Created and reviewed for accuracy by researchers at the Universal Life Church Ministries
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 Iowa. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in Iowa. 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 Iowa.
- ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: No
- Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
- Minister's Minimum Age: 18
- Marriage License Waiting Period: 3 Days
- Marriage License Valid For: Never Expires
- Marriage License Return Within: 15 Days
For more specific information about performing a wedding in certain parts of Iowa, choose a location below. 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 Iowa
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 Iowa
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 your County Recorder to quickly generate the contact information for your local marriage authority.
Select a county contact
3 Iowa 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 Iowa to get an Ordination Package. While Minister registration is not technically required in Iowa you may be required to present proof of your ordination to the county clerk before the marriages you perform will be accepted as having been legally solemnized. Having this proof of your ordination will also provide 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 Iowa
Iowa's Top Wedding Spot
Festhalle Barn, in the Amana Colonies, is a classic restored dairy barn
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 Iowa marriage license from the appropriate office. This license is never expires, but there is a mandatory 3-day waiting period between when the couple receives the marriage license in Iowa and when the ceremony may be legally performed. Please be aware that the signed license must be returned to the issuing office within 15 days of the completion of the wedding ceremony.
At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in Iowa, 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 Iowa 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 Iowa Wedding Planning Tips
You will feel right at home at weddings in the Hawkeye State. Known for their love of nature, knack for making some of the best comfort food around, combined with their overall cheery disposition, Iowans are known to be great wedding guests. While many states enjoy a wedding season in spring and summer, the heat and regular thunderstorms that occur during that period can certainly complicate such plans in Iowa. If the couple has their hearts set on this time of year, you should strongly suggest a backup plan just in case the worse possible scenario occurs. Autumn is actually the most popular time of year for weddings in Iowa, so officiants would be wise to clear their calendars during that portion of the year to make sure they're available to perform weddings!
Iowa Marriage Code
Iowa Marriage Code
Marriage in Iowa is governed by Chapter 595 of Title 15 of Iowa's Codified 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.595.10 Who may solemnize. Marriages may be solemnized by: 1. A judge of the supreme court, court of appeals, or district court, including a district associate judge, associate juvenile judge, or a judicial magistrate, and including a senior judge as defined in section 602.9202, subsection 3. 2. A person ordained or designated as a leader of the person's religious faith. View the Iowa Statutes on the official state site.
⇓ Show the rest
Learn All About Marriage Law in Iowa
See the Full StatutesAre you Considering Becoming a Minister in Iowa?
See the Steps to IA OrdinationProceed to your Ordination Application
Become Ordained