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 Kentucky. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in Kentucky. 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 Kentucky.
- ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: Sometimes
- Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
- Minister's Minimum Age: 18
- Marriage License Waiting Period: 0 Days
- Marriage License Valid For: 30 Days
- Marriage License Return Within: By Expiration
For more specific information about performing a wedding in certain parts of Kentucky, 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 Kentucky
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 Kentucky
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 Clerk to quickly generate the contact information for your local marriage authority.
Select a county contact
3 Kentucky 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 Kentucky to get an Ordination Package and add a Letter of Good Standing to her or his order. While Minister registration is not technically required in Kentucky it has been reported to us that ministers ordained online with the Universal Life Church are often required to present proof of ordination to the county clerk before the marriages performed will be accepted as having been legally solemnized. As an added bonus, 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 Kentucky
Kentucky's Top Wedding Spot
Antebellum mansion at My Old Kentucky Home State Park
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 Kentucky marriage license from the appropriate office. This license is valid for 30 days, but there is no mandatory waiting period between when the couple receives the marriage license in Kentucky 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 Kentucky, 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 Kentucky 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 How to Plan a Kentucky Wedding
Kentucky is a great state for any special gathering, but the southern hospitality makes it a great choice to hold a wedding in. If you've been asked to perform a wedding in Kentucky, there are a few things that are good to keep in mind. Most of the seasons are rather agreeable, aside from winter. Consequently, just about all weddings take place during the warmer part of the year, with only about 8% occurring in the cold season. While there are plenty of breathtaking outdoor wedding venues, be aware that you should consider scoping these out and reserving them long in advance. There is one incredibly famous venue located in Versailles, for example. If the couple is willing to spare no expense, a Kentucky Castle Wedding can make dreams come true. While the property has beautiful grounds, it also boasts the most incredible palatial structure so you might be able to snag it in the slow winter months. Finally, the question arises of how much an officiating minister should charge for a Kentucky wedding. Honestly, there’s no simple answer – fees can vary widely based on experience level, amount of involvement, and other responsibilities the couple might need covered. Location matters too; in big cities like Louisville and Lexington, or special venues like the Castle at Versailles, an officiating minister can charge a good amount more than in other parts of the state.
Kentucky Marriage Code
Kentucky Marriage Code
Marriage in Kentucky is governed by Chapter 402 of Title 35 of the Kentucky Revised 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.402.050 Who may solemnize marriage -- Persons present. (1) Marriage shall be solemnized only by: (a) Ministers of the gospel or priests of any denomination in regular communion with any religious society; (b) Justices and judges of the Court of Justice, retired justices and judges of the Court of Justice except those removed for cause or convicted of a felony, county judges/executive, and such justices of the peace and fiscal court commissioners as the Governor or the county judge/executive authorizes; or (c) A religious society that has no officiating minister or priest and whose usage is to solemnize marriage at the usual place of worship and by consent given in the presence of the society, if either party belongs to the society. (2) At least two (2) persons, in addition to the parties and the person solemnizing the marriage, shall be present at every marriage. Effective:July 15, 1996 View the Kentucky Statutes on the official state site.
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