Your path to legal online ordination.
We believe that all individuals have the right to marry and the right to choose who will officiate their wedding.
officiating roadmap
The question comes...will you marry us? You say YES! Reality sets in and you wonder where to start? How do you officiate a wedding?
Church of the Open is a federally recognized 501(c)3 multi-denominational religious organization.
You do not need a religious background to apply.
Officiant licensing differs by state. Open Road marriage ceremonies happen daily all over the United States.
Meet with the happy couple to learn more about their vision for the big day. Use Open Road resources to create an amazing ceremony that celebrates their journey.
What does your ordination include?
All packages include an ordination certificate, minister badge, and access to our online ceremony resources.
We will also donate 10% of your ordination application fee to one of four charities:
Why does Church of the Open Road charge for ordination when others offer FREE ordination?
Other organizations advertise free ordination, but then charge you for the proof of ordination materials once you have been ordained. Transparency is important to us. We would rather you know what your investment will be up front.
Supporting a couple in love
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donating to a charitable cause
What's not to love?
Don't Take our word for it
The process itself wasn’t difficult, and becoming ordained through The Church of the Open Road allowed me to learn more about the church, and in turn, why this church was important to the couple I was going to marry. The broad foundations of the church, things like discovery and curiosity, consciousness and compassion, thinking about family to include the one we are born into as well as the people we choose, those things really resonated with me and they really fit with what I knew about this couple. I started getting really excited during the ordination process and any anxiety I had about the day was beginning to fade.
Christine, Minister
Colorado
“I like what Church of the Open Road stands for. To me, it’s based on finding spirituality in everyday things. I appreciate how Open Road says what they’re for instead of focusing on what they are against.”
“It was my first official officiating, and while I was already an experienced speaker I was still crazy nervous! Church of the Open Road’s online resources helped make the magic that day.”
During our engagement, we felt pressure to seek out a religious-affiliated officiant. After contacting a number of clergy people and freelance ministers, we were still left without someone we felt was the right fit. All of the sudden, we both thought, what if we asked a friend?
Susanna, Bride
Colorado
Married by a church I can stand behind! Check out the (seriously) awesome values.
Anna, Bride
Alaska
“Church of the Open Road supports an ideology we truly identified with and are proud to stand for. Through COTOR, we were able to have a formal, official ceremony with the personal touches we wanted. Happy with and grateful for our experience.”