A Florida notary marriage ceremony sample script needs only three working parts: an opening that names the couple, a question to each party that draws out present-tense consent, and a pronouncement. Everything else is decoration. Florida law does not prescribe any wording beyond requiring “an agreement by words of present assent,” so a ceremony that runs under a minute is as valid as one that runs an hour.1Florida Department of State. Frequently Asked Questions – Marriage Ceremonies
A Ready-to-Use Sample Script
Bracketed lines are optional. The two questions and the pronouncement are the parts that carry legal weight.
Opening:
“We are gathered here today to celebrate the marriage of [Name A] and [Name B].”
[Optional reading or personal remarks.]
Declaration of intent — ask each party separately:
“[Name A], do you take [Name B] to be your spouse?”
[Name A: “I do.”]
“[Name B], do you take [Name A] to be your spouse?”
[Name B: “I do.”]
[Optional ring exchange:]
“Please exchange rings as a symbol of your commitment.”
Each party may say: “With this ring, I marry you.”
Pronouncement:
“By the authority vested in me by the State of Florida, I now pronounce you married.”
“Spouse and spouse,” “husband and wife,” or “partners in marriage” all work in the pronouncement. What matters is that the words clearly declare the marriage accomplished in that moment.1Florida Department of State. Frequently Asked Questions – Marriage Ceremonies
Why the Script Works: What Florida Law Requires You to Say
The only legal requirement for the words themselves is that each party agree, out loud, in the present tense, to marry the other right now.1Florida Department of State. Frequently Asked Questions – Marriage Ceremonies “I do” satisfies this cleanly. “I will” is future tense and should not be used as the sole expression of consent. There is no mandated reading, no minimum length, and no required pronouncement formula. Customize freely around the two consent questions and the closing declaration.
Check the Marriage License Before You Begin
The couple must have a marriage license from a Florida clerk of the circuit court. Without one, the ceremony has no legal effect no matter what is said.2Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.08 – Marriage Not to Be Solemnized Without a License Two dates on the license govern when you can officiate:
- The effective date. Florida residents who did not complete a registered premarital preparation course face a three-day waiting period, and the license shows the effective date in bold type. A ceremony held before that date happened too early.3Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.04 – Marriage License Requirements
- The expiration date. The license is valid for 60 days from issuance, and the statute prohibits anyone from performing a ceremony after it expires.4The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 741.041 – Marriage License Application Valid for 60 Days
Ask each party for a valid government-issued photo ID and confirm the names match the license exactly. Mismatches, common after a prior name change, will cause problems later when the couple uses the marriage certificate for insurance, taxes, or their own name changes. Any sections the couple is responsible for completing should be filled in with black ink before the ceremony starts.5Executive Office of the Governor. Completing the Marriage Record
Confirm Your Own Authority
Only a notary with an active Florida commission can legally solemnize the marriage. The commission runs four years, and the required $7,500 surety bond has to stay in place across that term.6The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 117.01 – Notaries Public If the commission has lapsed, you have no authority to officiate, and Florida’s savings clause for people who reasonably believed their officiant was ordained applies to clergy, not to notaries.7Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.07 – Persons Authorized to Solemnize Matrimony
You also have to be physically inside Florida when you perform the ceremony.6The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 117.01 – Notaries Public A Florida commission does not carry across state lines or into international waters, so destination weddings outside Florida are off the table.
Finish the Paperwork
Once you have made the pronouncement, complete the Certificate of Marriage section on the license in black ink. Record the date and the specific location of the ceremony, sign and print your name exactly as it appears on your commission, and affix your official notary seal.5Executive Office of the Governor. Completing the Marriage Record Witness signatures are optional under Florida law; the couple can invite witnesses to sign for personal reasons, but the marriage is valid without them.
Return the certified license to the clerk of the circuit court that issued it within 10 days of the ceremony, in person or by mail.2Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.08 – Marriage Not to Be Solemnized Without a License Missing that window leaves the couple without a recorded certificate they can order copies of, and they will need those copies for name changes, insurance enrollment, and tax filing. Treat the 10 days as a firm deadline.
What You Can Charge
Florida allows a notary to charge the same fee as the clerk of the circuit court for performing a marriage ceremony, currently $30. You can charge less or waive the fee entirely. Separate charges for travel, rehearsal time, or a customized ceremony are a matter of private agreement with the couple and sit outside the statutory notary fee.
Mistakes That Derail an Otherwise Fine Ceremony
- Officiating during the three-day waiting period when the couple did not take a premarital course.
- Officiating on an expired license. Past 60 days from issuance, the couple has to apply and pay for a new one.
- Proceeding when the name on a party’s ID does not match the license. The clerk may need to reissue the license first.
- Arriving without your notary seal. The certificate cannot be properly completed without it.
- Holding the completed license past the 10-day return window.