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 Nebraska. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in Nebraska. 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 Nebraska.
- ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: No
- Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
- Minister's Minimum Age: 18
- Marriage License Waiting Period: 0 Days
- Marriage License Valid For: 1 Year
- Marriage License Return Within: 15 days
For more specific information about performing a wedding in certain parts of Nebraska, 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 Nebraska
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 Nebraska
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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska to get an Ordination Package. While registration is not legally required, you may be asked to show proof of ordination to the county clerk in order for the marriage to be accepted as legally valid. 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 marriages in Nebraska require the presence of two witnesses in addition to the presence of of the officiant. Contact information for these witnesses will likely be asked for on the marriage license that must be presented to the county clerk.
4 How to get Married in Nebraska
Nebraska's Top Wedding Spot
16-acre Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical 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 Nebraska marriage license from the appropriate office. This license is valid for 1 year, and there is no waiting period between when the couple picks up the marriage license and when the ceremony may legally be conducted. The signed license must be returned to the issuing office within 15 days of the ceremony.
At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in Nebraska, 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 Nebraska 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 Hold a Wedding in Nebraska
There are a number of things you will want to consider if you have been asked to officiate a wedding in Nebraska. Most couples choose to hold their weddings during the summer or fall, with an estimated 75% of ceremonies taking place during this time. This weather is perfect for the numerous outdoor wedding venues that the Cornhusker State has to offer, compared to the sub-zero temperatures you’ll expect to experience in the winter. With so many weddings taking place during the summer and fall, it’s important to plan well in advance so that you can reserve your favorite venue before it is completely booked for the season. Barn wedding venues are popular locations for those planning an outdoor wedding, but you will want to be aware of the weather conditions you may encounter to reach the venue. Summers can experience heat waves over 90 degrees and the late spring through the summer also brings the threat of tornadoes, so having a back up plan for an indoor ceremony is something to consider as well. How much should an officiant charge for weddings in Nebraska? That depends on a number of factors, including how experienced the officiant is, the amount of preparation that will be involved, and if travel will be required. This can also vary depending on the city the wedding is taking place in and the amount the couple is planning to spend on their ceremony.
Nebraska Marriage Code
Nebraska Marriage Code
Marriage in Nebraska is governed by Section 108 of Chapter 42 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes. Ministers ordained online with the Universal Life Church are permitted to solemnize marriages in Nebraska and have successfully done so thousands of times. Below, you will find that we have reproduced the relevant excerpts of this code.42-108 Marriage ceremony; who may perform; return; contents. Every judge, retired judge, or clerk magistrate, and every preacher of the gospel authorized by the usages of the church to which he or she belongs to solemnize marriages, may perform the marriage ceremony in this state. View the Nebraska Statutes on the official state site.
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