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 Michigan. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in Michigan. 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 Michigan.
- 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: 33 Days
- Marriage License Return Within: By Expiration
1 How to Become an Ordained Minister in Michigan
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 Michigan
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
Michigan's Top Wedding Spot
Resorts like Bluefin Bay, on Lake Superior
3 License to Marry in Michigan
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 Michigan to get an Ordination Package. 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.
Please note that weddings in Michigan do require the presence of two witnesses (apart from the officiant).
4 How to get Married in Michigan
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 Michigan marriage license from the appropriate office.
At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in Michigan, 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 Michigan 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 Things to Keep in Mind for a Michigan Wedding
When performing a wedding a wedding in Michigan, it's important to be aware of certain seasonal trends. As the weather in the summer and winter tends to be more extreme -- with hot summers and rather snowy winters -- most weddings will take place in fall and spring. If the wedding is being held during these periods, the couple should look at booking venues far in advance, particularly in the spring, as many venues will be booked up. Outdoor weddings are the most common in Michigan, which means you may meet some additional guests that were not invited - bugs! Oftentimes wedding parties will provide bug spray for their guests if a wedding will be taking place outdoors. If an indoor venue is more your style, you will find no shortage of available options. From gorgeous churches, to the humble and rustic barn wedding, Michigan will not leave you disappointed. Fees for wedding officiants in Michigan depend on a number of factors, such as how much professional experience the person has, whether they’ll be required to travel to the ceremony destination, and how much preparation is required on their part.
Michigan Marriage Code
Michigan law states that a "minister of the gospel" may officiate at weddings. The language used may give the impression that the right is restricted to clergy of a specific religion, but it's actually just an older phrasing than most states use today - ministers of any religion are afforded equal rights in Michigan. Any clergyperson authorized by his or her religious organization to solemnize marriages may perform weddings in Michigan. This includes ministers who have become a minister by getting ordained online by the Universal Life Church Monastery. In Michigan, individuals authorized to perform marriages are granted that power via section 7 of article 551 of Michigan's state code. Below, you will find an excerpt of this code. Universal Life Church ministers regularly officiate legally valid marriages in the State of Michigan.551.7 Persons authorized to solemnize marriage; records; return of licenses and certificates; disposition of fees charged by mayor or county clerk. Sec. 7. (1) Marriages may be solemnized by any of the following: (i) A minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner, anywhere in this state, if the minister or cleric or religious practitioner is ordained or authorized to solemnize marriages according to the usages of the denomination. (j) A minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner, anywhere in this state, if the minister or cleric or religious practitioner is not a resident of this state but is authorized to solemnize marriages under the laws of the state in which the minister or cleric or religious practitioner resides. (2) A person authorized by this act to solemnize a marriage shall keep proper records and return licenses and certificates as required by section 4 of 1887 PA 128, MCL 551.104. View the Michigan Statutes on the official state site.
To view the in-depth wedding laws for Michigan state:
Michigan Marriage Laws⇓ Show the rest
Alcona County
106 5th StreetHarrisville, Michigan
48740
Phone: (989) 724-9410
Fax: (989) 724-9419
Alcona County website »
Alger County
101 Court StreetMunising, Michigan
49862
Phone: (906) 387-2076
