district and want to understand what documents or information they will need from you before the ceremony.

Information for how to get in touch with this office in Contra Costa County can be found below.

Office Address:
555 Escobar Street
Martinez, CA 94553
Office Phone Number:
(925) 335-7900

3 Order Necessary Documentation to Officiate in Contra Costa County

Once you've confirmed what is required to perform a wedding in Contra Costa County, head over to our online catalog to order any documentation or supplies you might need to officiate. For ministers in Contra Costa County, we typically suggest the Classic Wedding Package. However, this decision will ultimately depend on what you learn from speaking with local officials.

4 Officiate a Wedding and Fill Out the Contra Costa County Marriage License

Now you’re ready to officiate the wedding! If this is your first time performing a wedding (or even if it’s not) we'd encourage you to take a moment to check out our wedding training center, which has tons of helpful tips and tools to prepare for the big day.

Once the ceremony is over, the last key box to check is completing the marriage license. In Contra Costa County, this license is valid for 90 days, there is no mandatory waiting period and the completed license must be returned before its listed expiration date. To learn more about how to fill out this document, please visit our marriage license training guide guide.

Marriage License Waiting Period:
0 Days
Marriage License Valid For:
90 Days
Return Within:
Return within 10 days of ceremony

How to Write a Wedding Officiant Script in Contra Costa County

Wedding officiants in Contra Costa County frequently reach out to us, seeking advice on crafting meaningful words for a wedding ceremony after completing their online ordination.

After addressing all the necessary legal aspects, the enjoyable part begins – orchestrating and conducting the wedding itself! We understand that this can be a bit overwhelming, especially for those officiating a wedding for the first time.

For Contra Costa County wedding officiants, we strongly recommend consulting our earlier-mentioned helpful wedding guides. Additionally, we encourage all officiants to explore the wealth of free resources on our website, such as our wedding ceremony script generator. This innovative tool enables you to input specific details about the planned ceremony and the couple's preferences, resulting in a completely personalized wedding script.

Consider delving into some of our online sample wedding scripts as well. These pre-written ceremony scripts can either be utilized as-is or serve as inspiration as you create your own script. Either way, they will prove invaluable for any wedding ceremony you are tasked with officiating. And remember, for your wedding officiant clothing or other essential supplies for the big day, don't forget to peruse our wedding catalog, exclusively available to those ordained by the ULC!

What to Know About Contra Costa County Wedding Ceremonies

Couples will discover the perfect blend of elegance and natural beauty in Contra Costa County, California, as they embark on their journey to wedded bliss. Nestled in the Bay Area, this region boasts a unique array of wedding venues, from historic estates to scenic parks. Whether couples envision an intimate gathering or a grand celebration, Contra Costa County offers diverse options to suit just about anyone's preferences. As a couple plans their ceremony in this charming locale, they can also take advantage of the moderate climate, providing an extended wedding season for those seeking the perfect moment to say "I do."

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