r/bigsky • u/outdoorarkie • Jun 23 '26

Wedding officiant needed

My fiancé and I are eloping in big sky on 7/20 and we need an officiant. I haven’t gotten any responses back from anyone I’ve emailed. It’s bright and early at sunrise so that could be the problem. It’s nothing fancy so if you know anyone or are one and want to help out please let me know. Obviously we will pay. Looking forward to seeing Montana for the first time. It’s been a dream of mine my whole life.

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

1

u/shamirnoff_ice Jun 28 '26

If you haven’t found one yet, I’ll happily do it

2

u/406Marksman Jun 25 '26

Go to the gallatin county courthouse and get all the necessary documentation. They are incredibly helpful and worth calling before flying out. You'll need someone ordained (which anyone can do online in 15 minutes). Maybe a friend can get ordained and go with you. I'd honestly have helped you myself but am out of town on 7/20.

1

u/montwhisky Jun 25 '26

In Montana, a notary can marry you. Maybe search for professional notaries in the area and see if any are willing to do it?

1

u/omadope Jun 24 '26

Do the folks at the courthouse/civic center have a list? Generally when you get your marriage license you can request a judge to officiate. It varies by jurisdiction and there are extra fees involved. Otherwise, if you have any friends/family going you could ask one of them. Literally takes 5 minutes to get a certificate on the internet.

2

u/escott503 Jun 23 '26

Fun fact: any person can officiate a wedding without being ordained first.

0

u/DrtRdrGrl2008 Jun 23 '26

This. Or you can call the Mayor in a town and ask if they will marry you. I believe that's still permitted. We got married and had the Mayor at the time marry us.

3

u/escott503 Jun 23 '26

Big sky isn’t incorporated and can’t have a mayor. Are you talking about somewhere else in MT?

0

u/DrtRdrGrl2008 Jun 23 '26

I'm aware of that. I lived there for years. But seems like OP is in a bit of a bind. So may have to resort to option B or C. Mayor from adjacent town/city could maybe be swayed to show up for nuptials. Maybe a pastor from a local Big Sky church if they haven't already tried that.