Become a Minister & Officiant in Florida

Can you become ordained online and perform weddings in Florida? Yes.

Florida recognizes ministers ordained online through the Universal Life Church, giving ULC ministers full legal authority to officiate weddings and other ceremonies across the state. Because Florida has no requirement for ministers to register with a government office, it's easy to become ordained and begin serving as a minister or wedding officiant.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to expand your ministry, the Universal Life Church is your partner every step of the way in Florida. Explore the resources below for Florida ministers - covering ordination, wedding officiating, state law, and much more.

Officiate Wedding Ceremonies in Florida

Your ULC ordination gives you the legal authority to perform wedding ceremonies. In fact, thousands of ULC ministers officiate weddings in Florida each year. Here's a straightforward breakdown of how to do it yourself.

How to Officiate a Wedding in Florida

Visit Wedding Guide

1. Become a Minister

   The first step is getting ordained through the Universal Life Church. Ordination is what grants you the legal standing to solemnize marriages anywhere in Florida.

   Get Ordained

2. Understand Florida Officiant Requirements

   ULC ordinations are valid throughout Florida, but the specific steps a minister must take to officiate a wedding can differ by county. Be sure to contact the office issuing the marriage license ahead of time to confirm what documentation they require.

3. Order Wedding Supplies

   All the documents and wedding supplies you may need are available through our Minister Store. Plan ahead and order early to make sure everything arrives well before the ceremony date.

4. Perform the Ceremony

   With your paperwork taken care of, it's time to perform the ceremony! Visit our Wedding Training Center for tips and guidance on every part of officiating a marriage.

5. Sign and Review the Marriage License

   Once the wedding is complete, the marriage license must be signed by you, the couple, and their witnesses (if applicable). Look over the document carefully to confirm all details are correct before submitting it to the issuing office.

Review Florida Wedding Laws

View Full Law Details

Navigating Florida Wedding Laws

We've established that ULC ministers have the legal right to perform weddings in Florida. But if you're curious about the specific laws that grant online-ordained ministers that authority, here's what the statutes say.

1. Any two consenting adults who are not currently married to someone else are eligible to participate in a legal wedding ceremony.

2. Under Florida law, any minister, priest, or religious officiant who is 18 years of age or older may perform a legally binding wedding ceremony. This means ULC-ordained ministers carry the same legal authority to officiate weddings in Florida as clergy from any traditional religious institution.

3. Florida marriage licenses are valid for 60 days and must be filed with the issuing office within 10 days of the ceremony. Note that if the couple are Florida residents, there is a 3-day waiting period following license issuance before the ceremony may legally occur.

Explore the full Florida statutes that dictate who may perform marriages and how the process works below.

Florida law expressly authorizes ordained ministers to solemnize marriages. The relevant statute is included here:

Fla. Stat. § 741.07

Persons authorized to solemnize matrimony.—

(1) All regularly ordained ministers of the gospel or elders in communion with some church, or other ordained clergy, and all judicial officers, including retired judicial officers, clerks of the circuit courts, and notaries public of this state may solemnize the rights of matrimonial contract, under the regulations prescribed by law. Nothing in this section shall make invalid a marriage which was solemnized by any member of the clergy, or as otherwise provided by law prior to July 1, 1978.

(2) Any marriage which may be had and solemnized among the people called "Quakers," or "Friends," in the manner and form used or practiced in their societies, according to their rites and ceremonies, shall be good and valid in law; and wherever the words "minister" and "elder" are used in this chapter, they shall be held to include all of the persons connected with the Society of Friends, or Quakers, who perform or have charge of the marriage ceremony according to their rites and ceremonies.

Toggle full legal excerpt