Wedding officiants in Nashville, TN operate under Tennessee Code Annotated 36-3-301, which restricts the solemnization of marriage to a defined class: regular ministers, preachers, pastors, priests, rabbis, and other religious leaders of any recognized religious congregation; current and former judges of general sessions and higher courts; and county clerks for the duration of their term. The statute’s recognition of online ordinations such as Universal Life Church has been litigated in Tennessee, with 2019 amendments tightening congregational standards, so couples planning a Davidson County ceremony are wise to confirm an officiant’s ordination history extends well past the cutoff date. A Tennessee marriage license, issued by the Davidson County Clerk and any other Tennessee county clerk, is valid for 30 days from issuance and must be signed by the officiant and returned to the issuing clerk within three business days of the ceremony. The three officiants below carry verifiable Nashville-area presence, published ordination histories that predate recent statutory changes, and transparent fee disclosure for couples choosing between a full ceremony, elopement, or signature-only service.
Quick Comparison #
| Officiant | Credentials | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Ralph Griggs, MTh | Seminary-trained non-denominational minister, 20+ years | Custom ceremonies, elopements, signature-only |
| Living Ceremonies (Rev. Benita) | Ordained minister, Certified Mindfulness Trainer | Personalized writing, destination weddings |
| Great Tennessee Officiants | 20+ years, WeddingWire Couples' Choice since 2011 | Multi-officiant team, package tiers |
1. Ralph Griggs, MTh #
Ralph Griggs is a seminary-trained, non-denominational minister based in the Bellevue area of Nashville and has officiated thousands of ceremonies across Davidson, Williamson, and surrounding Middle Tennessee counties over a 20-plus year career. The published practice covers full personalized ceremonies, legal signature-only services for couples who hold a private vow exchange, elopements, and religious or secular formats with traditional or contemporary structure.
Ordination and Statutory Fit #
The seminary-trained background and decades-long ordination history place Griggs squarely inside the Tennessee Code Annotated 36-3-301 framework for recognized ministers of religious congregations, with documentation that predates the 2019 statutory tightening around online-only ordinations. That track record matters for couples whose families later request proof of ordination for the marriage record.
Fees and Service Structure #
Most weddings are priced at a flat $350, with a $75 non-refundable deposit to reserve the date through Venmo and the $275 balance due two weeks before the wedding. A free marriage preparation course is offered to qualifying couples, which under current Tennessee policy can reduce the marriage license fee by $60 at the Davidson County Clerk. Custom vow writing guidance and a ceremony planner tool are included.
Location: Bellevue, Nashville, TN
Contact: Email, phone, text, or Zoom via tennesseeminister.com
Hours: Appointment-based, in-person meetings in Bellevue
2. Living Ceremonies (Rev. Benita) #
Living Ceremonies is led by Rev. Benita, an ordained minister and Certified Mindfulness Trainer through Live Mindfulness Momentum, serving Nashville couples and traveling for destination weddings. The published approach centers on fully custom, non-templated ceremony writing with unlimited consultations and pre-ceremony mindfulness sessions for couples who want a paced, present rehearsal and ceremony.
Ceremony Customization #
Rev. Benita writes each ceremony from the couple’s story rather than adapting a template, which fits Nashville couples blending religious and secular elements, interfaith pairings, and non-traditional vow structures. Wedding-team coordination is offered, useful when the planner, photographer, and venue coordinator each have ceremony cues to align.
Logistics and License Handling #
Marriage license management is part of the service, with the officiant signing and returning the Davidson County license to the clerk inside the three-business-day statutory window. Destination weddings are handled with separate travel terms, and consultations are conducted by appointment through the website contact form.
Service Area: Nashville, TN and destination weddings
Contact: livingceremonies.com/contact-8
Hours: Appointment-based
https://www.livingceremonies.com/
3. Great Tennessee Officiants #
Great Tennessee Officiants operates as a multi-officiant team serving Eastern and Middle Tennessee, with more than 20 years in the wedding ceremony field and recognition as a WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award honoree every year since 2011. The structure suits couples who want package tiers rather than a single flat fee, and the team approach offers scheduling flexibility on peak Saturdays during Nashville’s busy wedding season.
Package Approach and Ordination #
Multiple ceremony packages accommodate different budgets, with retainer and full-payment options handled through PayPal or Venmo. The officiants serve couples across denominations and secular backgrounds, with each ceremony custom-designed around the couple’s preferences and personality. Ordinations on the team predate recent Tennessee statutory amendments, which keeps each officiant inside the 36-3-301 recognized minister class.
Vendor Coordination and Compliance #
The team coordinates with photographers, planners, and venues, and handles Tennessee marriage requirements including the signed license return to the issuing county clerk. The Couples’ Choice longevity, awarded based on consistent recent-couple reviews, signals continued service quality across more than a decade.
Phone: (844) 933-8697 or (615) 601-5027
Email: [email protected]
Service Area: Eastern and Middle Tennessee
https://greattennesseeofficiants.com/
Selection Methodology #
Selection drew on Tennessee Code Annotated 36-3-301 statutory text on solemnization authority, Davidson County Clerk marriage license guidance, WeddingWire and The Knot Couples’ Choice histories, and direct review of each officiant’s website for ordination history, fee disclosure, and service scope. Verification criteria covered a Nashville or Middle Tennessee service base, ordination history that predates the 2019 statutory tightening, a working public contact channel, transparent fee or package disclosure, and explicit handling of Tennessee marriage license return obligations. Excluded were officiant marketplaces without named clergy, recent-only online ordinations whose statutory fit is unsettled in Tennessee, and listings without a verifiable Tennessee phone or email channel.
Frequently Asked Questions #
Who is legally authorized to perform a wedding in Tennessee? #
Tennessee Code Annotated 36-3-301 authorizes regular ministers, preachers, pastors, priests, rabbis, and other religious leaders of recognized congregations, plus current and former general sessions and higher-court judges, and county clerks during their term. Universal Life Church and similar online-only ordinations have been the subject of legislation and litigation, so couples are wise to confirm their officiant’s ordination history predates the 2019 amendments tightening congregational standards.
How long is a Tennessee marriage license valid, and what is the return deadline? #
A Tennessee marriage license is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance by any Tennessee county clerk. After the ceremony, the officiant must complete and sign the license and return it to the issuing clerk within three business days for the marriage to be recorded.
Can the officiant customize a ceremony to blend religious and non-religious elements? #
Yes. Each of the three officiants above offers custom ceremony writing covering traditional, contemporary, secular, religious, and interfaith structures. Couples typically share vows, readings, family rituals, and music selections in pre-ceremony consultations so the officiant can draft a script that reflects the couple’s story.
Is a rehearsal included or billed separately from the ceremony fee? #
Practice varies by officiant. Ralph Griggs’ flat $350 covers the ceremony itself with vow writing guidance included; Living Ceremonies offers unlimited consultations as part of the package; Great Tennessee Officiants prices by tier with rehearsal coverage at the higher tiers. Couples should confirm rehearsal attendance in writing when booking.
Who signs and returns the marriage license after the ceremony? #
The officiant signs the marriage license at or near the ceremony, alongside the couple and any required witnesses, and is responsible for returning the signed license to the issuing Tennessee county clerk within three business days. All three officiants above handle the return as part of standard service.
Are any of the three profiles paid placements? #
No. The three profiles above are editorial selections drawn from publicly verifiable sources. No officiant sponsored placement.
Editorial Note #
This guide was published on 2026-05-11 and reflects research current as of that date. Verify ordination history, license-return practice, and current fees before booking any officiant.