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 (PCO) to make sure their marriage is legal, without the stress.

5 Stars

The PCO 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.

Register for a Free, Live (Virtual) Wedding Officiant Training Session!

With Provenance’s help, my (now-) wife and I didn’t have to start from scratch with our officiant. The platform provided us with a variety of options that helped us build a ceremony that was uniquely designed for us. And it paid off. The day and our ceremony was perfect in every way
CHARLIE G.

What is The Provenance Center?

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

A separate entity from Provenance, The Provenance Center has its own governance and mission oriented toward its church and charitable activities. We are proud to partner with The Provenance Center to support their mission and design resources and tools to ensure the success of officiants across the United States. To learn more about The Provenance Center, visitor click below.

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Officiating Ideas & Advice

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Provenance Center for Ordination legitimate?

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

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

Yes, absolutely! As a legally recognized Nonprofit Religious Corporation, The Provenance Center has the authority to ordain ministers, granting them the legal right to officiate marriage ceremonies across 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 for friends and family members to officiate ceremonies, without generating revenue for its own benefit. While a nonprofit entity, The PCO is not seeking tax-exempt status nor collecting fees nor donations. 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 the Provenance.co facilitates various digital services on behalf of The PCO and its members, no purchase to Provenance.co is required to get ordained.

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