How to Have a Friend or Family Member Officiate Your Colorado Wedding

June 13, 2025
Weddings

Here at Spruce Mountain Ranch, one of our all-time favorite trends is when couples choose someone truly special to officiate their big day. Who better to speak the words that bind you and your beloved together than a person who knows your love story inside and out?

This guide walks you through everything you need to know about having a friend or family member officiate your wedding right here in beautiful Colorado.

6 Sweet Benefits of a Personal Officiant

Emotional Connection: There’s something so beautiful about having someone who genuinely knows and loves you standing up there with you. They’ll understand your quirks, your inside jokes, and the true essence of your relationship.
Greater Control: A close friend may be more willing to mix things up with the ceremony timeline than a seasoned minister. When you’re working with someone who’s literally never done it before, you have a little more freedom.
Uniqueness: Not a fan of the traditional, formal wedding timeline? This is your chance to break the mold and design a ceremony that’s as unique as your love story.
Authenticity: Since a loved one is in the driver’s seat, your ceremony will feel more like a heartfelt conversation than a mere contractual agreement—which is what marriage should be, isn’t it?
Comfort & Reduced Nerves: Having a familiar, friendly face leading the ceremony can be an incredible comfort to nervous brides or grooms.
Cost Savings: If you ask politely, your loved one may even perform the ceremony for free. While an officiant isn’t an extravagant cost, every little bit helps, especially when you’re on a budget.

Legal Requirements for Officiating in Colorado

Good news for Colorado couples! Colorado is one of the most flexible states when it comes to who can officiate a wedding.

Who can officiate a wedding in Colorado?

Your best friend, your Uncle Fred, your neighbor Rhonda…practically anyone can step in to perform your wedding ceremony if you so choose. Unlike some other states, Colorado does not require wedding officiants to acquire any sort of online licensing or certification.

Then, what does it mean to get “ordained”?

A common misconception is that anyone asked to officiate a wedding must first become an ordained minister. While that may be true in some states, Colorado does not have such a requirement. As we mentioned above, anyone can stand up front and read a ceremony script.

However, Colorado does have specific rules for those who wish to solemnnize a marriage.

Wedding solemnization is the process of signing the marriage certificate and, essentially, making it official. Only ordained ministers, judicial figures, or officials connected with an accredited religious organization can solemnize a Colorado marriage.

But even this is optional.

Colorado couples can opt to self-solemnize their marriage to make the whole thing legal on their own. In other words, they just sign the certificate themselves—simple as that!

If, however, you want your officiating friend or family member to sign your certificate, they will need to go through the proper avenues to become ordained. Luckily, free online resources like American Marriage Ministries and Universal Life Church make it a breeze to become an ordained minister.

When does “solemnization” happen?

You’ve walked down the aisle, exchanged your vows, and maybe lit a unity candle. The ceremony is over…but you’re not “officially” married yet. This is when solemnization takes place.

To solemnize your marriage, you, your spouse, your newly “ordained ministry” (if desired), and one or two witnesses (also, if desired) sign the marriage certificate you picked up from the local County Clerk’s office ahead of time. Once signed, just return the license to the County Clerk to officially file as a married couple. Woohoo!

Pro Tip: Couples don’t HAVE to be the ones to return the marriage license—you have a honeymoon to get to, after all! In many cases, the officiant assumed this responsibility. But make sure you establish this well in advance of your big day to ensure there are no surprises.

Tips to Pass On to the Officiant-To-Be

First, have a little catch-up session.

It may have been a while since you’ve connected face-to-face. Grab a coffee (or set up a virtual chat if you live far away) and have a little “interview”. The officiant needs to have a solid grasp of the couple’s story, perspective on love and marriage, and any other unique preferences regarding vows, readings, rituals, music, and ceremony style.
Make sure everyone understands their roles.

Is the officiant going to be primarily responsible for scripting the ceremony? Or will you, the couple, handle that for the most part? If your officiant is writing the ceremony, give them a deadline so you have time to review it, give feedback, and amend it.
Practice. Practice. Practice.

Odds are, you don’t want your officiant staring down at a piece of paper the entire ceremony. Hence the need for some good ol’ practice! We aren’t just talking about the wedding rehearsal (although that “official” practice is extremely important). Even the most seasoned public speakers spend hours practicing timing, posture, and execution.
Nervous officiant? Remind them to breathe and be themselves!

You asked your friend to be your officiant for a reason, right? Remind them that you have total faith in them and their ability to lead your ceremony. Encourage them to breathe often, speak slowly and clearly, make eye contact with guests, and have the ceremony script handy (even if they think they know it like the back of their hand).

Final Thoughts

Choosing a friend or family member to officiate your wedding is a beautiful way to infuse your ceremony with love, personality, and unforgettable memories. With a little planning and forethought, your loved one can confidently lead you through this pivotal moment.

Ready to start planning your dream wedding at Spruce Mountain Ranch with your personal officiant? Contact us today to schedule a tour.

We can't wait to celebrate with you!

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