Mass.Gov’s Website

FOR COUPLES GETTING MARRIED

If you’re getting married in Massachusetts, there is important information you need to know for both before and after the wedding. Check out the two-part guide to Getting Married in Massachusetts to learn all the details for your big day. Click here for their website.

COUPLES AND OUT OF STATE OFFICIANTS

Couples should ensure that their wedding officiant, if from out of state (MA), is aware of the required procedures to avoid any questions regarding the validity of your marriage.

If you’re an out-of-state wedding officiant, meaning you don’t reside in Massachusetts, you must obtain permission from the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office. This involves completing a form that may take 4 to 6 weeks to process. The approved form or permission must accompany the completed wedding license when returning it to the issuing clerk.

Who can conduct my wedding in Massachusetts?

There are 4 primary groups of people who can officiate at weddings in Massachusetts. Each group needs to meet different requirements to get licensed.

• In-state Clergy Member — If you’d like to be married by a member of the clergy who lives in Massachusetts, they are most likely already authorized to perform the ceremony. However, if they haven’t performed a marriage in the state before, they’ll need to file 3 forms with the Commissions Section of the Public Records Division.
• In-state Justice of the Peace — Justices of the Peace are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, and some are authorized to perform marriages. Contact your city or town clerk for more information if you’d like to be married by a Justice of the Peace.
• Out-of-state Clergy Member or Justice of the Peace — Clergy members or Justices of the Peace who are authorized in other states to perform marriages have to file the non-resident, out-of-state clergy petition to get a certificate to officiate your ceremony. They shouldn’t file the application more than 6 weeks before your wedding day. Once your officiant-to-be gets the certificate — usually 2–4 weeks after applying — they have to file it with the city or town clerk that will issue your marriage license within 10 days of the ceremony.
• Anyone with a 1-day Designation — If you want a friend or family member to officiate your wedding, they can apply for a 1-day designation. They must fill out an application online or by mail from 6 months to 1 week before your wedding date. There is no residency requirement for 1-day designations.

Hope this helps.