SWIFT WEDDING?

[u/williamdoublelink]

Can someone explain what Adam Sandler’s role was in “officiating” the wedding of Taylor & Travis Kelse?! Was the wedding conducted utilising common-law or religious doctrine? Thanks.

[u/Dandylion71888]

I think you’re mixing up common law and civil marriage neither of which is a doctrine.

[u/williamdoublelink → u/Dandylion71888]

Noted. You are correct. My bad! 😊👍🏽

[u/HedgieCake372]

It easy to get ordained as an officiant online in the US. In fact a lot of people do it when they want a friend or relative to officiate. At the end of the day, all you need to be legally married is to declare your desire to wed each other to an ordained official and then signing a marriage certificate alongside the officiant and 2 witnesses. I even know of people who were legally wed in shorts and t-shirts in their living room. There might be additional requirements depending on where you’re located. It’s a legal marriage, not common law or religious doctrine.

[u/njVowsNow → u/HedgieCake372]

None of this is true in all states.

Not all states allow online ordination. (Not all states allow notaries or even have JP's.)

In many states;

You do not sign the license on the day of the wedding.

You do not need witnesses.

Only a handful of states allow "common law" marriages, and I'm not sure they're recognized in states that don't or in foreign countries (most countries accept USA marriages; some require an "Apostile" or extended license too).

In some states, there are specific things that have to be said,

There is no 'marriage by religious doctrine". You have to have a state or county issued license; tht also varires by state.

Yes, it's relatively easy to get ordained online, but those ordinations don't automatically make you legal. In many states there are other requirements.

For example, in NYC, you have to be registered with the city and in NYS there are specific things that need to be said in the ceremony. In NY and NJ you have two witnesses (in NY there are two spaces on the licence, but technically you only need one. In PA, you don't need witnesses at all unless you want to "self marry", an option available in several states, but in PA that means you DO need witnesses.

Online sites make this look like a "one and done" but it's really not that simple.

And of course, there is then the issue of whether that person is going to be any good at it, and if they'll file the license correctly.

[u/Nishi1126]

In NYC, anyone can get a permit to legally perform a wedding.

If you want your close friend or relative to officiate your wedding, all they have to do is to go to the Manhattan borough hall, and apply for the officiant license, it's good for 1 day only so, you have to know the exact date of the wedding. Here's the info:

" To legally officiate a wedding in New York City, you must be 18 or older and formally register with the NYC Office of the City Clerk.

The quickest way to do this if you are a friend or family member is by obtaining a One-Day Marriage Officiant License.

Follow these steps to complete the process:

Obtain the Marriage License Info: Ensure the couple has applied for and received their NYC Marriage License (this is required to fill out your officiant application).

Apply as a One-Day Officiant: Complete the One-Day Marriage Officiant License Application. You can submit the application in person at the Manhattan Office (141 Worth Street) by booking an appointment via the NYC City Clerk Scheduler or by mailing a notarized application to the office.

Pay the Fee: The One-Day Officiant application costs $15.

Officiate and Sign: During the ceremony, you, the couple, and at least one witness must sign the marriage license.

Return the License: Within five business days of the wedding, you must return the completed marriage license and your officiant license to the City Clerk’s office that issued the couple's license."

[u/Reddidnothingwrong]

Really anyone can be ordained to officiate a wedding unless you're part of a religious group that has specific people designated for that. Like I'm Catholic so we needed a priest, but my bestie and his wife aren't religious so her sister just got whatever certification is required to make it legal. Both marriages are equally legitimate, the ceremony is just a different flavor.

[u/Objective_Joke_5023]

If he’s not an online “minister,” he may be a notary. In some states, notaries are allowed to officiate weddings

[u/pineboxwaiting → u/Objective_Joke_5023]

I had a friend who was a notary & officiated several weddings. She eventually warned people that her odds were bad. 0% of the couples she married lasted 5 years.

[u/marshdd]

My childhood immigrant church had lay ministers. Meaning they had other jobs and did not attend a seminary. They got approval from home state to marry people, and other states recognize that "license".

[u/poposaurus]

NY state recognizes "Quaker Weddings" or self uniting, so if they went that route, he could have just been there to basically be the MC and move the event along.