Wedding season is coming! Are you ready to officiate? 

With wedding season season just around the corner, are you planning to participate in a few ceremonies? As a Florida notary public, you have the authority to officiate weddings—even for family members! Since you're not notarizing signatures but certifying that you performed the ceremony, it’s perfectly fine to be related to the couple.

However, there are a few important rules to keep in mind.

Jurisdiction and Requirements

First, the wedding must take place within the state of Florida, and the couple needs to obtain their marriage license from a Florida Circuit Court or a County Court Judge. Make sure the couple has their marriage license before the ceremony, as it is required to legally officiate. Remember, your jurisdiction does not extend outside of Florida, so even if the couple has a Florida marriage license, you cannot officiate their wedding if it's held in another state, such as Maine. Similarly, if the couple is using a marriage license from another state, you cannot officiate their ceremony in Florida.

Plan Ahead for the Big Day

Being asked to officiate a wedding is an honor, so make sure you’re fully prepared! This includes going over all the details with the couple. Find out where they want you to stand, whether they prefer a religious or non-religious ceremony, and how long they want you to speak. It’s also a good idea to go over the wording of the vows and ensure the couple’s vows clearly reflects their intent to enter into a legally binding commitment.  Rehearsals can be helpful to run through the ceremony, so everyone is on the same page. 

Helpful Resources

To make your role as officiant easier, we offer a Marriage Kit that includes 10 certificates, gold foil seals, sample scripts for the ceremony, and helpful literature. The certificates are non-gender-specific, making them ideal for any type of wedding. This can give you peace of mind knowing you have everything you need to guide the couple through their special day.

The state of Florida has provided a guide outlining the procedures for notaries officiating weddings. You can find this on the Florida Governor’s Office website. Additionally, the Florida Wedding Handbook offers detailed instructions on completing the Marriage Record, performing the ceremony, and more. Keep in mind that while the handbook has not been updated since 1999, same-sex marriage has been legal in Florida since January 2015, and you can officiate these weddings just like any other.

After the Ceremony

Once the ceremony is complete, you’re responsible for filling out the Marriage Record portion of the marriage license. Make sure to return the completed license to the county court judge or circuit court where it was issued. You have 10 days to submit it, so don’t forget this important step!

If you have any questions along the way, feel free to reach out to us—we’re here to help!