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Here's what the couple must do to legally formalize their marriage if you’re ordained online
In the UK, there are two main options for getting ordained. If you're only planning to officiate the wedding of a friend or family member, you can get ordained online in just a few minutes. However, the couple will still need a registered minister or registrar to witness the signing of their marriage license to make it official. If you wish to be fully recognized in the Church of England, you can become an official priest, and any weddings you conduct will be legally recognized. We’ll walk you through the steps for both methods and explain how to perform a legally binding wedding if you're ordained online.
Becoming Ordained in the UK
In the UK, you can become ordained online by completing a free ordination form through organizations like the Universal Life Church or Open Ministry. While this will allow you to officiate weddings, they won't be legally binding unless you also have a minister or registrar present for the marriage license signing. To legally authorize marriages, you'll need to be ordained by a theological body, such as the Church of England.
Steps
How to Get Ordained Online in the UK
Visit an ordination website to start the process. Head over to online platforms like Universal Life Church (ULC) or Open Ministry, both of which offer online ordination. Find and click the button to begin, which will usually be labeled "Get Started" or "Begin Ordination Now."
- It’s essential to remember that while you can become ordained online, any weddings you officiate may not be legally recognized across all of the UK. A minister or registrar will still need to be present when the marriage license is signed to make the marriage official.
Complete the ordination request form. Once you click on the ordination button, you’ll be taken to a page where you can fill out your personal details. This will include information like your name, country, the region or state where you live, and your email address, as well as a password for your new account. After entering all your details, click the button at the bottom to submit your request.
- You must be at least 18 years old to apply for ordination.
Wait for an email confirming your ordination details. After submitting the form, you’ll receive an email with information about your ordination, such as the ordination date and links to resources for officiating ceremonies like weddings, baptisms, and funerals. Once you receive the email, your ordination process is complete.
- If you ordain through Open Ministry, you’ll need to confirm your ordination after receiving the email.
- If the email doesn't appear right away, check your Spam folder.
Consider purchasing an official ordination certificate. Many ordination sites suggest purchasing an ordination package, which includes credentials and certificates that confirm your ordination for marriage and other ceremonies. These documents serve as proof to both the state and your family that you've completed the ordination process.
- Typically, an ordination certificate will cost between £10-£15 ($13-$20 USD).
Make use of the website’s training tools and resources to prepare for the wedding. Many ordination websites provide helpful links for first-time officiants, such as ULC's wedding ceremony script generator and their 3-step guide to conducting a wedding ceremony. Take the time to explore all the available resources to help you confidently officiate the ceremony.
- The wedding ceremony script generator assists you in creating a personalized script, covering everything from the welcome message to the wedding sermon and the vow exchange.
- If the couple needs help crafting their vows, they can find valuable tips in the “Need help writing my own wedding vows!” forum from other Mytour users.
How to Be Officially Ordained Through the Church
Consult your chaplain or vicar to discuss your ordination journey. If you’ve built a relationship with one of your church leaders, arrange a meeting to talk about your desire to be ordained. They can guide you in selecting the right path and answer any questions you may have regarding the process and timeline.
- They’ll be able to offer advice on the ministry path that best suits you.
- If you don’t have a close connection with your chaplain or vicar, consider visiting a church and approaching one of the leaders in person. Ask for a few minutes of their time to discuss the steps to ordination.
- A simple way to start the conversation might be, "I’m interested in beginning my ordination journey and would greatly appreciate any advice you can offer."
Select a theological institution to begin your studies. The two most common types of theological programs are residential, where you live on campus while studying, and non-residential, where you primarily study off-site. Choose the type that aligns with your lifestyle and start your search for the best options in your area.
- If you want to immerse yourself fully in your studies and are ready to relocate, you may want to consider a full-time residential program.
- Institutions like Trinity College Bristol offer part-time programs designed for working individuals, typically involving evening classes.
- If there aren’t many theological institutions nearby, you can explore non-residential options that allow you to complete part of your coursework online, minimizing the need for campus visits.
Complete your theological education by engaging fully in your training. Your studies will involve activities such as attending seminars, assisting with your church’s services, practicing spiritual disciplines, and reflecting on the scriptures. Whether you study on campus, online, or a combination of both, you’ll be expected to dedicate yourself to the learning process.
