Louisiana Wedding Laws
What to expect when officiating a wedding.
Get Ordained
Wedding Ceremony Requirements
- Marriage By Proxy: Not Allowed
- Minister Presence: Required
- Witnesses Required: 2 (18+)
Both members of the couple must be physically present during the ceremony, along with two adult witnesses and a qualified officiant. The ceremony must include the couple’s free consent and the minister’s pronouncement.
Requirements for the Couple
- Minimum Age: 18 years (16–17 with guardian consent and age-gap restrictions)
- Residency: Not Required
- Minimum Kin Distance: Second Cousins
- Marriage Equality: Yes
Couples must be 18+ to marry. Minors 16–17 can marry with guardian consent, provided their partner is no more than three years older. Same-sex marriages are legally recognized.
Requirements for the Minister
- Minimum Age: 18 years
- Residency: Not Required
- Documents Required: Affidavit and Ordination Credential (varies by parish)
- Online Ordination Recognized: Yes
- Registration Office: Clerk of Courts
Ministers must file an affidavit with their name, denomination, and address in the parish where the ceremony will be held before officiating. Ministers should carry ordination credentials as some parishes may request them.
Marriage License Facts
- Ceremony Type: Religious or Civil
- Waiting Period: 24 Hours
- License Validity: 30 Days
- Submission Deadline: Within 10 Days
Marriage licenses are valid statewide for 30 days. The ceremony cannot take place within 24 hours of license issuance. Completed licenses must be returned to the issuing clerk within 10 days of the ceremony.
Marriage License Requirements
- License Pickup: By Couple, In Person
- Cost: $20–$40 (varies by parish)
- Accepted ID: Government-Issued ID and Birth Certificate
- Proof of Divorce: Required if Applicable
- Blood Test: Not Required
Couples must complete a sworn application before a notary or deputy clerk, providing personal details, parent names, and proof of eligibility to marry (e.g., divorce decree, guardian consent). Military ID may allow one partner to apply on behalf of the other.
Final Steps
- Officiant Title: Minister
- Ordaining Body: Ministries of Love
- Address: Minister’s Home Address
The officiant must complete all required forms, including the marriage certificate with the date, location, and witness signatures. The documents must be returned to the issuing clerk within 10 days. Failure to comply results in escalating fines and potential disqualification from officiating further ceremonies.
Wedding Ceremony Requirements
- Marriage By Proxy: Not Allowed
- Minister Presence: Required
- Witnesses Required: 2 (18+)
Both members of the couple must be physically present during the ceremony, along with two adult witnesses and a qualified officiant. The ceremony must include the couple’s free consent and the minister’s pronouncement.
Requirements for the Couple
- Minimum Age: 18 years (16–17 with guardian consent and age-gap restrictions)
- Residency: Not Required
- Minimum Kin Distance: Second Cousins
- Marriage Equality: Yes
Couples must be 18+ to marry. Minors 16–17 can marry with guardian consent, provided their partner is no more than three years older. Same-sex marriages are legally recognized.
Requirements for the Minister
- Minimum Age: 18 years
- Residency: Not Required
- Documents Required: Affidavit and Ordination Credential (varies by parish)
- Online Ordination Recognized: Yes
- Registration Office: Clerk of Courts
Ministers must file an affidavit with their name, denomination, and address in the parish where the ceremony will be held before officiating. Ministers should carry ordination credentials as some parishes may request them.
Marriage License Facts
- Ceremony Type: Religious or Civil
- Waiting Period: 24 Hours
- License Validity: 30 Days
- Submission Deadline: Within 10 Days
Marriage licenses are valid statewide for 30 days. The ceremony cannot take place within 24 hours of license issuance. Completed licenses must be returned to the issuing clerk within 10 days of the ceremony.
Marriage License Requirements
- License Pickup: By Couple, In Person
- Cost: $20–$40 (varies by parish)
- Accepted ID: Government-Issued ID and Birth Certificate
- Proof of Divorce: Required if Applicable
- Blood Test: Not Required
Couples must complete a sworn application before a notary or deputy clerk, providing personal details, parent names, and proof of eligibility to marry (e.g., divorce decree, guardian consent). Military ID may allow one partner to apply on behalf of the other.
Final Steps
- Officiant Title: Minister
- Ordaining Body: Ministries of Love
- Address: Minister’s Home Address
The officiant must complete all required forms, including the marriage certificate with the date, location, and witness signatures. The documents must be returned to the issuing clerk within 10 days. Failure to comply results in escalating fines and potential disqualification from officiating further ceremonies.