Key Takeaways
- Use GetOrdained.org's Find a Minister tool to search for ordained ministers in your area.
- Consider asking a friend or family member to become ordained and officiate.
- Make sure the officiant is comfortable with the type of secular ceremony you want.
- Ask about personalization, ceremony style, fees, and marriage license responsibilities.
- Always confirm that your officiant meets the legal requirements where the wedding will take place.
Where to Find a Nonreligious Wedding Officiant
Finding the right officiant for a secular wedding may take a little extra thought. You need someone who respects your beliefs, can lead the ceremony confidently, and meets local legal requirements.
You can hire an experienced secular officiant or ask someone you know to become ordained and perform the ceremony. Here is where to start.
1. Start With the Find a Minister Tool
One of the easiest ways to find a wedding officiant is to use a directory of ordained ministers.
GetOrdained.org's Find a Minister tool lets couples search for ministers in their area. You can narrow the results based on factors such as location, services, expected fees, and religious or spiritual background.
For a secular wedding, read individual profiles rather than relying on someone's title alone.
An ordained minister does not necessarily perform only religious ceremonies. Many are comfortable officiating secular, nonreligious, spiritual, interfaith, and other personalized weddings.
Once you find someone who seems like a good fit, reach out and explain that you are planning a secular ceremony.
Be clear about what that means to you. For example, you may want a ceremony without prayer, scripture, references to God, or other explicitly religious elements.
That conversation can quickly tell you whether the officiant's approach matches what you have in mind.
2. Consider Asking Someone You Know to Officiate
You do not necessarily need to hire an officiant you have never met.
For many couples, the person they most want leading the ceremony is already part of their lives.
A close friend, sibling, parent, relative, or mentor may be able to officiate after becoming ordained. This can work especially well for a secular wedding because someone who knows you can speak naturally about your relationship, personalities, and shared values.
If the person you choose is not already a minister, they can get ordained online for free through the Universal Life Church.
Before asking someone to officiate, consider whether they:
- Know both partners well
- Are comfortable speaking in public
- Will respect your ceremony preferences
- Are dependable
- Are willing to prepare and practice
- Can follow legal instructions carefully
First-time officiants can use ULC's wedding resources and How to Officiate a Friend's Wedding: A Step-by-Step Guide to learn how to prepare the ceremony, perform it confidently, and handle the marriage license.
3. Explore Other Options if Needed
If neither of those options works, you can also search locally for terms such as "secular wedding officiant," "nonreligious wedding officiant," or "wedding celebrant."
Your venue, wedding planner, or recently married friends may also have recommendations.
What matters is whether they are legally able to perform the wedding and comfortable creating a ceremony without religious elements.
4. How to Choose the Right Secular Officiant
Once you have a few possibilities, think about the kind of ceremony you want and how involved you want the officiant to be.
Some couples want an officiant who will help write and organize the entire ceremony. Others already have a script and simply need someone who can perform it confidently.
Before making a decision, ask questions such as:
- Do you regularly perform secular or nonreligious ceremonies?
- Are you comfortable with a ceremony without prayer or scripture?
- How much can we personalize the ceremony?
- Can we review the full script beforehand?
- Can we include our own vows, readings, or rituals?
- Do you attend rehearsals?
- What is included in your fee?
- How do you handle the marriage license?
You should also think about personality.
If you want a relaxed and humorous ceremony, a very formal officiant may not be the best fit. If you want something short and understated, someone who prefers lengthy speeches may not suit you either.
Look for someone who is:
- Respectful of your beliefs
- Comfortable with a secular ceremony
- Reliable
- A confident speaker
- Open to personalization
- Easy to communicate with
- Attentive to legal details
Most importantly, you should feel comfortable telling them what you do and do not want included.
5. Make Sure Your Officiant Can Legally Perform the Wedding
Finding the right personality and ceremony style is only part of the decision.
Your officiant must also be legally able to solemnize the marriage where the wedding takes place.
Marriage laws vary by state and local jurisdiction. Depending on the location, an officiant may need to register, submit ministerial credentials, or complete other requirements before performing the ceremony.
Before the wedding, confirm:
- Who is authorized to solemnize marriages
- Whether officiant registration is required
- Whether credentials must be submitted
- Whether witnesses are required
- Whether the ceremony must contain specific elements
- How the marriage license should be completed
- Who is responsible for returning it
This is especially important when a friend or family member becomes ordained specifically to officiate your wedding.
Find an Officiant Who Fits Your Ceremony
You want someone who understands your relationship, respects your beliefs, and can help create the kind of ceremony you want.
If you are looking for an experienced officiant, start with the Find a Minister tool on GetOrdained.org and explore ministers available in your area.
If the person you most want standing beside you is already someone you know, consider asking them to officiate instead. They can get ordained online for free through the Universal Life Church and use ULC's ceremony scripts, marriage law resources, and officiant guides to prepare.
Frequently Asked Questions About Finding a Secular Wedding Officiant
Where can I find a secular wedding officiant?
Start with GetOrdained.org's Find a Minister tool, which allows you to search for ordained ministers in your area and review individual profiles.
You can also ask someone you know to become ordained via ULC and officiate your wedding.
Can an ordained minister perform a nonreligious wedding?
Yes. Being an ordained minister does not mean every ceremony they perform must contain religious language.
Ask the minister about their experience with secular ceremonies and make your preferences clear before hiring them.
Does a secular wedding officiant have to be an atheist?
No. The officiant's personal beliefs do not necessarily have to match yours.
What matters is whether they respect your beliefs and are willing to perform the ceremony without religious elements you do not want.
Can a friend be our secular wedding officiant?
Depending on local marriage laws, a friend or family member may be able to become ordained and perform the ceremony.
They can get ordained online for free through the Universal Life Church and then review any additional officiant requirements that apply where the wedding will take place.
How much does a secular wedding officiant cost?
Fees vary depending on location, experience, ceremony customization, travel, rehearsal attendance, and other services.
Ask what is included in the quoted price so you can compare your options accurately.
Where can we find a nonreligious wedding ceremony script?
The Universal Life Church offers a customizable nonreligious wedding ceremony script that couples and officiants can use as a starting point. You can personalize it with vows, readings, stories, music, and other elements that reflect your relationship.
