Yes, we are able to legally officiate weddings in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and many other states. About 47 in total.
If you would like to see our paperwork, just let us know and you are welcome to come to our office to inspect it.
If one of you is an Ohio resident you go to the probate court of the county you live in.
Many probate courts have very helpful websites so just search "marriage license ______ county".
If you need more help call us at 513-99-HAPPY and we will walk you through the process.
Marriage licenses are only valid inside the borders of the state that issued them.
That means an Ohio license can only be solemnized and made legal inside the borders of Ohio.
This is one of the few things that all states do the same way so a Kentucky license is only valid in Kentucky, Indiana is only valid in Indiana and so on.
If you need more help call us at 513-99-HAPPY and we will walk you through the process.
It depends on where your wedding ceremony will be held.
Ohio - no witnesses required
Indiana - no witnesses required
Kentucky - two witnesses needed
Michigan - two witnesses needed
Pennsylvania - depends on the type of marriage license, ask your local probate court (NOT THE INTERNET)
Some counties give couples a "ceremonial certificate" that is just for looking pretty and has no legal authority. Those often have a line for witnesses to sign because they know love ones like to be included. You can leave those blank, have your dogs put paw prints on them, whatever you like because they really are just for show.
If you need a certified copy for legal reasons (school enrollment, health insurance, financial aid, immigration, ect) those are issued by the probate court once they have processed they license that we return to them.
Some counties automatically mail out a certified copy once the marriage license is recorded into the court record. For other counties you have to request they provide you a copy. Here is a list of the counties I know
Adams County - have to pick it up and they charge a $2 fee
Butler County - automatically mailed
Clermont County - automatically mailed
Highland County - have to pick it up
Montgomery County - don't know, please let me know if they told you
Warren County - will mail one if you request it and pay a $5 fee
Some counties give couples a "ceremonial certificate" that is just for looking pretty and has no legal authority. Those often have a line for witnesses to sign because they know love ones like to be included. You can leave those blank, have your dogs put paw prints on them, whatever you like because they really are just for show.
That depends on the probate court issuing the license. Their fees are often listed on their website so just do a search for "Marriage license ____ county" and fill in the blank with the appropriate county.
If you need any help figuring things out call me at 513-99-HAPPY
Yes!
Unfortunately this happens all the time so I have a lot of experience with it. Call me and we can discuss your options
513-99-HAPPY
A legally issued government ID is required to get your marriage license at the probate court.
It is NOT required for your ceremony with me.
I do ask that you still bring it with you. I use the ID to check and make sure the spelling and order on the license is correct. If your name is misspelled, once it is added to the court record it is very hard to change and can cause many problems in the future.
There is no waiting period for issuing a marriage license in Ohio, Kentucky or Indiana. The probate court for the county you are in may have a full schedule so try to plan as far in advance as you can. Many probate courts allow you to fill out forms and schedule things online so start there or call them.
In most states, the wedding officiant is required to return it. I send it by mail. I have been doing this for 6 years and officiated about 400 weddings. The USPS has only lost one wedding license and I keep copies so it was easily fixed.
I think a 99.75% success rate is pretty awesome. If you are worried about it or need it processed faster you may return the license yourself or pay me to return the license in person.
I fix it.
I keep copies of everything and there is a process for the very rare occasions that this happens. That process depends on which probate court issued the license but I work it out with them.
As I write this is is July of 2025. At this moment I have married about 400 couples over 6 years. The license has only gotten lost twice. Once was a couple who didn't trust the mail and then lost it on the way to the courthouse to return it themselves.
The other time was the USPS but I still think 1 out of 399 times (99.75%) is a damn fine success rate.
Yes, you will be legally married when we are finished.
Yes and that is the smart way to do it.
When a marriage is performed outside the United States, the process to get it legally recognized in the USA is cumbersome. Many couples choose to have me marry them in my office and then have their ceremony performed somewhere else. You don't have to tell anyone that you are already married.
Yes!
Check out my "Sign N Go" to get legally married with no ceremony at all. You come to my office, I fill out everything and make it official, you go home married.
You are legally married the day we do your ceremony or signing.
It usually takes the probate court about a month to process your marriage license and send you the certified copy. You will need the certified copy for legal things like changing your name or adding someone to your insurance.
If you need it faster, call me. I have connections.
The easiest way to find out if I am available, is to check my calendar.
www.dudeist.org/contact
You are welcome to call and ask me but I am just going to check the same calendar that you can check by clicking this link
As soon as you know your date. Some weekends fill fast. That said, I have done same day weddings, so if you're cutting it close, just ask.
You can see my schedule and book your date at www.dudeist.org/contact
I do! If I am free I am up for a wedding.
You can see my schedule and book your date at www.dudeist.org/contact
Absolutely!
We can meet in person, talk on the phone, or do a video call. If you would like to meet in person you are welcome to come to my office. Whatever helps you feel comfortable.
One of the things a good wedding officiant does is helping our couples stress less. Let's be honest. Your caterer only returns calls once a week. Your photographer is even worse. If you have a wedding question don't ask Facebook or Google, ask me.
Yes. Especially if there are costumes, cornbread, or candy involved.
I often block out days so I can travel, sail or go on adventures. If there is a day you really need me, call and we will try to figure something out.
513-99-HAPPY
Whatever kind you want for your big day.
Pretty much anything that counts as legal and between consenting adults.
Yes. for couples who want something short, meaningful, and legally binding without the courthouse vibe or the awkward security screening.
