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Open Ministry update in response to COVID-19
First and foremost, we hope you and your loved ones are staying well and healthy.
At this time, it has never been more critical to stay connected with one another, as we all practice social distancing to keep each other safe and reduce the transmission of COVID-19. We are here to keep you informed about any new developments regarding the operations of Open Ministry. We are still fully operational and taking the necessary precautions to best support our congregation.
The safety of our Ministers and staff is our top priority. We believe that proper information is vital. For more information, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
Make sure to follow us on Facebook to stay connected and check our Ministry Blog for helpful tips on performing ceremonies and more!
We are pleased to offer you our services; we appreciate your support of Open Ministry.
Grace & Peace,
Open Ministry
Unique wedding ceremony ideas to inspire you
Are you looking for some original wedding ceremony ideas? Well, first of all, we would like to congratulate you on the decision to tie the knot. As you probably know, this is one of the biggest steps in your life and that is why you deserve to have a special ceremony to celebrate it. We have gathered some of the most interesting wedding ceremony ideas to inspire you to have the wedding of your dreams. Now, let's start, shall we?
Choose a venue with a meaning
Booking a restaurant is something people would expect you to do. But, how about being a bit more original? For instance, you can get married at the location where you met each other for the first time. Or, at the place where you said your first "I love you". Basically, any place that is special for your relationship can be the venue.
Having a beach wedding is not something new, but people still like it. Your guests coming from the colder areas or those moving from sunny California will be thrilled to spend some more time on the beach with their loved ones.
Choose an everlasting bouquet
When you start browsing the Internet for wedding bouquet ideas, be prepared to look at millions of wonderful flower arrangements. Trust us, you can easily get lost and confused by the options ahead of you. And once you choose the perfect one for you, you will be sorry to see it wilt after a week or two. But, there is a solution - why not opt for an everlasting bouquet? Nowadays, you can find artificial flowers made of all sorts of material - paper, straw, fabric, or whatever you think of. If you are not sure what to choose, you can always discuss it with your decorator or florist.
Ask somebody special to officiate your wedding
Ok, this one might not sound so original since many people do it nowadays. But you can be creative and ask somebody special to you, other than your best friend, to get ordained. Here are some suggestions:
- ask a local celebrity both you and your future spouse are fans of - don't be scared of getting rejected; everybody likes to be a part of somebody's big day.
- if both of you went to the same school, you can even ask your favorite teacher to officiate your wedding - that is not something we see every day, right? Of course, the same goes for your coach or any other person who influenced your upbringing.
- maybe you can ask the eldest member of your family to do this. That way you can show them how much you respect them. That would give a traditional touch to your special day and you will show your guests how much you value your family.
- If there is someone responsible for the two of you getting to know each other, maybe that is the person who should get ordained and perform the wedding ceremony.
Plant a tree of your love
Planting a tree on your wedding day - isn't that a great idea? The tree is the symbol of your love that will grow. Plus, you will do something good for the environment. A few weeks before the wedding get yourself informed about where you can do that. If none of the locations fit, maybe you can even plant a tree in your backyard.
Read your favorite book passage to each other
You can read a poem or a passage from your loved one's favorite novel to your spouse at the wedding ceremony. If those words describe your love for him/her, maybe they can even replace the traditional wedding vows. Some people are not comfortable writing about their feelings, and if you are one of them that's fine. Use this shortcut and people will think you are even more romantic than you are.
Including pets in your ceremony
More and more people include pets in their wedding ceremony. If you have one you cannot imagine your special day without, then you should go for it. If the ceremony is taking place outside, you really have no reason to say no. You can even train your dog, cat or exotic pet to bring your rings to the aisle.
Make slight alterations to the traditional details
Not every wedding should be the same. Many couples opt to keep the traditional order of events but adapt them to their liking. For instance:
- instead of little girls throwing petals while the bride approaches the aisle, you can have them blow soap bubbles - you can have some amazing photos of those moments; Bubble send-off to your honeymoon is also an option.
- instead of printing the program on a piece of paper or nice cardboard, you can have it printed on fans. Your guests will appreciate it if your ceremony is taking place outside on a tropical day.
- make personalized presents for guests - if you are making a small, intimate wedding, maybe you can show your guests how much you care about their presence on your special day by making a unique present for each one of them. Here's an idea - you can remind them of some funny moments you had together. Print a story starting with: Remember that time when we... Or you can start a story like that and encourage them to finish it. Include those anecdotes in your wedding photo book later.
- you can play a non-traditional song down the aisle - it is your day, you get to choose!
Encourage your guests to wear comfortable clothes and shoes
People should sing, dance and laugh at weddings, that's what the ceremony is about - celebrating love. If their attires are too uncomfortable, they will not be able to relax and enjoy themselves. Encourage them to wear sneakers by wearing a pair yourself!
Once you have everything planned, don't forget to relax and enjoy your special day. Good luck!
Contributing Author: Sophia Perry, Feb 2020, © all rights reserved
Las Vegas Wedding Officiant Registration
How to Register as a Wedding Officiant in Las Vegas (Clark County)
May in Las Vegas is Royal Wedding Month!
At the request of the clerk, who oversees the Marriage License Bureau in Las Vegas, the County Commissioners will be declaring May "Royal Wedding Month in Clark County".
Throughout the month of May, the Marriage License Bureau will present interested couples with special commemorative Royal Wedding Certificates as well as a British-themed cut-out inside of the main office of the Marriage License Bureau for couples to use as a background for pictures at 201 E. Clark St. in downtown Las Vegas.
Since Las Vegas has extra requirements for Ministers and Officiants to register, here is a helpful guide for registering as a Minister in Las Vegas.
