Officiating Marriage if not Licensed or Resident

Here are the basic steps for approval if you wish to officiate at a wedding in the Diocese of Olympia and are not licensed or canonically resident.

Requests should be made at least 60 days prior to the proposed wedding date.

• Send a letter to the bishop requesting permission. Include in this letter the answers to the following:

  • Your full name, current mailing address, and the name of your Diocese of residency

  • Names of persons being married

  • First marriage for both parties? Y or N

  • Has pre-marital prep been done? Y or N
    If Yes, by whom?

  • Are the parties connected to a Parish? Y or N
    If Yes, which Parish?

  • Which Parish service register will this be placed into?

  • Will the service have a Eucharist? Y or N

  • Will the service take place at a church? Y or N

• Submit a letter of good standing from the diocese where the requesting officiant is canonically resident.