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 Vermont. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in Vermont. 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 Vermont.
- 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: 60 Days
- Marriage License Return Within: 10 Days
Local VT Wedding Guides
For more specific information about performing a wedding in certain parts of Vermont, 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 Vermont
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 Vermont
Before performing a wedding in Vermont, your first step is to contact the City or Town Clerk’s office where the ceremony will be held. Let them know you’re a minister and ask what documentation they’ll need from you. You may be required to present proof of your ordination before receiving approval to officiate. Since requirements can vary by location, it’s always best to check with local officials ahead of time.
Select a clerk or recorder
Choose the county you'd like to contact from the dropdown menu above to see their office’s information.
Residents of Vermont are typically not required to formally register prior to performing any ceremonies. If you are not a resident of Vermont, you may need to register with the state before performing a wedding. Non-residents may be asked to show a number of documents to verify their ordination status and receive the “go ahead†to perform the ceremony. These ULC ministers who live outside Vermont should review the forms linked below to ensure compliance.
Vermont Petition for Non-Resident to Perform Marriage Ceremony
Vermont Petition for Non-Resident Minister Authorization
No matter what your residency status is, you can find any additional documents or materials you may need in the Church Supplies catalog here on our site.
3 Vermont 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 Vermont to get an Ordination Package. Additionally, having that proof of ordination can provide a great deal of peace-of-mind for the couple you plan to marry. 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 Vermont
Vermont's Top Wedding Spot
Pittsfield's Riverside Farm neighboring organic Amee Farm
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 Vermont marriage license from the appropriate office. This license is valid for 60 days, but there is no mandatory waiting period between when the couple picks up the marriage license in Vermont and when the ceremony may legally be conducted. Please be aware that the signed license must be returned to the issuing office within 10 days after the ceremony has been conducted.
At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in Vermont, 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 Vermont 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 Vermont Wedding Planning Considerations
If you’ve been asked to officiate a wedding in Vermont, there are a few things that would be wise to keep in mind. After Hawaii, Vermont is the most popular state for destination weddings, which means there are a plethora of Vermont wedding venues from which to choose. Autumn is the most popular season for weddings in the Green Mountain State, so even though options are plentiful, if the couple is looking for one of the best wedding venues in Vermont, it’s a good idea to plan well in advance. Thankfully, extreme weather or traffic in Vermont isn't common, but some annual festivals such as the Vermont Maple Festival or the Wine & Harvest Festival may cause hotels and venues to fill up quicker than usual. Oftentimes ministers wonder how much they should charge to officiate a wedding in Vermont, but the truth is there isn't a simple answer; fees can vary greatly depending on experience, any additional responsibilities the couple requires, and even your own personal preference.
Vermont Marriage Code
Vermont Marriage Code
Marriage in Vermont is governed by Chapter 105 of Part 6 of Title 15 of Vermont's Code. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully solemnized thousands of weddings in the state. Below, you will find that we have reproduced a relevant excerpt of this code18 V.S.A. § 5144 - Persons authorized to solemnize marriage (a) Marriages may be solemnized by a Supreme Court Justice, a Superior judge, a judge of Probate, an assistant judge, a justice of the peace, a magistrate, a Judicial Bureau hearing officer, an individual who has registered as an officiant with the Vermont Secretary of State pursuant to section 5144a of this title, a member of the clergy residing in this State and ordained or licensed, or otherwise regularly authorized thereto by the published laws or discipline of the general conference, convention, or other authority of his or her faith or denomination... View the Vermont Statutes on the official state site.
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