Created and reviewed for accuracy by researchers at the Universal Life Church
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 Missouri. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in Missouri. 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 Missouri.
- 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: 15 Days
Local MO Wedding Guides
For more specific information about performing a wedding in certain parts of Missouri, choose a location above. 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 Missouri
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 Missouri
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 a county recorder
Choose the county you'd like to contact from the dropdown menu above to see their office’s information.
3 Missouri 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 Missouri 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.
Ministers ordained online by the Universal Life Church have successfully solemnized thousands of marriages in the Missouri. While minister registration is not legally required by the state, many ULC ministers in Missouri have reported to us that they are typically asked to present proof of their ordination to the county clerk when they present the signed marriage license to that office, so be sure you have this in hand!
4 How to get Married in Missouri
Missouri's Top Wedding Spot
Japanese Gardens at the Lodge of Four Seasons
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 Missouri marriage license from the appropriate office. This license is only valid for 30 days, however there is no waiting period between when the couple picks up the marriage license and when the ceremony may legally be conducted, and the signed license needn't be returned to the issuing office until its date of expiry.
At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in Missouri, 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 Missouri 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 MIssouri Wedding Planning Considerations
Missouri boasts some of the widest array of wedding venues available anywhere. Known for historical buildings and beautiful cathedrals, the stunning Botanical Gardens, and even simple barns and farms on rolling landscapes. Here, the weather is known to be incredibly unpredictable, changing from blazing sunshine to torrential rain during certain seasons. If the wedding should be taking place outdoors, it is important that the forecast be carefully observed, and appropriate outerwear be brought along just in case of inclement weather. Fall season is busiest in Missouri for weddings, as it is in the fall that the weather evens out, and the beauty of Missouri can be truly appreciated. However, this means that planning for a fall wedding should be started early to ensure a venue is available, whether indoors or out. People often wonder how much a wedding minister should charge in Missouri, but the truth is there’s no simple answer – fees can vary widely based on experience level, amount of involvement, and other responsibilities the couple might need covered. Whether it is indoors or out may also influence cost.
Missouri Marriage Code
Missouri Marriage Code
Marriage laws in Missouri are primarily directed by Section 100 of Chapter 451 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, which defines the persons authorized to perform a marriage in the State of Missouri. We've reproduced this item in the state code below.451.100. Marriages may be solemnized by any clergyman, either active or retired, who is in good standing with any church or synagogue in this state. Marriages may also be solemnized, without compensation, by any judge, including a municipal judge. Marriages may also be solemnized by a religious society, religious institution, or religious organization of this state, according to the regulations and customs of the society, institution or organization, when either party to the marriage to be solemnized is a member of such society, institution or organization. View the Missouri Statutes on the official state site.
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