How to Perform a Wedding in South Carolina

1 How to Become an Ordained Minister in South Carolina

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!

3 License to Marry in South Carolina

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 South Carolina to get an Ordination Package and to add a Letter of Good Standing to your order. While minister registration is not required in the state of South Carolina, it has been frequently reported to us by ULC ministers in the area that county clerks will ask for proof of your ordination before accepting any marriage you perform as having been legally solemnized. 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 South Carolina

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 South Carolina marriage license from the appropriate office. This license will never expires, and there is a mandatory 1-day waiting period between when the couple picks up the marriage license in South Carolina and when the ceremony may legally be conducted. Please be aware that the signed license must be returned to the issuing office within 30 days of the ceremony.

At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in South Carolina, 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 South Carolina 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 Wedding Considerations in South Carolina

Aristocratic South Carolina, with its collection of stately plantations, boisterous barn venues, and elegant beaches, has something for every wedding couple. Here’s what you should keep in mind as you approach your big day (as an officiant!). Unlike most states, South Carolina’s most popular wedding seasons are spring and summer. Springs are cooler and dryer; temperatures typically range from the mid-sixties to the mid-seventies. Summers are hot and humid. Temperatures often linger around ninety degrees Fahrenheit and refuse to drop until you are drenched in sweat. Dress appropriately! Climate aside, South Carolina is a wonderful state for a wedding. Beach weddings are very popular, and Saint Helena Island, Hilton Head Island, and Myrtle Beach all showcase the very best of South Carolina’s beaches. If your couple desires a more traditionally Southern wedding, you may find yourself at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, one of South Carolina’s most famous former plantations. So how much should you charge as an officiant? The amount you should charge depends on how much experience you have, the degree of difficulty or complexity of the ceremony, and whether you’ll be asked to travel.