Can you get your sister’s boyfriend’s father to marry you in South Carolina?

Only if he is recognized by the state as an official.

State law clearly states: “Gospel ministers, Jewish rabbis, officers authorized to administer oaths in this state, and the chief or spiritual leader of an Indian unit recognized by the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs.”

But what if you don’t know anyone with these awards?

You can actually find a clergyman to hire. Weddingwire.com has a list of dozens of companies that offer everything from the ceremony to providing a venue.

Pastor John Peters, for example, says on the website that he has married over 500 couples – of all ages, in all locations and of all sizes.

In Myrtle Beach, Rev. Benjy Simmons can perform religious, non-religious, interfaith, trial and vow renewal ceremonies. “Simple, but customized to your vision for the special day, including personalization of the vows.”

Founded in 2013, Midlands Wedding Services offers weddings in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and other locations worldwide.

There are over a hundred listed from across the state.

State law does not require clergy to register with the state, but 12 other states do.

Here are additional requirements for getting married in South Carolina.

• To get married, you must be 18 years old. However, there are exceptions. With the consent of a parent or guardian, you can get married at 16.

• In North Carolina and Alaska, marriage is possible with parental consent from age 14, and in California and Washington there is no legal minimum age.

• There is a 24-hour waiting period between the application and the issuance of the license. The license is issued by the probate judge of the respective county, except in Darlington and Georgetown counties, where this is the clerk of the court.

• You do not need to have a witness sign your marriage certificate. The priest will do that.

• In South Carolina, same-sex marriage has been legal since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Obergefell v. Hodges by a 5-4 majority, which took effect on November 20, 2014.

• When you take an approved marriage preparation course, you will receive a one-time, non-refundable $50 federal income tax credit.

• In South Carolina, the average age at which men marry is 29.4 years and the average age at which women marry is 27.6 years.

• According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Utah residents marry earliest – at age 25.8 – and Massachusetts residents marry later – at age 31.3.

• In South Carolina, 35.1% of men and 29.4% of women have never been married, Business Insider reported.

• According to the Wedding Report website, there were 34,542 weddings in South Carolina in 2023, ranking it 22nd among U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

• Average wedding spending in the state was $30,110 in 2023.