Fax: (906) 387-2156
Alger County website »
Allegan County
113 Chestnut StreetAllegan, Michigan
Phone: (269) 673-0400
Fax: (269) 673-0490
Allegan County website »
Alpena County
720 W. Chisholm Street, Suite 2Alpena, Michigan
49707
Phone: (989) 354-9520
Fax: (989) 354-9644
Alpena County website »
Antrim County
203 E. Cayuga St.Bellaire, Michigan
Phone: (231) 533-8664
Fax: (231) 533-8740
Antrim County website »
Arenac County
120 N Grove StreetStandish, Michigan
48658
Phone: (989) 846-4626
Fax: (989) 846-9194
Arenac County website »
Baraga County
2 S. Main St.L’Anse, Michigan
49946
Phone: (906) 524-6100 ext 698
Fax: (906) 524-6432
Baraga County website »
Barry County
220 W State StHastings, Michigan
Phone: (269) 945-1286
Fax: (269) 945-1299
Barry County website »
Bay County
515 Center Avenue, Ste. 101Bay City, Michigan
Phone: (989) 895-4280
Fax: (989) 895-4284
Bay County website »
Benzie County
448 Court PlaceBeulah, Michigan
Phone: (231) 882-9671
Fax: (231) 882-5941
Benzie County website »
Berrien County
811 Port StreetSt. Joseph, Michigan
49085
Phone: (269) 983-7111
Berrien County website »
Branch County
31 Division StreetColdwater, Michigan
49036
Phone: (517) 279-4306
Fax: (517) 278-5627
Branch County website »
Calhoun County
315 W. Green StMarshall, Michigan
49068
Phone: (269) 781-0730
Calhoun County website »
Cass County
120 North Broadway, Room 123Cassopolis, Michigan
49031
Phone: (231) 445-4464
Cass County website »
Charlevoix County
301 State StCharlevoix, Michigan
Phone: (231) 547-7200
Fax: (231) 547-7217
Charlevoix County website »
Cheboygan County
870 South Main StCheboygan, Michigan
Phone: (231) 627-8866
Cheboygan County website »
Chippewa County
319 Court StreetSault Ste. Marie, Michigan
49793
Phone: (906) 635-6300
Chippewa County website »
Clare County
225 W. Main St.Harrison, Michigan
48625
Phone: (989) 539-7131
Fax: (989) 539-6616
Clare County website »
Clinton County
100 E State Street, Suite 2600St. Johns, Michigan
48879
Phone: (989) 224-5140
Fax: (989) 224-5102
Clinton County website »
Crawford County
200 W Michigan AvenueGrayling, Michigan
49738
Phone: (517) 348-2841
Crawford County website »
Delta County
310 Ludington StreetEscanaba, Michigan
49829
Phone: (906) 789-5100
Fax: (906) 789-5196
Delta County website »
Dickinson County
705 South Stevenson AvenueIron Mountain, Michigan
49801
Phone: (906) 774-0988
Dickinson County website »
Eaton County
1045 Independence BlvdCharlotte, Michigan
48813
Phone: (517) 543-2426
Eaton County website »
Genesee County
900 South Saginaw StreetFlint, Michigan
Phone: (810) 257-3225
Genesee County website »
Gladwin County
401 W Cedar Ave, Room 7Gladwin, Michigan
48624
Phone: (989) 426-7351
Gladwin County website »
Gogebic County
200 N. Moore StreetBessemer, Michigan
49911
Phone: (906) 663-4518
Fax: (906) 663-4660
Gogebic County website »
Grand Traverse County
400 Boardman Ave., Ste. 101Traverse City, Michigan
49684
Phone: (231) 922-4760
Fax: (231) 922-4794
Grand Traverse County website »
Gratiot County
214 East Center StreetIthaca, Michigan
48847
Phone: (989) 875-5215
Fax: (989) 875-5254
Gratiot County website »
Hillsdale County
29 N Howell Street, Room 1Hillsdale, Michigan
49242
Phone: (517) 437-3391
Fax: (517) 437-3392
Hillsdale County website »
Houghton County
401 E. Houghton Ave.Houghton, Michigan
Phone: (906) 482-1150
Fax: (906) 483-0364
Houghton County website »
Huron County
250 East Huron Avenue, Room 201Bad Axe, Michigan
48413
Phone: (989) 269-9942
Fax: (989) 269-6160
Huron County website »
Ingham County
341 S. JeffersonMason, Michigan
48854
Phone: (517) 676-7201
Fax: (517) 676-7254
Ingham County website »
Iosco County
422 W. Lake StreetTawas City, Michigan
48764
Phone: (517) 362-3497
Iosco County website »
Iron County
2 South 6th St, Suite 9Crystal Falls, Michigan
49920
Phone: (906) 875-3301
Iron County website »
Isabella County
200 N. Main StreetMt. Pleasant, Michigan
48858
Phone: (989) 317-4070
Isabella County website »
Jackson County
312 S. Jackson StreetJackson, Michigan
Phone: (517) 788-4265
Fax: (517) 788-4601
Jackson County website »
Kalamazoo County
201 W. Kalamazoo Ave. 1st FloorKalamazoo, Michigan
Phone: (269) 383-8840
Kalamazoo County website »
Kalkaska County
605 N. Birch StreetKalkaska, Michigan
Phone: (231) 258-3349
Fax: (231) 258-3337
Kalkaska County website »
Kent County
300 Monroe Avenue NWGrand Rapids, Michigan
Phone: (616) 632-7640
Fax: (616) 632-7645
Kent County website »
Keweenaw County
5095 4th StreetEagle River, Michigan
