Venturing Vows Officiant

So you’ve decided to get married on the Oregon Coast! What do you need to do to get ready for your ceremony before your wedding day?

1. Your marriage license. You can pick up your license at any county clerk’s office in Oregon, and it is valid in all Oregon Counties. Usually, the marriage license process includes a fee of around $50. You should fill out the application online, and you need to pick it up at least 3 days before your wedding ceremony. Often, the clerk’s office will waive the waiting period for people traveling from out of town who want to pick up the license, for a fee of $10. The clerk’s office will ask for photo ID to prove that you are at least 18. Mail-in marriage licenses are also available in Oregon. For example, Tillamook County mainly processes licenses through email communication, and then can mail you your license when it is ready.

2. An officiant! (I can help with this 😎). Your officiant has to be either: An Oregon judge, an active military judge, or a religious leader authorized by a religious organization. I fall into this third category, as I’m technically a reverend with the Universal Life Church. If you aren’t religious don’t worry, I offer ceremonies that are non-religious.

3. Two witnesses. This one might be easy, if you have family or friends coming. Or, maybe you booked a package deal with me, and and then your photo/video team can be your witnesses. If you need an additional witness, we can often flag down someone on the trail to sign, or, for a small extra fee, I can bring witnesses.

4. Get married within 60 days of receiving your license. After 60 days, your license will no longer be valid and you’ll need to apply for a new one.

These are good guidelines to get you started, but you should definitely call the county where you plan to get married and ask them questions.

If you’re stressed about this part of your elopement, one of the best moves you can make is hiring a pro to be your officiant. I can help you through!

Did you know you need a permit to have your ceremony in the Redwoods?
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This is so important! First off, it’s important to adhere to park policies so we can continue to have ceremonies in the park. Additionally, it’d make for a hard day if you were removed from the area mid ceremony or caught before you get to your ceremony location.
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What’s the best way to deal with this? Hiring someone with Redwood experience helps lots! If not, search “Redwood National Park wedding.” Go to the NPS official webpage on weddings. It features the regulations and contact info if you have more questions.
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Another pro tip: make sure you sign the license in the state you picked it up from! Many of my RW clients move onto the Oregon Coast next. You can have your ceremony in the Redwoods with an OR license but you’ll have to fill out paperwork and legalities in Oregon.
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