Wedding Officiant Services with Get Married Today
Get Married Today provides licensed, ordained wedding officiants who can issue your California marriage license and perform your ceremony in the same visit. Whether you prefer a simple civil ceremony, a private elopement, or a fully personalized script, our officiants make the process fast, legal, and stress-free across Southern California.
Learn more about our same-day services on the Get Married Today home page or explore all offerings on our Services overview.
What Your Get Married Today Officiant Actually Does
Our officiants are more than someone reading words at the front of the room. They are licensed professionals who combine ceremony, legal compliance, and document handling into one streamlined experience.
Every officiant at Get Married Today is trained in California marriage laws and county-level procedures so your ceremony is both meaningful and legally binding. Depending on your needs, the same professional can issue your marriage license, verify ID, complete required forms, officiate your ceremony, and ensure everything is filed correctly with the county recorder.
Because we specialize in same-day services, your officiant is prepared to guide you step-by-step—from the moment you arrive to your final signature. If you’re unsure about requirements, timing, or special circumstances, your officiant will walk you through your options and help you choose the right path. For a detailed list of what you’ll need to bring, visit our Marriage Requirements page.
Types of Officiant Services We Offer
From quick signings to fully scripted ceremonies, our officiants adapt to your style, schedule, and location—always keeping the legal side airtight.
Civil & Courthouse-Style Ceremonies
Perfect for couples who want a brief, straightforward ceremony that feels similar to a courthouse wedding—without the courthouse waitlist. Your officiant covers the required legal language, guides your vows, and ensures everything is signed and filed correctly the same day.
Many couples pair this style with a quick same-day appointment described on our Irvine marriage chapel page or the flexible options listed under Same Day Marriage At Your Location.
Private Elopements & Micro Weddings
If you’re eloping with just the two of you—or a few close guests—your officiant can create a warm, intimate ceremony that still feels special. We focus on your story, your promises, and a relaxed atmosphere where you can be fully present.
To see how our elopement services work and where we officiate across Orange County, review our guide on same-day elopements in Orange County .
Mobile Officiant at Your Location
Want to get married at home, at a park, on the beach, in a hotel suite, or in a hospital room? Our mobile officiants bring the legal paperwork and the ceremony to you. This is a popular choice for couples with mobility limitations, tight schedules, or special venues in mind.
Learn more about this option on our dedicated Same Day Marriage At Your Location page.
Religious-Light, Secular, or Custom-Worded Ceremonies
Your ceremony can be simple and civil, include light religious references, or be entirely custom-worded. Our officiants are comfortable honoring your cultural, spiritual, or personal preferences while keeping everything compliant with California law and county requirements.
Many couples choose wording that pairs well with our guidance in the Laws of Same Day Marriage in California article.
Military, Immigration & Time-Sensitive Marriages
For military deployment, immigration deadlines, or employer benefit cut-offs, timing matters. Our officiants are familiar with documentation needs in these scenarios and coordinate closely with our administrative team to provide clear proof of marriage and properly recorded licenses.
Explore our dedicated resources on Military Marriage Resources and fast-track military marriage to see how officiant-led services support your deadlines.
After-Hours, Weekend & Holiday Ceremonies
County clerk offices close on evenings, weekends, and holidays—but your officiant with Get Married Today can still issue your license and perform your ceremony. We’re available for special dates like New Year’s Eve, Christmas, and long weekends when traditional offices are unavailable.
Learn how our holiday officiant services work through Get Legally Married on Holidays and our guide on weekend and after-hours marriage in California .
Where Our Officiants Serve You
Our officiants perform legal ceremonies across Southern California—inside our private chapels and at your preferred location.
Irvine Chapel & Offices
Our Irvine location is ideal for couples who want a relaxed, professional setting with quick paperwork and a private ceremony space. Many couples finish their entire visit—license, ceremony, and post-marriage guidance—in under an hour.
Learn more about what to expect at our chapel through Same Day Marriage Service in Irvine and Same Day Marriage in Irvine, California .
Anaheim & Orange Chapel
For couples drawn to Anaheim, Orange, or nearby areas, our chapel there offers a comfortable indoor space that feels more personal than a courthouse but just as efficient. Your officiant coordinates timing with your photographer, guests, and any add-ons you choose.
See more details on the Same Day Marriage in Anaheim/Orange page and our broader Orange County same-day marriage overview.
San Juan Capistrano Chapel
If you prefer a quieter, historic setting, San Juan Capistrano offers a calm, straightforward experience where your officiant focuses on making your ceremony simple, heartfelt, and legally complete in one visit.
Explore options in our Same Day Marriage in San Juan Capistrano guide.
Beaches, Homes, Hotels & Special Venues
Many couples choose to marry in a meaningful place instead of an office. Your officiant can travel to your beach, home, hotel, park, or other approved location, bringing all required documents and ceremony materials.
To imagine what a beach ceremony looks like, review Get Legally Married at the Beach , or see more mobile options under Same Day Marriage At Your Location .
Legal, Paperwork & Documentation—Handled for You
Your officiant works hand-in-hand with our administrative team so every legal step is completed correctly, on time, and in the right county.
