perform a marriage ceremony in new hampshire
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Although there are no laws on how they should be conducted, marriage ceremonies generally have a basic format, according to the American Marriage Ministries. A typical format includes the invocation, where the officiant, or individual authorized to perform marriage ceremonies, states the reason for the gathering- the Declaration of Intent, where the officiant asks both parties if they agree to the marriage contract- and the Pronouncement where the marriage contract is finalized. While laws do not exist in New Hampshire regarding the nature of the ceremony, the officiant must fulfill certain requirements before and after the ceremony and follow state-specific administrative procedures when handling the marriage certificate.
Instructions
Before
1
Meet the requirements for performing a marriage ceremony in New Hampshire. You must be a New Hampshire Justice of the Peace, an ordained minister who is a resident of New Hampshire or an unordained clergy member who lives in New Hampshire and has successfully obtained a license from New Hampshire's Secretary of State. Out-of-state ministers and other out-of-state authorized individuals can perform marriage ceremonies given that a special license is issued to them by the Secretary of State.
2
Obtain, complete and submit an Application to Perform a Marriage Ceremony in New Hampshire to the Secretary of State if you require a special license to perform a marriage ceremony. The application form is available on New Hampshire's Secretary of State website. Mail completed application with a $25.00 fee to:
Office of the Secretary of State
State House, Room 204
Concord, NH 03301
3
Design and practice the ceremony out loud as you would conduct it on the wedding day.
During
4
State the invocation. This usually takes place after the procession has settled in. Announce the reason for the day's gathering and the names of the bride and groom.
5
Present the Declaration of Intent. Ask the bride and groom if each agrees to the marriage contract. If they agree, have each party answer "I do."
6
Wait for the couple to exchange vows and rings.
7
Ask those in attendance if there are any objections to the union.
8
Pronounce the bride and groom officially married. You may say, "By the authority vested in me by the State of New Hampshire, I now pronounce you both husband and wife."
After
9
Review the information on the marriage license with the couple to verify that the information is correct and that the license is valid.
10
Complete the section on the license that says "Officiant" and provide your signature.
11
Return the completed marriage license within six days of the ceremony to the local town clerk in New Hampshire that issued the document. You may mail the license or take it to the clerk in person.
Tips &- Warnings
If you are not well-versed in performing a marriage ceremony, try following a script. See American Marriage Ministries' "Sample Wedding Ceremony Script" for a template.
Tags: marriage ceremony, perform marriage, Secretary State, bride groom, Hampshire Secretary, Hampshire Secretary StateSource: www.ehow.com