Jump to:
- Complete the Ordination Process
- Understanding the Requirements
- Completing the Registration
- Contact the County Clerk
1) Complete your Ordination with Open Ministry
The first step is to Get Ordained - complete the required steps on the ordination page to apply. Ordinations are highly respected and recognized in all 50 states. After you have completed the ordination process, you will receive an email that confirms your registration with our Ministry.
2) Understanding Las Vegas (Clark County's) Requirements
Overview:
- Pursuant to Nevada law (NRS 122.110), there is no set format in the performance of a marriage
ceremony. However, the law specifies that the witness and the minister, or other person authorized to perform marriages, must be present when the couple declares their agreement to marry each other.
The requirement to be present means that the witness, the minister, and the couple must all be in the same room. - Nevada law also requires that the marriage ceremony take place in the state of Nevada.
- It is a misdemeanor to perform a marriage ceremony without being issued a Certificate of Permission to Perform Marriages in the state of Nevada by a County Clerk. A Marriage Officiant approved to perform a single marriage may only conduct the ceremony in the county where the Certificate of Permission to Perform a Single Marriage was issued.
- A Marriage Officiant cannot perform a marriage in this state unless the couple has provided a valid Marriage License issued by a Nevada County Clerk at the time of the ceremony
Registration:
- You will be required to complete the application, provide proper identification and documentation.
Procedure for Clergy Members and Religious Leaders
- Clark County (Las Vegas) requires that you to complete their online application prior to performing any ceremony.
- Your Completed Application
- Proper Identification
- Pay the required fees.
3) Completion of Registration
Overview:
- Your registration is complete once you have the Certificate of Permission to
Perform Marriages in the state of Nevada by a County Clerk.
Contact the Clerk
Office: (702) 455-0000
For more detailed information please visit https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/elected_officials/county_clerk/other_services/marriage_license.php
NYC Registration
How to Register as a Wedding Officiant in New York City
New York the Big Apple - the "City that Never Sleeps" a wonderful city rich in culture and people. So many communities to offer your services - with wedding season upon us, we wanted to guide you for registration in New York City.
Since New York City has extra requirements for Ministers and Officiants to register, we thought that you may find this guide helpful for registering as a Minister in New York.
Jump to:
- Complete the Ordination Process
- Understanding the Requirements
- Completing the Registration
- Contact the County Clerk
1) Complete your Ordination with Open Ministry
The first step is to Get Ordained - complete the required steps on the ordination page to apply. Ordinations are highly respected and recognized in all 50 states. After you have completed the ordination process, you will receive an email that confirms your registration with our Ministry.
2) Understanding New York City's Requirements
Overview:
- New York State Law requires any person who performs a Marriage Ceremony within the City of New York to register with the City Clerk. Registration is done in our Manhattan office located at 141 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013.
- If you are planning to wed anywhere within the five boroughs of New York City, you should ask the person who is performing your Marriage Ceremony if they have registered.
- The registration requirement does not apply to Marriage Ceremonies performed anywhere else in the State of New York.
Cost:
- The fee to Register to perform Marriage Ceremonies is $15 by credit card (in person registration only) or money order payable to the City Clerk.
Registration:
- If you wish to register as a Marriage Officiant, you may submit an application online to the City Clerk's Office and visit our Manhattan office during our regular business hours to complete it, or mail in your application materials. If you reside in Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island or Queens you must register in person. For in-person office visits:
Manhattan Office
Hours: 8:30 am to 3:45 pm, Monday through Friday
141 Worth Street
New York, NY 10013
- You must bring proper identification and the documentation required under the different options stated below. The requirements are different for each category of Officiant.
Procedure for Clergy Members and Religious Leaders
- The county clerk will require the Letter of Consent for NYC, as proof of your ordination with our Ministry.
(Select option New York City for Letter of Good Standing Requests) - Your Completed Application
- Proper Identification
- Pay the required fees.
3) Completion of Registration
Overview:
- Your registration is complete once you have signed the registry. After you pay the fee, you will receive a Certificate of Registration with your Registration Identification Number.
- Your Registration Identification Number can be used to speed the search for your record on a Marriage License or if you file a Change of Address with our office.
Contact the Clerk
Office: (212) 669-8077
For more detailed information please visit http://www.cityclerk.nyc.gov/html/marriage/officiant_reg.shtml
A Quick How-to-Get Ordained Guide in 3 simple steps!
You have this feeling inside your heart. You may have just had a thought or you have been thinking about it a long time. You may be thinking to yourself, “I want to become a Minister.” Or “I want to become Ordained.”
Rest assured, this beautiful thought is the first step of a Minister’s calling! There are many different paths you can take and the road to becoming Ordained is filled with excitement and joy. Below are 3 simple steps to becoming Ordained.
STEP 1
- The first step is to find a Ministry that aligns with your beliefs. There are many different options to choose from. A simple google search “Become Ordained with Open Ministry” will open the doors. Open Ministry is a great start. Here you can find plenty of information on how to become a Minister, perform wedding ceremonies, and other sacerdotal duties which come with the territory.
STEP 2
- Once you have chosen your Ministry, the next step is to begin the Ordination process. This is a very straightforward process which takes very little time. Be sure to include your Full Name on the application.
STEP 3
- The final step is simple: Become active in your new role as a Minister. There are many families and friends who can now count on you for help officiating weddings, baptisms, house blessing, and other endeavors which will lead to a new life of fulfillment and happiness for you and your loved ones.
If you are reading this, and decide the life of a Minister is not right for you that is ok too! Perhaps you have a family member or friend who would like to become Ordained. Please share this simple guide with others. There is a great amount of good in this world, and the good word needs to be spread. The more positivity that is shared, the better we feel. Above all, we need to fill the world with positivity and love.
Grace and Peace on the journey!
