Wedding Officiants: Who Can Marry You in Kansas City?
Obviously, a key part of planning a wedding is figuring out the logistics of how you’ll actually get married. Along with the flowers and the food and the fun, you also have to navigate finding and choosing a wedding officiant. And while I love Kansas City, there’s an added layer of complexity when you’re getting married in a metro area that spans multiple states. No worries! We’ve compiled some information below about who can marry you in Kansas and Missouri.
Who Can Marry You in Missouri
Here is the technical legislation from the state of Missouri:
“Marriages may be solemnized by any clergyman, either active or retired, who is in good standing with any church or synagogue in this state. Marriages may also be solemnized, without compensation, by any judge, including a municipal judge. Marriages may also be solemnized by a religious society, religious institution, or religious organization of this state, according to the regulations and customs of the society, institution or organization, when either party to the marriage to be solemnized is a member of such society, institution or organization.“
Can out-of-state clergy marry you in Missouri?
If you currently live in or grew up in Kansas (or anywhere outside of Missouri) and have a pastor or priest or rabbi that you’d like to officiate your wedding, then they are able to in the state of Missouri without any additional paperwork.
Can friends or family marry you in Missouri?
Yes! Missouri allows ministers ordained online, through organizations like Universal Life Church, to perform marriage ceremonies. There are other, logistical considerations to having friends and family officiate your wedding, but it is perfectly legal!
Does Missouri require witnesses at weddings?
Yes, Missouri requires two witnesses for wedding ceremonies.
Who Can Marry You in Kansas
Here is the technical legislation from the state of Kansas:
“(a) Marriage may be validly solemnized and contracted in this state, after a license has been issued for the marriage, in the following manner: By the mutual declarations of the two parties to be joined in marriage, made before an authorized officiating person and in the presence of at least two competent witnesses over 18 years of age, other than the officiating person, that they take each other as husband and wife.
(b) The following are authorized to be officiating persons:
- Any currently ordained clergyman or religious authority of any religious denomination or society;
- any licentiate of a denominational body or an appointee of any bishop serving as the regular clergyman of any church of the denomination to which the licentiate or appointee belongs, if not restrained from so doing by the discipline of that church or denomination;
- any judge or justice of a court of record;
- any municipal judge of a city of this state; and
- any retired judge or justice of a court of record.
(c) The two parties themselves, by mutual declarations that they take each other as husband and wife, in accordance with the customs, rules and regulations of any religious society, denomination or sect to which either of the parties belong, may be married without an authorized officiating person.”
The state of Kansas recognized common-law marriage, but that isn’t the case for every state, so keep that in mind!
Can out-of-state clergy marry you in Kansas?
If you currently live in or grew up in Missouri (or anywhere outside of Kansas) and have a pastor or priest or rabbi that you’d like to officiate your wedding, then they are able to in the state of Kansas without any additional paperwork.
Can friends or family marry you in Kansas?
Yes! Kansas allows ministers ordained online, through organizations like Universal Life Church, to perform marriage ceremonies. There are other, logistical considerations to having friends and family officiate your wedding, but it is perfectly legal!
Does Kansas require witnesses at weddings?
Yes, Kansas requires two witnesses for wedding ceremonies.
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