The answer to can anyone officiate a wedding in Hawaii is yes, as long as the person is ordained, registered, and licensed. We will go through the entire process of being a marriage officiant in Hawaii and the requirements you need to perform a wedding legally.
You’ll also know how to perform a wedding in Hawaii. And for couples considering this destination wedding, refer to how much does a wedding in Hawaii cost.
Can Anyone Officiate A Wedding In Hawaii?
Anyone can officiate a wedding in Hawaii as long as you become ordained and accomplish all the Hawaii marriage officiant requirements. You must get ordained and become a minister to perform marriage ceremonies in Hawaii.
But after getting ordained by an organization of your choice, you need to contact your country clerk in Hawaii to know the requirements needed to officiate a wedding in Hawaii. This can mean providing your ordination record or a statement that asserts the marriage license, like the time and place of the wedding and the names of the witnesses.
It’s also best to ask the county clerk regarding the title you’ll use when you fill out the marriage license to ensure that the marriage license won’t be rejected. But all in all, it’s not hard to become eligible to perform a legally binding marriage ceremony in Hawaii as long as:
- You are at least 18 years old
- Ordained by a recognized organization
- Registered with the Hawaii State Department of Health
For the state registration process, you will pay a fee, and remember to register as the wedding officiant two weeks before the wedding ceremony in Hawaii. Visit the website of the Hawaii State Department of Health to know what you need to perform a marriage or civil union.
You can do everything online by paying a $10 portal administration fee without refunds. Once your application is approved, you’ll get a license number and an electronic copy of your certificate.
What is a non-religious license?
Most people interested in officiating someone’s wedding in Hawaii will need a non-religious or civil license. If the solemnizers are not properly licensed, then the marriage they’ve performed will be considered invalid.
The requirement for a civil license is the performer should be at least 18 years old. However, be aware that a civil union is not a marriage; if this is your license, you’re not authorized to perform marriages.
Who Can Legally Officiate A Wedding In Hawaii?
Officiants can legally officiate a wedding in Hawaii. However, being ordained is not the only requirement the wedding officiant should accomplish to legally perform a wedding in Hawaii.
You must register as an officiant two weeks before the wedding with the Hawaii Department of Health. Fortunately, your registration does not depend on the Hawaiian island where you will officiate the wedding.
Instead, the Hawaii Department of Health is State level, meaning you can officiate anywhere in Hawaii once registered with them. Regardless, take the time to educate yourself with the marriage and civil union performer guidelines if someone getting married in Hawaii wants you to officiate their marriage ceremony.
Do You Need To Be Ordained To Marry Someone In Hawaii?
Officiants who want to marry someone in Hawaii must become ordained. You can become a minister online, as some organizations offer this option.
The American Marriage Ministries even offer free ordination to help people who want to officiate weddings. Then, after the ordination, the next step to marrying someone in Hawaii legally is to register with the Hawaii Department of Health.
Anyone can officiate a wedding in Hawaii if you follow their requirements and get licensed. It’s convenient to get the license since the Hawaii State Department of Health offers online registration.
How To Perform A Wedding In Hawaii
Anyone can officiate a wedding in Hawaii as long as they’re ordained and licensed. Here are the steps for performing a Hawaiian wedding for your information:
- Meet with the couple and clarify if they have their marriage license issued by the Hawaii state
- Ensure that the marriage license is still valid on the date of the ceremony; take note of this period so that you can return the signed license to the issuing office after the wedding as well
- Discuss with the couple their expectations for their marriage ceremony
- Prepare your wedding ceremony script and know what to wear to officiate a wedding
What Are The Rules For Getting Married In Hawaii?
Besides having an officiant that can legally perform your marriage ceremony, understand the requirements and legalities to accomplish before your wedding in Hawaii. This will ease the worries on your part as you’ll be confident about the validity of your union.
- Marriage applicants must be at least 18 years old and proven with their birth certificate
- A divorce decree or death certificate must be provided by people who were previously married
- Applicants must not be blood-related
- Obtain a marriage license by providing the necessary documents
- Pay the necessary fees for the Hawaii marriage license
- Pick up the marriage license and ensure that it will still be valid on your chosen wedding date
- Your registered wedding officiant will return the signed license to the issuing office
- Receive your marriage certificate
Conclusion
And that’s it! You just learned about can anyone officiate a wedding in Hawaii, where the answer is yes.
As long as the individual is ordained and licensed, he can legally perform a Hawaii marriage ceremony. We recommend visiting the Hawaii Department of Health’s website to know more about the non-religious license for officiants.