I have been asked "Who can perform a legal wedding ceremony?" and other similar questions many times and, as a former attorney and a current Wedding Officiant, I feel confident in giving a full and complete answer.  And the answer is "It depends."!The laws of each state (let alone the laws of other countries) vary greatly.  But it would be helpful to put the question into perspective.  Weddings are unique.  They have both a legal/governmental component and a religious/spiritual/cultural component.  We usually pride ourselves in the U.S. that we have "separation of church and state", but weddings are one area that there is a distinct overlap, if not a direct conflict.  The Government needs to have control over who is married and who is not.  It is a legitimate interest.  There are tax implications, estate implication, insurance and benefit issues, etc.  And so, the Government requires couples to get marriage licenses and regulates who can perform weddings ceremonies.  Traditionally, "clergy" performed wedding ceremonies, but the Government is very reluctant to place too many restrictions on who is clergy and who is not.  Some jurisdictions require clergy to register.  Most do not.  Are "on-line, instant ordinations" sufficient to be considered clergy or must the ordination be through an established church or other recognized institution?  Again, the answer varies from state to state, and from case to case.Generally, court clerks and judges can perform wedding ceremonies but that is done in a very sterile and institutional environment.  Also, many states have "Justices of the Peace" or Magistrates who can perform weddings. In Florida, Notaries can perform/solemnize wedding ceremonies which makes a great deal of sense if one thinks about what is actually happening.  The legal/governmental aspect is the same as formally executing any other important document like a deed, will or contract, giving a deposition or signing an affidavit under oath.  It is important that the people getting married are properly identified (i.e. they are not imposters), that they understand what they are doing (mentally competent), that the event is witnessed and the event is happening on the date specified.  Finally, just like a deed, it is important that the document (the marriage license) gets promptly delivered to the county clerk for recording.  Notaries are specifically trained to handle exactly these things.The best of both worlds, in my opinion, is to have a Wedding Officiant/Clergy who is also a Notary.  In this way the religious/spiritual/cultural aspect is covered and the formal governmental/legal/recording aspect is covered as well.  The couple does not need to worry about whether or not the person they selected to officiate at their wedding ceremony is "legal". ...read more