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Preparing to officiate a wedding in Ann Arbor? 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 Ann Arbor.

1 Become an Ordained Minister in Ann Arbor

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 Ann Arbor

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 Ann Arbor

Your next move will be to contact the government office that handles marriages and marriage licenses in Ann Arbor. 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 Ann Arbor can be found below.

Office Address:
200 N. Main Street, Suite 100
Ann Arbor, MI 48107
Office Phone Number:
(734) 222-6720
Office Website:
Ann Arbor Office Website

3 Order Necessary Documentation to Officiate in Ann Arbor

Once you've confirmed what is required to perform a wedding in Ann Arbor, head over to our online catalog to order any documentation or supplies you might need to officiate. For ministers in Ann Arbor, 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 Ann Arbor 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 Ann Arbor, this license has validity that varies by county, there is a mandatory 3-day 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.

Marriage License Waiting Period:
3 Days
Marriage License Valid For:
Varies by county
Return Within:
10 Days

5 How to Write a Wedding Officiant Script in Ann Arbor

Wedding officiants in Ann Arbor 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 Ann Arbor 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!

6 What to Know About Ann Arbor Wedding Ceremonies

Ann Arbor is one of Michigan's top wedding destinations, and it is easy to see why. Whether you're looking for a vibrant downtown venue or even a gorgeous venue at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor's got you covered. And with plenty of fine dining around town, you'll have your pick of great catering options, too!