How To Get Ordained In Virginia

After getting ordained, next you'll contact the circuit clerk's office (the authority that handles marriages in Virginia). Explain that you're an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church, and that you need to know what is required to preside over legal marriage ceremonies in their jurisdiction. Unfortunately, we are aware that many Virginia circuit courts will not recognize marriages performed by Universal Life Church ministers.

Choose your Circuit Clerk below to see contact info for their offices.

Select your Circuit Clerk to quickly generate the contact information for your local marriage authority.

Select a county contact

The ULC is always working to secure the rights of our ministers everywhere, and are always interested in hearing about your experiences on the ground. If you do make contact with a Virginia government official in hopes of performing a wedding ceremony, we'd love to hear about your interaction (whether positive or negative). You can submit that using the box below.

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3 What is Required to Perform Virginia Weddings?

Once you've spoken with the circuit clerk's office to learn what documents they require, you can browse our online store and place an order for those items. As we pointed out above, Virginia has a history of refusing to recognize ordinations issued by the Universal Life Church. While you may encounter a roadblock, many ULC Ministers do attempt the process. If that appeals to you, we'd recommend ordering an Ordination Package (as well as a Letter of Good Standing) to boost your chances of success.

We encourage our ministers to keep us in the loop and provide updates about their experiences working with circuit clerks. Rest assured that the Universal Life Church is exploring avenues to solidify the standing of its ordinations in Virginia. If you go through this process and encounter difficulties in performing a Virginia wedding as a ULC minister, we would invite you to share your story with us by emailing outreach@ulc.org.

4 How to Prepare for a wedding in Virginia

Virginia's Top Wedding Spot

Roanoke's Overhome Plantation, which has a ballroom and dedicated catering

If you do manage to get the green light to perform a legal wedding ceremony in Virginia, the next step is to prepare for the big day! A couple important notes about marriage licenses:

The couple needs to pick up this document themselves prior to the wedding day.
Virginia marriage licenses are valid for 60 days, and there is no waiting period observed.
The completed and signed license has to be returned within 5 days of the wedding.

Once the above details have been relayed to the couple, it's time to think about the ceremony! Presiding over a wedding ceremony as the officiant is a thrilling experience – but it's also a great responsibility that requires preparation and planning. The ULC supports its members through every step of this process with the resources and training materials available in the Wedding Training Center. More experienced officiants may have a grasp on the basics, which is why we also offer in-depth literature options in our online catalog, featuring wedding guides like this one.

5 Advice for Performing a Virginia Wedding

For ministers planning on officiating a wedding in Virginia, there are a few important points to remember. Unlike many states, October is the most popular month for weddings in Virginia due to the gorgeous fall foliage. If the couple is considering wedding venues in Virginia around this time, it's a good idea to book well in advance, as slots fill up quickly. While the climate is fairly consistent throughout the state, for barn or outdoor wedding venues in Virginia, you'll want to be sure you dress appropriately. This means warmer clothes for winter or late autumn.

Alternatively, consider something breathable to beat the humidity if the couple is planning a summertime Virginia Beach wedding. How much should a minister charge for weddings in Virginia? There's no one simple answer; factors such as travel time, the experience level of the officiant, and the amount of preparation required can all influence the cost of the minister's service.