Officially Officiating in Massachusetts | Wedding Planning Survival | Boston Wedding Photography

Having a friend or family member officiate your wedding can be very meaningful, but how do you do it right? - Photo of Chamberlain Farms wedding in Berkley, MA by Boston Wedding Photographer Ryan Richardson Photography

As more and more couples identify as religiously unaffiliated, they’re turning away from the clergy and toward friends and family to officiate their Massachusetts weddings. But what does it take, legally, to make a wedding officiant?

When you’re looking to have a friend or family member officiate your wedding in Massachusetts, there are two options - being ordained as a member of the clergy or applying for a one-time designation through the Secretary of the Commonwealth. What’s the right approach for your officiant?

The one-day designation can be submitted online (https://www.sec.state.ma.us/onedayweb/external/welcome.aspx) quickly and easily online for less than $25. The certificate will allow the applicant to perform a specific wedding, in a particular town and on a particular date. For many this is a simple, straightforward process that only requires a single step. Also with this designation, none of the parties have to be residents of Massachusetts.

Members of the clergy can register with the Secretary of the Commonwealth without a fee (there are different forms for resident and non-resident clergy). Resident clergy only need to register once, while non-resident clergy should submit the form for each wedding they will officiate in the state. Many organizations make ordination freely available over the internet, so while there’s an extra step, there’s no additional fee. Some states have pushed back against online ordinations and questioned the validity of those marriages, but these contests seem exceedingly rare but it could be a reason to prefer the one-day designation.

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?

Let Ryan Richardson Photography help capture those special moments with your unique officiant.

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.