Provenance Center for Ordination

Get Legally Ordained Online in Seconds - for Free

So a loved one just asked you to officiate their wedding? Now what? Get ordained through The Provenance Center for Ordination to make sure their marriage is legal, without the stress.

5 Stars

The Provenance Center made it so easy to get ordained online! When my friends asked me to officiate, I was excited but terrified. So glad I found this.

– jamie k.
5 Stars

After getting ordained for free at The Provenance Center, I attended their monthly webinar, Officiating for Beginners. It was incredibly informative and made me feel fully prepared to lead my cousin's ceremony!

Sam B. | Boston, MA
5 Stars

I was super nervous about officiating my nephew's wedding, but thanks to The Provenance Center and their partnership with Provenance.co for the Ceremony Builder, we crafted a ceremony that they said was the highlight of their wedding day. Couldn’t have been happier with how it turned out!

Mike C. | Boulder, CO
5 Stars

The Provenance Center not only helped me get ordained quickly and at no cost but also provided access to a comprehensive library of state-by-state officiating guides. I was able to ensure everything was legal and tailored perfectly for the wedding I officiated in Chicago.

Nick S. | Chicago, IL
5 Stars

Just finished the free Officiating for Beginners webinar from The Provenance Center—super helpful stuff! Felt way more confident officiating my friend’s wedding. Totally recommend it for first-timers!

Emily T. | Los Angeles, CA
5 Stars

I appreciated how The Provenance Center caters to non-professionals. They made the ordination process accessible, and their extensive resources helped me personalize a very special day for a very special couple.

Scott F. | Charleston, SC
5 Stars

The state-by-state guides at The Provenance Center are a lifesaver. Got ordained for free and they helped me through the legal stuff without any hassle. Made sure I did everything right for my sister’s big day.

Larry S. | Galveston, TX
5 Stars

If you’ve never officiated before, The Provenance Center has got your back. Their free webinars and guides made everything a breeze. I felt like a pro by the time the wedding rolled around!

Moriah W. | Santa Rosa, CA
5 Stars

The Provenance Center is awesome for anyone who’s not a professional but wants to officiate. They make the process super straightforward and support you all the way. Made my best friend’s wedding day extra special.

Maddy S. | Tucson, AZ

About The Provenance Center

The Provenance Center (The PCO) is a modern, nonprofit religious corporation dedicated to supporting new officiants, starting with ordaining any of us as a minister for free. Our ordained ministers are legally empowered to officiate weddings across the United States, and we provide the training, tools and resources needed to make every ceremony reflect the unique values and identities of those involved.

We bridge emotion and expression, ensuring that life’s most significant moments are authentically personalized. Unlike other options that often feel tailored toward professional officiants or seem to be constrained by specific traditions, we are dedicated to empowering all of our friends and family members to officiate and customize these special occasions for each of our respective loved ones. We are the most trusted choice for a fresh, modern, and inclusive approach toward self expression for these moments of gravity in our lives.

The 3 Agreements of The Provenance Center

We are each entitled to celebrate, honor, and memorialize life’s events – be it a wedding, funeral or any moment in between – with authenticity, dignity and equality, regardless of identity or background.
Every couple has the right to ask whomever they would like to officiate their wedding. A great officiant can be a friend or family member, not just traditional clergy or a professional.
Whether adapting traditions or starting from scratch, we are empowered to leverage modern innovations and personal experiences to lead meaningful, custom ceremonies.
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Have More Questions?

Is The Provenance Center for Ordination legitimate?

Yes, The Provenance Center for Ordination (The PCO) is a fully legitimate and legally incorporated Nonprofit Religious Corporation. We are dedicated to providing a modern and inclusive approach to ordination and officiant preparation, ensuring that those we ordain are recognized as legal and quality officiants. Unlike other options that may feel constrained to specific traditions or seem to be oriented toward professional officiants, PCO empowers friends and family members of all backgrounds to lead ceremonies that are deeply personal, meaningful, and reflective of their own cultural heritage.

Are marriages officiated by someone ordained through The Provenance Center legal?

Yes, absolutely! As a legally recognized Nonprofit Religious Corporation (a legal church!), The Provenance Center has the authority to ordain ministers, granting them the legal right to officiate marriage ceremonies across most of the United States. This right is protected under the First Amendment’s clause on religious freedom. For more information on any additional legal requirements beyond your ordination, contact the county clerk’s office local to where the wedding ceremony will be held.

Is Ordination through The Provenance Center actually free?

Yes - ordination through The Provenance Center is completely free! We are pleased to offer this service at no cost to our officiants. However, please be aware that some states may require additional registration steps beyond ordination. In those cases, you might need to obtain additional, specific materials, most of which you’ll find in your Provenance Portal.

What is the difference between The Provenance Center and Provenance.co?

The Provenance Center for Ordination (PCO) and Provenance.co are distinct legal entities with separate governance, but they share complementary missions. The PCO is a nonprofit religious organization focused on providing legal ordination and supportive services for friends and family members to officiate ceremonies, without generating profit for its own benefit. Its mission is purely focused on empowering individuals to lead meaningful ceremonies for all of life’s moments with authenticity and legal recognition. Provenance.co, on the other hand, is a for-profit corporation that offers a range of tools and resources to enhance the planning and personalization of these ceremonies. Together, they work in harmony to support and elevate life’s most significant moments, each serving unique but aligned purposes in a separate but mutually supportive way. While Provenance.co facilitates various digital services on behalf of The PCO and its members, no purchase to Provenance.co is required to get ordained.

How do I fill out a marriage license as a The Provenance Center minister?

As an ordained officiant of The Provenance Center, you will need to sign the couple's marriage license in order to make the marriage legal. We've put together a guide with everyone that you need to know about obtaining, filling out, and submitting this license as one of our ministers: http://www.thepco.org/blog/post/how-to-obtain-fill-out-and-submit-a-marriage-license-a-guide-for-couples-and-officiants

Is The Provenance Center legal in all 50 U.S. states?

The Provenance Center has successfully ordained ministers in all 50 states, including those previously considered difficult. With the exception of some counties in Virginia, ordinations should be valid in every State and US Territory. However, the laws regarding marriage and officiants vary from state to state, and county to county. Therefore, it's critical to check with the local county clerk where the couple is getting married to ensure that a wedding ceremony performed by an officiant that gets ordained online is legally recognized. Some states require ministers to be part of a physical religious organization, while others don't. Some states require ministers to have a physical presence in the state, while others don't. You can see our state-by-state guides on officiating legal requirements at this link:

https://www.thepco.org/blog/post/which-states-allow-officiants-ordained-online-and-which-dont

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