I offer elopements at a local park and when the weather is bad at The Cincinnati Wedding Chapel
Without hesitation.
All love is welcome here.
If someone disagrees, we will love them anyway and just make them sit in the back.
I consider myself spiritual but I do not follow one specific religion. I respect all beliefs, and feel it would be disrespectful for me to do the religious parts. Often my couples ask family members to read a scripture or psalm in my place. That honors your God, reflects your love and allows your loved ones to share something meaningful.
If that doesn't fit what you are looking for I still want to help. Contact me because I know some of the best clergy in Cincinnati.
Absolutely!
Many of my couples have me legally marry them in a private ceremony at my office and then do a big wedding for their family later. I never tell the friends/family that big wedding isn't the real thing unless my couples tell them first.
It truly depends on what you want.
In recent years there has been a dramatic shift to "short and sweet." Most of my ceremonies are less than twenty minutes long.
It depends on the ceremony you choose because it really is about what you want.
Whatever you choose, you will be legally married when we are done and it includes me completing your marriage license and returning it to the probate court to be legally registered.
Call me if you have specific questions.
If you have arranged for the venue that is something you need to discuss with them.
If we are doing an elopement in the park I prefer, then you have the option of still doing it their or moving it to my office where I have a small wedding area set up.
If you are asking about my proper office where people sit down at my desk and we do the signings, I have two chairs plus standing room in my office and in the hallway just outside the door.
If you are asking about my wedding chapel area where I do indoor elopements, it can comfortably fit about 20 people. If you need more than that please contact me and we will figure something out.
Absolutely! I encourage it because I get tired of hearing myself talk. And often my couples do a better job expressing their love than an almost stranger would
Yes. With enthusiasm. You can scroll down to the bottom and there is an answer about which costumes I have.
If your ceremony has costumes or chaos, I am probably going to say yes.
I have never automatically included it in any of my ceremonies. The only times I have added that phrase is when a couple specifically asked for it.
No. That is just a thing they do in movies to create drama. Real weddings do not need surprise plot twists.
For elopements I try to accommodate my couples but cannot make promises. One busy days I may have several elopements and have to consider the needs and timing of all my couples.
For full service weddings I do allow my couples to pick my outfit. I find it best to match the groom so I don't stand out in pictures. That means if he is wearing a suit, then I should wear a suit. If he is in a Hawaiian shirt, I should be also (I have some really schweet Hawaiian shirts with sailboats on them).
At the time of this writing, I offer black, medium grey, and medium blue suits. If you would like something different I am happy to accommodate when possible and will work with you to find the right outfit.
Fees are based on the kind of ceremony you want and where it's happening. They range from $100 to $500.
We are not like those officiants that want to talk to a couple so they can hear how fancy or big a wedding is a charge more. We believe people should be treated with honesty and respect. That is why our charges are the same for everyone and we clearly post them at https://dudeist.org/ceremony-rates/
No. I want you to feel all the love we can cram into the space. I feel it is wrong to tax couples for having a lot of people that want to witness their love.
Whether it is two people or two hundred, the price is based on the service I perform and not the love you bring.
Mailing the license back to the court is part of every service I offer.
If you would like it returned in person, you can do that or I charge a fee based on which county the license needs returned to. The fee for me to drive to the courthouse, wait in line and make sure it gets processed correctly starts at $100
I charge a non-refundable retainer that is due when we schedule your service. Your service day and time is not guaranteed until that payment is made. If you need help with this, please let me know.
For your convenience I offer credit card payments online.
For security reasons I cannot take credit card payments in person. If you would like to pay with a credit card I send you an invoice with a link you click on to make payments through a secure credit card processor.
For costume/themed ceremonies I have:
I am also open to other costumes if you pay the expenses.
No.
You don't need words to speak the international language, right Rickyyy?
(if you know that movie please let me know because I feel like I am the only one who has ever seen it)
Back on topic. I can use Google Translate or if you can bring a friend to translate that often makes things much easier.
Probably.
I wrote this in July of 2025 and to date I have married about 400 couples. I have only turned down requests a handful of times and most of those were for logistical reasons.
Weird requests are my favorite. I love being part of personal, creative, and over the top love stories. Bring on the ridiculosity.
Yes.
I have performed weddings all over the tristate and beyond, including Columbus, Indianapolis, and Red River Gorge.
Travel fees depend on how far I’m going and discounts are available if you live in a cool city and let me crash on your couch, I am marrying pets, or if a sailboat is involved.
Not usually.
I am frequently invited to join the reception this one and it is truly kind of my couples to offer. You are going to be busy celebrating with your friends and family. I don't want to sit alone in the corner because that is when I get bored and when I am bored I cause shenanigans. Wedding officiants who get into shenanigans at weddings get bad reviews. It is better for me to to steal some brownies and go back to my office to do homework.
Absolutely!!!!!!!!
If you have an idea for an adventure, let me know. If you would like to join one of mine you can find them at
www.MeetUp.com/iwantto
I truly love all of them because for me it isn't about the ceremony. It is about two people that let me stand up there with them and share their love. As a single guy I don't get love like that so I am very fortunate to get it from you.
All things being equal I LOVE elopements in the park, especially if the couple has some crazy love story and tells me about it while I fill out their paperwork.
A close second would be lesbians that come to my office and just want a Sign N Go. They pull up in their Subarus full of dog accessories. They rarely come in fancy dresses, its always Tevas or hiking boots. But when I ask them to talk about their partners suddenly it is love squirting all over my desk.
Lesbians are sooooo fraking practical, except when it comes to how they love each other and I love that.