- Typically, part-time students take around three years to complete their training, while full-time students can finish in roughly half that time.
- The costs of your education (including tuition and living expenses) are often covered by your diocese or by grants from the Church of England.
Get ordained by a bishop to begin your curacy. After completing your theological education, you’ll be ordained as a deacon by the bishop. As a deacon, you’ll work alongside the vicar, assisting with religious services like weekly worship and offering support to the congregation. This is an opportunity to apply what you’ve learned and gain hands-on experience.
- A deacon ranks just below a priest.
- Think of this stage as an apprenticeship where you learn by observing and assisting the vicar.
- Your involvement will depend on the needs of the parish and how much responsibility the vicar assigns to you.
Spend a year working with your vicar before becoming a priest. Once you’ve gathered experience and understanding during your curacy, your bishop will likely ordain you as a priest. Even as an ordained priest, you will continue training and honing your skills before you take on a post of your own at a new church.
- As a priest, you'll be authorized to officiate weddings and baptisms.
- The time between starting your curacy as a deacon and being ordained as a priest typically takes about a year, depending on the type of ministry you're pursuing.
Officiating a Wedding Legally After Being Ordained Online
Ensure the couple gives notice of their marriage at a register office. Find your local register office and have the couple officially declare their intent to marry. After giving notice, they have 12 months to hold the ceremony. They will receive a marriage schedule or document, which must be signed by an authorized person, such as a religious minister or a registrar. The couple must also sign the document after the ceremony.
- The notice is a formal document the couple signs to announce their intention to marry or form a civil partnership. It must be submitted at least 29 days prior to the ceremony.
- If the couple lives at different addresses, each person must visit their local register office to complete the process.
Check with the local marriage authority to confirm your status as an authorized minister. In the UK, most marriage authorities (including register offices) don’t typically recognize officiants ordained online. However, some online sources suggest it's worth inquiring, as laws may vary by region. If they do allow you to perform the wedding, they may request to see your official ordination certificate, so be sure to have it ready.
- If you’re not recognized as an authorized minister, you can still speak at the ceremony. However, an authorized minister or registrar must be present to witness and sign the marriage document to make the marriage legally binding.
- Booking a registrar costs £56 ($72 USD) at a register office or £104 ($134.36 USD) at a venue.
Prepare your speech for the ceremony, whether religious or civil. If the ceremony is religious, you might want to incorporate verses and hymns that align with the couple’s faith. For a civil ceremony, you can still include readings or songs, but they must not be religious in nature. You may also need to step aside briefly so the registrar or authorized minister can legally declare the couple married.
- Wedding officiant and ordained non-denominational minister Hope Mirlis offers this advice: “If you're a friend or family member tasked with officiating, you can prepare the ceremony and handle the legal aspects online, but I highly recommend consulting a professional officiant for guidance, or just to review the ceremony to ensure nothing is overlooked.”
What are the marriage laws in the UK?
Only authorized ministers and registrars are legally permitted to officiate weddings. Authorized ministers include individuals like bishops, priests, and rabbis. Registrars, who are available at local register offices or venues approved by the council, can also officiate. This means that those who are ordained online are not legally allowed to perform weddings in the UK unless the register office hosting the ceremony allows them to apply for a license.
- People ordained online can still speak at wedding ceremonies, but they cannot legally declare the marriage official. An authorized minister or registrar must be present to handle the legal aspects of the marriage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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If I get ordained online, can I perform weddings in the UK? Yes, you can conduct wedding ceremonies, but they are generally not considered legally binding. The couple will need a registrar or authorized minister present to sign the official marriage document to make the marriage legally valid.
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How long does it take to get ordained in the UK? If you’re getting ordained online, the process can take just a few minutes. However, if you’re pursuing ordination through the Church of England, it can take between 2.5 to 4 years of theological training before you are officially recognized as a priest.
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How much does it cost to get ordained in the UK? Ordination online is typically free, although you might need to pay £10-£15 if you want to receive an official ordination certificate. For ordination as a priest in the Church of England, the costs for tuition and living expenses are usually covered by your diocese and grants from the church.
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The couple can choose to have a symbolic wedding ceremony first, followed by the civil ceremony at a later date at the register office. This way, you can still officiate the wedding while they complete the legal requirements afterward.
