How to Make Your Officiant Official in Rhode Island | Providence Wedding Photographer
How do you get ready to officiate a wedding in Rhode Island - Marion, Massachusetts wedding photography by Ryan Richardson Photography
Having a friend or family member officiate your wedding in Rhode Island can make your ceremony more meaningful, but how can you make sure that it’s legal?
There are two popular ways for friends and family to officiate a wedding officially - ordination and the one-day designation through the office of the Secretary of State. What’s the right approach for your officiant?
The one-day designation became available in Rhode Island starting in 2021 and can be submitted online (https://services.sos.ri.gov/) quickly and easily for less than $25. The certificate will allow the applicant to perform a specific wedding, in a particular town and on a particular date. The main appeal of the process is that it’s simple and straightforward.
Rhode Island allows for members of the clergy in good standing to perform weddings with no need to register. There are dozens of organizations that provide free ordination online, so this can be a more economical process. While there is no need to register as a clergy-member in Rhode Island, if a dispute arises your officiant may need to provide a letter of good standing with their organization. Many online ministries will provide this for free or for a nominal fee, it would be best to obtain this prior to the wedding and for the couple to keep a copy with their records.
Either option creates a great way for people to let close friends and family take on a special role in their weddings. Are you planning on asking a friend or family member to officiate your wedding? What option will they choose? Don’t forget to book Ryan Richardson Photography to capture those extra special moments during your ceremony.
Ryan Richardson is a wedding and engagement photographer serving Boston and beyond; including Cape Cod Weddings, New England Weddings, Massachusetts Weddings and Rhode Island Weddings.