Phone: (906) 337-2229
Fax: (906) 337-2253
Keweenaw County website »
Lake County
800 Tenth St, Suite 200Baldwin, Michigan
49304
Phone: (231) 745-2725
Fax: (231) 745-8632
Lake County website »
Lapeer County
255 Clay StreetLapeer, Michigan
48446
Phone: (810) 667-0356
Fax: (810) 667-0362
Lapeer County website »
Leelanau County
8527 E Government Center Dr, Room 103Suttons Bay, Michigan
49682
Phone: (231) 256-9824
Leelanau County website »
Lenawee County
301 N Main Street 3rd FloorAdrian, Michigan
49221
Phone: (517) 264-4599
Lenawee County website »
Livingston County
200 E Grand River AveHowell, Michigan
48843
Phone: (517) 546-0500
Fax: (517) 546-4354
Livingston County website »
Luce County
407 West Harrie St.Newberry, Michigan
49868
Phone: (906) 293-5521
Fax: (906) 293-5553
Luce County website »
Mackinac County
100 S. Marley, Rm 10St. Ignace, Michigan
49781
Phone: (906) 643-7300
Fax: (906) 643-7302
Mackinac County website »
Macomb County
120 N. Main, 1st FloorMount Clemens, Michigan
48043
Phone: (586) 469-5120
Macomb County website »
Manistee County
415 Third StreetManistee, Michigan
49660
Phone: (231) 723-3331
Manistee County website »
Marquette County
234 W. Baraga Ave.Marquette, Michigan
Phone: (906) 225-8330
Fax: (906) 228-1572
Marquette County website »
Mason County
304 E. Ludington AvenueLudington, Michigan
Phone: (231) 843-8202
Fax: (231) 843-1972
Mason County website »
Mecosta County
400 Elm StreetBig Rapids, Michigan
49307
Phone: (231) 592-0783
Fax: (231) 592-0193
Mecosta County website »
Missaukee County
111 South Canal, PO Box 800Lake City, Michigan
Phone: (231) 839-4967
Fax: (231) 839-3684
Missaukee County website »
Montcalm County
211 West Main StreetStanton, Michigan
Phone: (517) 831-7339
Montcalm County website »
Montmorency County
12265 M 32 WestAtlanta, Michigan
49709
Phone: (517) 785-4794
Montmorency County website »
Muskegon County
990 Terrace Street, 1st FloorMuskegon, Michigan
49442
Phone: (231) 724-6221
Fax: (231) 724-6262
Muskegon County website »
Newaygo County
1087 Newell St.White Cloud, Michigan
49349
Phone: (231) 689-7235
Fax: (231) 689-7241
Newaygo County website »
Oakland County
1200 N. Telegraph Rd, Bldg 12EPontiac, Michigan
48341
Phone: (248) 858-0581
Oakland County Marriage Laws »
Oceana County
100 State Street Suite M-1Hart, Michigan
49420
Phone: (231) 873-4328
Oceana County website »
Ogemaw County
806 West Houghton Ave. Suite 101West Branch, Michigan
48661
Phone: (989) 345-0215
Fax: (989) 345-7223
Ogemaw County website »
Ontonagon County
725 Greenland RoadOntonagon, Michigan
49953
Phone: (906) 884-4255
Ontonagon County website »
Osceola County
301 W. Upton Ave.Reed City, Michigan
Phone: (231) 832-3261
Fax: (231) 832-6149
Osceola County website »
Otsego County
225 West Main St.Gaylord, Michigan
49735
Phone: (989) 731-7500
Fax: (989) 731-7519
Otsego County website »
Ottawa County
12220 Fillmore Street, Room 130West Olive, Michigan
49460
Phone: (616) 994-4531
Ottawa County website »
Presque Isle County
151 E. Huron Ave.Rogers City, Michigan
49779
Phone: (989) 734-3288
Fax: (989) 734-7635
Presque Isle County website »
Roscommon County
500 Lake StreetRoscommon, Michigan
Phone: (989) 275-5923
Fax: (989) 275-8640
Roscommon County website »
Saginaw County
111 S. Michigan Avenue, Room 101Saginaw, Michigan
48602
Phone: (989) 790-5251
Saginaw County website »
Sanilac County
60 W. Sanilac, Room 203Sandusky, Michigan
48471
Phone: (810) 648-3212
Fax: (810) 648-5466
Sanilac County website »
Schoolcraft County
300 Walnut Street, Room 164Manistique, Michigan
Phone: (906) 341-3618
Schoolcraft County website »
Shiawassee County
208 North Shiawassee Street, 2nd FloorCorunna, Michigan
48817
Phone: (989) 743-2242
Fax: (989) 743-2241
Shiawassee County website »
St. Clair County
201 McMorran Blvd. Room 1100Port Huron, Michigan
48060
Phone: (810) 985-2200
Fax: (810) 985-4796
St. Clair County website »
St. Joseph County
125 W. Main St.Centreville, Michigan
Phone: (269) 467-5500
Fax: (269) 467-5628
St. Joseph County website »
Van Buren County
219 E. Paw Paw St. Suite 303Paw Paw, Michigan
Phone: (269) 657-8200
Van Buren County website »
Washtenaw County
200 North Main Street, Suite 100Ann Arbor, Michigan
48104
Phone: (734) 222-6720
Washtenaw County website »
Wayne County
2 Woodward Avenue, Rooms 201 & 207Detroit, Michigan
48226
Phone: (313) 224-6262
Wayne County Marriage Laws »
Wexford County
437 East DivisionCadillac, Michigan
49601
Phone: (231) 779-9450
Wexford County website »