- Verify your identification and confirm you meet all California requirements.
- Issue your marriage license (public or confidential, depending on your choice).
- Explain where your marriage will be recorded and how to obtain certified copies.
- Ensure that all signatures, dates, and fields are complete and legible.
- File your license with the appropriate county recorder after the ceremony.
- Provide clear proof of marriage, which is often important for immigration, military, and benefits-related deadlines.
For a deeper look at these requirements, see our Marriage License Requirements checklist and the FAQs throughout our Same Day Marriages in Orange County guide.
How Your Officiant-Led Same-Day Marriage Works
While every couple is unique, most officiant-led weddings with Get Married Today follow a clear, predictable process.
Arrive & Check In
You arrive at your chosen chapel or approved location with valid ID and any required documents (such as prior divorce records if applicable). Your officiant confirms your details and answers last-minute questions about the ceremony.
Issue & Explain Your Marriage License
Your officiant issues your marriage license, reviews the key fields with you, and explains whether you’ve chosen a public or confidential record. They also clarify where the marriage will be recorded and how to request certified copies later from the county.
Customize Your Ceremony Script
Before the ceremony begins, your officiant confirms your preferred wording, tone, and any short readings or personal vows you’d like to include. You can keep it very simple, incorporate light religious language, or personalize the script within the bounds of California law.
Legal Ceremony & Pronouncement
Your officiant conducts the ceremony, includes all legally required components, and pronounces you legally married. For some couples, this happens in a private room; for others, it’s on a beach, at home, or in a chapel with guests.
Signatures & Final Review
After the ceremony, your officiant guides you (and any required witnesses for public licenses) through the signature section. They double-check dates, names, and other critical fields to prevent delays with the county recorder.
County Filing & Proof of Marriage
Your officiant ensures your license is properly submitted for recording. You receive clear proof of marriage, which is especially important if you’re coordinating with immigration attorneys, military personnel offices, or HR departments for benefits.
Officiant Services for Special Situations
Our officiants regularly work with couples who have unique timelines, documentation needs, or life circumstances.
Military Couples
Whether you’re marrying before deployment or updating benefits, our officiants are familiar with time-sensitive requirements, proof of marriage needs, and logistical constraints around duty schedules.
Gain more insight in:
Immigration & Visa Marriages
For couples marrying to support immigration filings or status adjustments, accurate documentation and clear timing are essential. Your officiant coordinates with our team to make sure your ceremony, license issuance, and filing dates line up with your immigration strategy.
Many couples in this situation combine officiant services with our same-day scheduling described across the Orange County Marriage Services and Irvine Marriage pages.
Holiday & “Meaningful Date” Weddings
If your priority is a particular date—New Year’s Eve, Christmas, an anniversary, or a symbolic number—our officiants can schedule ceremonies when the courthouse is closed so you don’t have to wait for the next business day.
See how holiday officiant services work in Holiday Elopements in Orange County and our article on getting married in Orange County on holidays .
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Officiants
Here are answers to some of the most common questions couples ask before booking a wedding officiant with Get Married Today.
Are your officiants legally authorized to marry us in California?
Yes. Our officiants are licensed and commissioned as Deputy Commissioners of Civil Marriages, and they’re authorized to issue California marriage licenses and perform legal civil ceremonies. This means you don’t need a separate courthouse appointment for the marriage license or the ceremony itself.
For a broader overview of how same-day legal marriages work, review the main Get Married Today home page and the Our Services breakdown.
Can the officiant help us if we need to marry quickly?
Absolutely. Our officiants specialize in time-sensitive situations—such as military deployment, immigration deadlines, employer benefit windows, or family emergencies. Because we can issue the license and perform the ceremony in the same visit, we’re often much faster than scheduling a traditional courthouse appointment.
For examples of rapid timelines, see Same Day Marriage in Irvine, California and same-day marriage services in Orange County .
Do we have to use one of your chapels, or can the officiant meet us elsewhere?
You’re welcome to use one of our private chapels, but you can also request a mobile officiant who travels to your chosen location—such as your home, a hotel, a park, a beach, or a hospital room. In all cases, your officiant brings the necessary legal documents so your marriage is fully valid.
Learn more about this flexibility on Same Day Marriage At Your Location .
Can your officiants help with confidential marriage licenses?
Yes. Several of our officiants are experienced with confidential marriage licenses, which offer added privacy for qualifying couples. They’ll explain eligibility requirements, help you decide whether a public or confidential record is better for your situation, and ensure the correct license is issued and filed.
For more information, read Confidential Marriage License and the in-depth guide on Confidential Marriage Licenses in California .
What if we’re planning a larger celebration later?
Many couples come to us for a quick legal ceremony with an officiant, then hold a larger celebration or religious ceremony later with family and friends. Your Get Married Today officiant focuses on making the first step legally solid and easy so you can enjoy your future celebration without paperwork stress.
This approach is especially common around holidays and busy seasons, as described in our guides on holiday marriages and holiday elopements in Orange County .