Virginia Beach, Virginia

Officiant & Ceremony

In Virginia Beach: Three (3) dedicated wedding officiants trade actively across the region, in Smithfield, Newport News and Virginia Beach — the two (2) labeled alternatives beneath the listings are congregations that host member weddings, not officiants for hire. This is a good category to read the researched facts on twice, because Virginia's rules are unusually friendly and one option is not available in most other states. Ministers of any religious denomination who file with a Circuit Court are recognized statewide, and online-ordained clergy have been accepted since the 1998 Cramp decision — the posture on that has been stable. The unusual option: Code of Virginia 20-25 lets a Circuit Court temporarily appoint any resident of the Commonwealth to solemnize a specific marriage for a one-time fee, which lets a friend or family member legally officiate without seeking ordination first. The statutory license fee is $30 (Code of Virginia 20); the license is valid statewide for 60 days from issuance, with no waiting period and no blood test. Most Hampton Roads Circuit Court Clerks moved to appointment-only booking after 2020 — start the paperwork before you fix the hour.

3 listings · checked September 2026

• Jordana Luck Wedding Officiant — Smithfield · jordanavluck.com · (757) 371-5288
• Rev. Cory Newell, Wedding Pastor — Newport News · hamptonroadsweddingpastor.com · (757) 876-4920
• The Wedding Officiant — Virginia Beach · aclweddingofficiant.com · (757) 330-4933

Churches and congregations

These are places of worship rather than for-hire officiants. Many will marry members of their own congregation, or couples willing to join and complete a marriage preparation course, and some will not marry non-members at all. Several also price the building, the clergy and the musician separately. Ask early what they require of you — policy varies widely between denominations, and between individual congregations of the same denomination.

• Liberty Live Church — Suffolk · libertylive.church · (757) 826-2110
• Thalia United Methodist Church — Virginia Beach · thaliaumc.org · (757) 340-5015

Details change constantly — confirm directly before booking. Something wrong? Update or remove a listing.