Recognized Marriage Officiants from State to State

Here is a listing of U.S. state marriage laws regarding authorized persons, aka officiants, who can perform wedding ceremonies.

A
Alabama
Licensed ministers or pastors of recognized religious societies, and current or retired Alabama judges.
Alaska
A minister, priest, recognized leader, or rabbi of any church or congregation in the state, a commissioned officer of the Salvation Army, marriage commissioner, or a judicial officer of the state can perform weddings.

A friend or relative can perform your marriage ceremony if they receive a marriage commissioner appointment.
Arizona
Licensed or ordained ministers, clergymen, or pastors of recognized religious societies.
Arkansas
Ministers must have their credentials recorded in one of Arkansas' 75 counties.

B

C
California
Clergy, Justices, Judges, Magistrates, Marriage Commissioners (current or retired). Some counties in California also have a "deputy for a day" program that allows non-clergy friends and relatives to officiate at a wedding.
Colorado
Couples themselves may solemnize their own marriage (C.R.S 14-2-109). They must apply for paperwork from the County Courthouse in order to do this. However, friends or relatives cannot solemnize their marriage. Out-of-state Clergy need not be registered in Colorado.
Connecticut
Any ordained or licensed clergymen, and justices of the peace.

D
Delaware
Any ordained minister, and clerks of the peace.

If you have your marriage ceremony at the office of the Clerk of the Peace, there is a $20 fee for the civil marriage ceremony.
District of Columbia
Any ordained minister, and justices of the peace. There is an application fee of $35 in cash for authorization to celebrate marriages in the District of Columbia.

E

F
Florida
Any ordained or licensed clergymen, notary publics, and justices of the peace.

G
Georgia
Licensed or ordained ministers, clergymen, or pastors of recognized religious societies, and justices of the peace.

H
Hawaii
The marriage performer must be commissioned by the State of Hawaii, Department of Health.

I
Idaho
Priests or ministers of any denomination, and judges, or other designated officials, i.e., mayor or governor may perform weddings.
Illinois
Ordained ministers, judges, retired judges, and public officials whose powers include solemnization of marriages.
Indiana
Marriages may be performed by a member of the clergy (including a minister, priest, bishop, rabbi, and imam), a judge, a magistrate, a clerk of the circuit court, or a clerk or clerk-treasurer of a city or town.
Iowa
Any ordained or licensed clergymen, and justices of the peace.

J

K
Kansas
Any ordained or licensed clergymen, and justices of the peace.
Kentucky
Any ordained or licensed clergymen who have been licensed in Kentucky to perform weddings, and justices of the peace.

L
Louisiana
Any ordained or licensed clergymen who have registered with the clerk of the district court of the parish or with the health department if in New Orleans, and justices of the peace.

M
Maine
Any ordained ministers or clergymen who have been licensed by the secretary of State. Application with a $5 fee needs to be made through the town clerk or treasurer.
Maryland
An Official of a religious order or a deputy clerk or a judge.
Massachusetts
Any ordained ministers or clergymen and justices of the peace may perform weddings. Out-of-state clergy must obtain a Certificate of Authorization from the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth before the wedding ceremony. A non-minister or non-justice of the peace (such as a relative or family friend) may receive from the Governor, for a $25 fee, special one-time permission to perform a marriage.
Michigan
Marriages may be performed by federal, probate, district, and municipal judges, and district court magistrates, in their court area; mayors, in their city; County clerks; ministers and pastors of the gospel, both resident and non-resident.

Minnesota
Judges, clerks of court, court commissioners, and licensed ministers, priests or rabbis, as well as representatives of Bahai, Hindu, Quaker and American Indian religious groups are authorized to perform weddings.
Mississippi
Clergy, mayors, local Board of Supervisors members, and judges of the state Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Circuit court, Chancery court, Justice court, or County court.
Missouri
Marriages may be performed by any clergyman in good standing, either active or retired, and by any judge, including a municipal judge.
Montana
Any ordained or licensed clergymen, and justices of the peace.

N through Z

N
Nebraska
Any ordained or licensed clergymen, and justices of the peace.
Nevada
Any ordained or licensed clergymen who have obtained a certificate of permissions to perform marriages, and justices of the peace.
New Hampshire
Weddings can be solemnized by a judge, supreme court justice, assistant judge, justice of the peace, priest, rabbi, or minister residing in New Hampshire. Non-residents clergy need to receive a special license from the Secretary of State.

New Jersey
Any ordained or licensed clergymen, and justices of the peace.
New Mexico
Any ordained or licensed clergymen, and justices of the peace.
New York
According to Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law, an officiant must be an authorized, officially ordained member of the clergy or a public official in the State of New York such as a mayor, city clerk, deputy city clerk, appointed marriage officer, justice, or judge. In New York City, an officiant must be registered with the City of New York. Ship captains cannot perform marriage ceremonies in New York State.
North Carolina
Any ordained or licensed clergymen, and justices of the peace.
North Dakota
Any ordained or licensed clergymen, and justices of the peace.

O
Ohio
Any ordained or licensed clergymen who have presented their ordination credentials to the county probate judge, and justices of the peace.
Oklahoma
Any ordained or licensed clergymen, and justices of the peace.

Oregon
Judges, County Clerks or their Deputies, Justices of Peace, and ministers, pastors, priests, rabbis may perform wedding ceremonies in Oregon.

P
Pennsylvania
Couples can obtain a self-uniting license. Any ordained minister, priest or rabbi of any regularly established church or congregation, Judges, Justices of Peace, and County Clerks or their appointed Deputies may perform wedding ceremonies.

Mayors of cities and boroughs are also authorized to perform marriage ceremonies.
See Pennsylvania Statutes, Title 23, Chapter 15 for more information.

Q

R
Rhode Island
Rhode Island has a complicated law regarding officiants. (updated 6/26/2006)

S
South Carolina
Any ordained or licensed clergymen, and justices of the peace.
South Dakota
Any ordained or licensed clergymen, and justices of the peace.

T
Tennessee
Any ordained or licensed clergymen over the age of 18, and justices of the peace.
Texas
Persons authorized to perform weddings in Texas include licensed or ordained Christian ministers, priests, Jewish rabbis, officers authorized by religious organizations, justices of the supreme court, judges of the court of criminal appeals, justices of the courts of appeals, judges of the district, county, and probate courts, judges of the county courts at law, judges of the courts of domestic relations, judges of the juvenile courts, retired justices or judges, justices of the peace, retired justices of the peace, and judges or magistrates of a federal court of Texas.

U
Utah
Any ordained or licensed clergymen, and justices of the peace.

V
Vermont
Authorized persons to perform weddings in Vermont are judges, supreme court justices, assistant judges, justices of the peace, and ordained or licensed clergymen.

Non-resident clergy need to file for a permit from the county Probate Court where the marriage will take place.
Virginia
Any ordained minister who can show proof of ordination. Marriage Commissioners, and Judges (Circuit Court, District Court, or retired) in Virginia may also perform civil weddings.

W
Washington
Any ordained or licensed clergymen, and justices of the peace.
West Virginia
Any ordained minister who has received authorization to perform marriages in the state of West Virgina. The court in each city and county has appointed persons who are eligible to perform civil weddings.
Wisconsin
Ordained member of the clergy, a judge, a court commissioner, or certain religious appointees. You and your prospective spouse may officiate under established customs or rules of some religions.
Wyoming
Any ordained or licensed clergymen, and justices of the peace.

X

Y

Z

A through M