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Officiate a Wedding
As a Minister of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
How This Works
You perform the wedding ceremony. The state handles the marriage.
As an FSM minister, your job is to lead the wedding ceremony. But the actual legal marriage is paperwork handled by the clerk’s office. There is a separation between the ceremony and the marriage, and you as an FSM minister fit into the ceremonial side.
In many states/countries, officiants can also register and handle some of the marriage paperwork — signing the marriage license, filing it with the clerk’s office. Our state and country pages below have the best information we’ve gathered. Some areas are more strict than others, and some areas may not even recognize the Church of the FSM. But it doesn’t matter, because there is an always-allowed-anywhere option: you can always perform the wedding ceremony as a ceremony, and the couple handles the marriage paperwork with the clerk.
So if the clerk allows you to file marriage paperwork, great. And if the clerk doesn’t even recognize the Church of FSM, no problem, you can always perform the wedding ceremony, and allow the clerk to handle the legal marriage paperwork.
You Can Do This
The couple asked you because they want you standing up there — not a stranger, not a professional, you. That means something. Here’s what you need to know:
It’s not as scary as you think. Most ceremonies are 5–15 minutes. The couple does most of the talking (vows, “I do”). You’re the guide.
Nobody’s grading you. There’s no certification exam, no review board. The couple picked you because they trust you and want you to be part of their day.
At a minimum, your ceremony needs two elements: 1. Declaration of Intent — “Do you take this person…” / “I do” 2. Pronouncement — You declare them married
Everything else — readings, vows, stories, jokes, Pastafarian blessings, the whole production — is optional and up to you and the couple.
Common Fears (And Why They Don’t Matter)
“What if I forget what to say?” Use notes. Print your script. Hold it in your hands. Nobody cares. Even professional officiants use notes. This isn’t a TED talk — it’s a wedding.
“What if my voice shakes?” Everyone’s emotional at weddings. A shaky voice says “this moment matters to me.” It’s endearing, not embarrassing.
“What if I mess up the order?” There is no wrong order. As long as you hit the Declaration of Intent and the Pronouncement, the rest is whatever you want it to be. You can open with a joke, close with a prayer, read a poem in the middle — it’s your call.
“What if something goes wrong?” The ring bearer drops the rings. Someone’s phone goes off. It starts raining. The flower girl stages a sit-down protest. These things happen at weddings all the time, and they become the stories people tell for years. Roll with it.
The Ordination Package — $79
- Paper Certificate of Ordination — printed on parchment with embossed foil seal
- Black/Silver Resin Wallet Card — carry your credentials everywhere
- Two Vinyl Car Decals — weatherproof FSM decals
- Digital credentials (PDF) delivered same-day — your physical package ships separately (1-2 weeks)
- Free shipping worldwide
Your name is added to the official registry of Ordained FSM Ministers. These credentials allow you to perform wedding ceremonies, baptisms, and other sacred duties.
Preparing for the Ceremony
This is how it works in most places. Your state or country page has the specifics.
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Get ordained — Get ordained with the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Takes a few minutes. The digital credentials come within hours, and the physical package ships in a few days.
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Check your state’s page — Find your state/country below and read through the details. Some states let you handle the marriage paperwork too; some don’t. (You can perform the ceremony, either way.)
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Talk to the couple — What kind of ceremony do they want? Religious? Secular? Funny? Short? This is their day — find out what matters to them.
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Write your script — Include the Declaration of Intent and the Pronouncement. Fill in the rest with whatever feels right — personal stories, readings, vows, humor.
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Practice — Read it out loud at least twice. Time it. Speak slowly — you’ll talk faster on the day.
Ceremony Day
- Bring: Your script (printed), your ordination credentials (just in case), and a black pen
- The ceremony: Walk through your script. Declaration of Intent → Pronouncement → done. Everything else is gravy.
- Relax. You’ve prepared. The couple picked you. Enjoy it.
If You’re Also Handling the Paperwork
In many states/countries, the officiant can also assist the clerk with the marriage paperwork – signing the marriage license and filing it with the clerk. If your state allows this (check your state page), here’s what’s involved:
Before the Wedding
- Call the local clerk — This is the single best thing you can do. The county or city clerk handles marriages every day. Call them, tell them you’re an ordained minister performing a wedding, and ask what they need from you. They’ll tell you exactly what to do.
- Register if required — Some states insist on officiant registration before the ceremony. Processing times vary — start early.
The Couple’s Job
The couple needs to get their marriage license from their local clerk’s office before the wedding. This is their responsibility, not yours. Each state has different costs, waiting periods, and validity windows — check the state page for details.
Remind them: Get the license with plenty of time to spare. Don’t leave it to the last week.
Right After the Ceremony
Sign the marriage license — you, the couple, and any required witnesses. Black pen. Do this immediately after the ceremony — don’t wait.
After the Wedding
Return the signed marriage license to the issuing clerk’s office. Every state has a deadline — some as short as 3 days. Check your state page. Mail it or drop it off. Set a phone reminder right after the ceremony.
This is the most important post-ceremony task. Don’t forget it.
How easy is it to handle the paperwork?
No registration needed: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York (outside NYC), North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Registration required (usually quick and easy): Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (NYC), Ohio, Oklahoma, Vermont, West Virginia
Extra steps / Proceed with caution (or perform Ceremonial-only): Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York City, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia
In any state, you can always perform the wedding as a purely ceremonial role — you lead the ceremony, the couple handles the marriage paperwork with the clerk. This is the easiest path for states in the “proceed with caution” list.
International
For countries outside the US, the ceremony/marriage split is usually even clearer — most countries require civil registration at a government office regardless of who performs the ceremony.
FSM Officially Recognized: United States (most states), New Zealand
Wedding ceremony — no restrictions: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China
Wedding ceremony + separate marriage registration: Canada (varies by province), Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Switzerland, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Austria, Ireland, Italy, and others
Where’s the Wedding? Region-Specific Info
United States
US Territories
| US Virgin Islands | Guam | Northern Mariana Islands | Puerto Rico |
International
Questions?
Contact us. We’re here to help you make the couple’s day great.
And the #1 rule, always: talk to your local clerk before the ceremony. They do this every day. They’ll tell you exactly what you need.
These pages are helpful guides, not legal advice. Laws change. Data was last compiled in 2026. Always verify current requirements with your local clerk’s office.