Getting ordained

First, make sure that your state allows officiants who have gotten ordained online to officiate weddings (some states do not). If so, your friend can go on the Universal Life Church's website (ulc.org). My husband's uncle married us and he got ordained through there. He said it was very easy and free to get ordained.

Definitely make sure your state allows it as many do not recognize it as legal. State law websites have confusing language so contact them marriage license office in the county/state you plan to marry in for simple information on whether you can do this or not and what the steps are.

States that do allow a friend to be ordained will have necessary paperwork at the marriage license office as not all states recognize online companies such as ULC.org.

My husband and I had his cousin officiate us. She did an AMAZING job at it. I knew it in my heart I definitely wanted her to do it, and she "understood the assignment" (lol!).
Every state may be different. Visit your state's marriage license bureau online or in person to see what the process is and gather whatever paper work you need to fill out. During this process we needed a notary, wait for approval, and then for her to turn in the filled out marriage license within 10 days after the ceremony was performed. Again see what your state requires and go from there

This is so common now, that I don't think it can be considered "non-traditional". As long as you have made sure (as PP suggest) that this is legal where you want to get married, that you are thinking clearly about who would actually be a good officiant (good public speaking skills, will use the right tone, etc., and that they are willing), then go for it.

Contact your secretary of state to see if getting ordained online is allowed and recognized. Universal Life Church is free. After registering through ULC the officient then needs to register their license with the state. Depending on the state there may be a wait for processing. The fee for Ohio is $10 (I've done this for my husband twice as we've changed congregations) and it's super easy to do online with the state's website. Our wait time for processing has been under 24 hours both times but may be different depending on where's you're at.

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I would like to chime in and emphasize one portion of Maggie's comment ..... THINKING CLEARLY ABOUT WHO WOULD ACTUALLY BE A GOOD OFFICIANT. Your officiant does a heck of a lot more than just have you say "I do". They set the tone of your entire ceremony. They need to be well spoken, speak through any distractions (photographers, babies, sniffling mothers) and keep the ceremony both serious and fun. I've just heard (and read) too many horror/regretful stories of uncles, cousins. brothers, bff's just not doing a good job of running a wedding. I kind of liken it to asking a non-professional take your wedding pictures. Just my 2 cents. You could always have your best friend be a part of the ceremony through a special reading. My bff of 50 years will step up after our vows and do a hand fasting ceremony - my officiant actually suggested that!!

Its very easy to look up marriage requirements for the state you are getting married in - you'll be able to figure out how far in advance you need to apply for a wedding license, how long it is valid for, if a witness is required, and who can officiate weddings. Usually there is a section on a state run website that outlines all of this.

The rules vary significantly from state to state. For example, in Colorado you can self officiate and no witnesses are required (but your dog can "sign" as a witness if you want). In New Hampshire wedding licenses are valid the same day they are issued. But in other states a person must be specifically "qualified" to perform a wedding, you need to apply for your license in advance, and or specific human witnesses are required. Some states honor online officiating certificates; others do not. In many states, a religious leader of a recognized religion (such as a pastor or rabbi) can perform a wedding, as can a Justice of the Peace. But its best to check the specific laws in your state.

Also the "officiant" is the person who legally signs your paperwork and confirms that the marriage itself actually happened in according to the laws outlined by the state - they don't necessarily actually have to "perform" your wedding or be the one that says "you may kiss, I pronounce you married" (we double checked this with our lawyer friend before, also a wedding officiant, just to be sure). For our wedding, a good friend of mine performed our ceremony for us but his wife was our legal officiant, validated and verified everything for us, and signed and submitted our papers to the state. When he pronounced us husband and wife he even said "by the power invested in my wife" and it was pretty funny!