Every state has different laws regarding who may perform a marriage ceremony. The state of Connecticut has several key points people may or may not know about, so keep in mind the actual wedding ceremony is the single most important moment in the day and you need to do your homework first.

Wedding and event planner/designer Lisa Antonecchia, who also is justice of the peace, notes that many of her clients come to her to regarding their wedding ceremony and “they very excitedly announce that their cousin or their uncle or their college roommate will be officiating over their wedding. It is certainly a trend to have somebody you know and love pronounce you married on your wedding day. However, it is very important to know the law in your particular state.”

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Here are the five top tips for you to consider, courtesy of Antonecchia:

1. WHO CAN PERFORM MY CEREMONY?

AdvertisementIn Connecticut it is very clear, if you are ordained online – you must be an actual practicing ordained minister for a wedding to recognized. In other words, you can’t become ordained simply to perform a friend or relative’s wedding ceremony. I cannot stress this enough, it is so important to make sure in the eyes of the state of Connecticut you are legally married.

Authorized officiants include:

A. Connecticut justices of the peace;

B. Ordained or licensed clergy who have an active ministry in addition to performing marriages;

C. Judges and retired judges;

D. Family support magistrates;

E. State referees.

When a couple comes to me with the request to have a family member perform a service, I can create a lovely ceremony where the family is involved but I can perform the legal portions as required by the state. So you can get best of both worlds, and personalize your ceremony.

2. HOW MUCH DOES A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COST IN CONNECTICUT?

There is no set fee for a justice of the peace cost in Connecticut. In other words, the JP sets their own fee. This can be based on number of meetings, the time to create your one-of-kind wedding ceremony, location of the wedding ceremony, etc. In the end this number can be different and is not a “industry standard.”

3. WHERE DO WE APPLY FOR OUR MARRIAGE LICENSE?

Your marriage license is to be applied for in the town in which you are going to have the ceremony performed. My suggestion is always to go to the town website in which you are being married for the most current town information. For example:

If you are getting married in Hamden.

Go to the town website as this explains everything you need to know and who you need to see in order to get your license, including fees, the expiration of a license, and more.

Also and super important, some venues or parks are not where you think they are. Literally, for example the Pardee Rose Garden sits on property in both Hamden and New Haven. So make sure you are doing your homework and receive a license from the correct town.

4. What are some important facts about getting married in Connecticut?

A. Does a marriage license expire? Yes it does! So again make sure you understand what the time frame (65 days) is to which you must be married after you obtain your license.

B. Do I need rings to get married in Connecticut? No, wedding rings are not part of the valid Connecticut wedding ceremony.

C. Do we need a blood test? No, there is not blood test required, this went into effect in 2003.

D. Do we need to have witnesses? No, there is no legal need for witnesses to be present at your wedding ceremony.

5. CHAIN OF COMMAND

Your justice of the peace is required by law to take your marriage license and personally mail it or hand-deliver to back to the town official from which you received your license. They do not give it back to you for mailing, this is a proper chain of command, I always mail mine back the very next business day.

What this means is, hire a Connecticut justice of the peace if you are having a ceremony outside of a church or other religious venue, this is the only way to ensure you will be legally married. As a Connecticut justice of the peace and wedding planner, I work with over a dozen other individuals throughout the year, we all have a different style and we all love what we do. So get to it and find a JP who will ensure you are married in the eyes of the law! For more information contact the town your wedding is taking place and or a legal Connecticut justice of the peace, we are all happy to help.

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