Ordained by the power of beer? Hmm...
I'm glad my state requires all marriage performers to get licensed with the state, so these kinds of ordainments won't cut into my business too much. I'm not sure I'd trust one of these ministers to know all the ins and outs of filling in the paperwork properly and getting all the right permits and insurance required for performing weddings, since most of my weddings are destination events, so the couple and their guests aren't familiar with the laws of the state..
There have been a few couples who have brought along their own minister, ordained similarly to this, but after realizing it might be smarter to use a licensed professional, they have their friend perform the ceremony but have me file the paperwork, to be sure it's done correctly. But otherwise, I think it's totally fine to have a peer perform the marriage.
What do you think of this idea?
11
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8 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Most states do not need a so called license professional to preform any type of marriage!!!
Some states do require a letter of good standing from the organization they are a member of or represent!!!
I have married couples legally in six west coast states without any problems what so ever!
The paperwork is relatively simple and easy, requires nothing of any real consequences!!!
I have been ordained since September 1969 by the original ULC Modesto California!!!
I only preform Secular marriages!!!
I am non religious and a Atheist’s!!!
Destination weddings are usually not a problem, local customs, ordinance, rules, regulations, and laws do vary, most times they are never a real negative or problem!!!
Your milage may of course vary!!!
of-the-mountain
Level 9
June 3, 2022
0
Yes, while that is true, what I'm saying is that from MY perspective, I'm glad MY couples aren't bringing their own "ordained by beer" ministers, because it would take away from MY business, which I've worked 15 years to perfect, and I am familiar the rules that are specific to Hawaii. My state does require all marriage performers to be licensed by the state, and I'm glad there is that hoop to jump through because I live in destination wedding area, and there are some ins and outs the performers should know.
I'm not knocking the ordainment. I was ordained by clicking a button that says "ordain me" online with the Church of Spiritual Humanism and filed my "Letter of good standing" with the state and all that, have the insurance required to perform weddings on state beaches, etc., and I'm thankful for the extra license my state requires for out of state ministers, otherwise I might be out of a job. That was my biggest point.
But also, since I perform ceremonies for a living, and have worked hard to have a great reputation with some expertise on how to handle some of the locally specific situations, there is a good reason to hire someone like me with the experience.
Anyone can get ordained anyway they like and run a full time wedding business like me - or like you - and that's fine. My problem, if there is one, is with the inexperienced newly ordained ministers who might not realize we have laws and rules to follow and they might make mistakes that give us professionals a bad name. I hear from couples all the time who want their friend or relative to perform the marriage, and then end up hiring me to handle all the details so it gets done right.
I also only perform secular style weddings, mostly for atheists and agnostics. I make a pretty good living at it, and there is plenty of business to go around. I just thought it was a humorous idea - and can see a niche for it - but only a small niche!
@Julie808
I have never charged for any service period!!!
I do not profit off of marrying individuals!!!
I have received money for petrol and free lodging, that in fact was so very rare that I can count it on one hand since 1969!!!
I do not begrudge anyone being paid!
I have filled in for those ordained professionals who have backed out at the last minute!!!
I rarely charge because most couple could not afford any real costs to be United as a married couple!!!
I have never been to a beer ordained wedding, the closet was a couple of biker wedding over forty years ago!!!
The ceremony is what counts that it lets the individuals being married dignity and fulfillment for their life long dreams were applicable!!!
When I first started reading this, Julie, I thought it was another comedy posting by Johnnyrobinish..... Too funny. It seems to me that many men are already married.... TO beer, not by beer!
TomMcGiverin
Level 8
June 3, 2022
3
A license is required here but there is no requirement on who performs the ceremony. It is assumed that a minister or JP would do the ceremony but in many cases this is not so. Marriage is a racket really.
DenoPenno
Level 9
June 3, 2022
0
Marriage can also save couples lots of money on their taxes, and there are lots of reasons people get married. Now weddings, that could be seen as a racket, when you see how cakes, photography, flowers, etc., are all upcharged for weddings, but there's actually lots of good reasons for that. By that I mean that sometimes there is the bridezilla factor, haha!
Marriage aside... beer!
I have to assume that my phone has been eavesdropping on me again and telling the internet about it, because I was just recently asking if Miller High Life was still being sold. I liked it back in the 70s but then fucking light beer took over everything and now all of the beers I used to drink are all gone and replaced by light beers. There's craft beer, but they're all IPAs and I hate IPAs even more than I hate light beer. I can still get Coors banquet beer, but that seems to be it and it doesn't seem to be the same as I remember it. I have not seen a Miller High Life in a store in... I don't know... a long time.
So is Miller High Life still available? If I was to get married by a beer, it would be nice if it was a beer that I could still drink.
piphirho
Level 7
June 3, 2022
0
Since clicking on this news story, I've been getting Miller High Life ads on my FB feed, haha! So, yes it must still exist.
It's funny, a lot of people like to toast to their wedding with champagne, but once I had a couple who asked me to write a "beer blessing" and so I did!
Go ahead. Beer exists and is always welcome.
Paddypereira
Level 7
June 3, 2022
1
"Praise to the Beer!" Haha!
As an Ordained Dudeist Priest, though I haven't yet done any weddings, I can't knock it but High Life is a cheesy Ordainment. My County requires a document, which Dudeism supplies for $15, but that's all I'd need to officiate one. Insurance and permits? Unless it's in your Church that's a signed marriage license which I'd file with the County Recorder. No?
rainmanjr
Level 8
June 3, 2022
0
We have an online system for filing marriages for recording, so that is one small hurdle for visiting marriage performers, not familiar with my states process, but I do know that others states make it much easier. I used to perform marriage in Washington State, which was very easy! No licensing needed on the part of the officiant.
The specifics I'm talking about for Hawaii is the beach weddings, which require a special permit, with insurance and a connection to the online system. Not worth it for a one time officiant, but then again, they could hire a coordinator to handle the specifics within the rules.
@Julie808 Interesting. I live in NV, which also makes it easy for the Wedding Chapel industry, and sometimes remind an audience that I'm available. I work cheap because I have no overhead and enjoy performing. Travel expense, a meal (or two), some pot and that would cover it. I've never done one so actually getting a gig would make me nervous.
@rainmanjr There is something to at least "sounding" legit, haha! A few folks I know are ordained through the church of the flying spaghetti monster. It's all good in my book, but sometimes there are parents and other guests who might chime in. I think these "cheesy" ordainments are just fine for the one off weddings, but there are times when a professional is a good choice
My ordainment was just actually just a "click here" button, but I spent a year studying ceremony composition and delivery before I did my first wedding. Once I got started, you couldn't stop me, it sure is a fun way to make a living!
I've got probably 1500 weddings in my experience bag, so I can handle pretty much anything that comes up. I have a good mix of island traditions along with humanistic values, for a popular style of ceremony, so I have a good reputation, as a marriage performer.
If you ever decide to take the plunge, maybe do what I did and start out super small - with the "just the 2 of us" kind of wedding, and work your way up. My wedding tonight was 203 guests. 
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