Wedding Officiants | Insiders' Guide To NC'S Southern Coast & Wilmington


		Home > Weddings > Weddings 4
		Wedding Officiants
		North Carolina law requires that wedding ceremonies be conducted by an ordained minister or a magistrate. A boat captain can't do the trick anymore! The state has replaced its former justice of the peace system with court-appointed magistrates. These officials may perform wedding services, but they are often severely limited as to times and places they can accommodate, and they do charge a fee. If you want to be married by a minister, most major religions are represented in Wilmington (see our Worship chapter). An extensive listing, by denomination, is available in local phone books. Many denominations require a special counseling period, and some have specific requirements regarding re-marrying divorced persons. The following interfaith ministers are among those on the North Carolina coast who can make your wedding ceremony memorable.
		*A Wedding Minister, Penelope Morningstar* Wilmington (910) 791-7200
		Reverend Penelope Morningstar is an interfaith minister who has been officiating weddings since 1994. She will help you create a beautiful ceremony and officiate your wedding at the location of your choice. If you are not a member of a local church or are marrying outside your faith, Reverend Morningstar can offer you the blessing and guidance of an ordained minister. Whether you are planning to be married on the beach, on a cruise boat, in the park, at a hotel, in your home or anywhere in the greater Wilmington area, with Reverend Morningstar's help it will be a sacred moment to treasure for a lifetime. Premarital counseling is available but is not required.
		Beachpeople Weddings Sunset Beach (910) 575-8171
		Assuring you a relaxed, romantic, spiritual wedding celebration any season of the year, at the time and place of your choosing, Reverend Don Beach will work with you to make this moment as powerful as your feelings, with words strong enough to last a lifetime. He offers nondenominational ceremonies of marriage, renewal or commitment. You can expect courtesy, sensitivity, respect for your privacy and acceptance of your individuality. Don is an old beach hippie with many years of experience in performing unique ceremonies of joining that range from traditional to ocean themed to drum-circle weddings. He was marrying couples on the beach before it was the cool thing to do.
		Heartsong Interfaith Ministry Wilmington (910) 367-3496 www.heartsonginterfaithministry.com
		Creating special service or wedding ceremony that respects and represents each individual's beliefs is the mission of Minister Barbara McKenzie-Tervo. Working closely with the engaged couple, Reverend Barbara designs wedding ceremonies that reflect the couple's personal faith and commitment. She also offers premarital introductions to creating a healthy marriage. In addition, she is available to officiate baby blessings, vow renewals, coming-of-age celebrations, house clearings and other ceremonies.
		Wonderful Weddings 6902 E. Oak Island Dr., Oak Island (910) 278-9510
		Ordained by the Carolina Evangelistic Association of Charlotte, Betty Jo Blackmon has been a minister for more than 30 years. Though she will perform your marriage ceremony almost anywhere you choose, she specializes in beach weddings. One of her special touches is "Sands of Time," a ceremony that includes the bride and groom taking sand from beneath their feet and placing it in a heart-shaped keepsake bottle. Another comes from a Hawaiian custom � the best man blows into a conch shell (bored to make the sound of a trumpet) when the couple is pronounced man and wife.
		Continue to Bridal Registries