Weddings are a time-honored tradition, but they don’t have to be conventional. Having the ceremony officiated by a friend or loved one can make the experience much more memorable. While a judge, court clerk, justice of the peace or any recognized member of the clergy can perform marriages lawfully in most states, the privilege also extends to individuals in New Jersey (and elsewhere) who can be ordained via the Internet.
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| Photo via Joe Mangino Joe Mangino performs a wedding as Reverend Willy Wonka. |
Stafford Township resident Joe Mangino, who is ordained as a non-denominational minister, has probably performed around 100 weddings, as well as a number of beach baptisms and one funeral, since obtaining his license over six years ago.
“Even though all the research I did about the online certifications indicated it was legal in New Jersey and most other states, I chose to get ordained as a non-denominational minister by two different churches, the Universal Life Church and the Universal Life Church World Ministry, as a sort of extra protection. You can’t believe everything you read on the Internet,” Mangino said.
His ordination is recognized in 48 states. Virginia, with the exception of Spotsylvania County, and Pennsylvania, excluding Bucks County, do not recognize ULC ministers, he noted.
The certification process is rather simple. Many websites allow a person to be ordained for free through an online application with a printable receipt. The license recognizes the holder as a wedding officiant, who can also perform funerals and baptisms. The minister is allowed to form his or her own congregation as well. Certificates, handbooks and instruction materials can be purchased.
Mangino decided to get into the business after learning about it on the news.
“I thought to myself, ‘I can do that. Why let the mayors and judges hog all the work and have all the fun?’ Also, my dad was a deacon in the Catholic Church, and he officiated my wedding,” Mangino said. “It was something that I was familiar with and thought I would enjoy doing it.”
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| Photo via Joe Mangino The Stafford Township resident leads a wedding at the beach. |
The first wedding he officiated was for his aunt in 2009. Since then, he has performed a handful of weddings each year for other family and friends, which “are always extra special,” he said.
“My sister’s wedding was definitely the most emotional,” Mangino said. “My dad should have been the one doing it, but he passed away a few years before. Having to fill his shoes by walking her down the aisle, and then performing the ceremony, was an emotionally tall order.”
After Superstorm Sandy left him without full-time employment, Mangino decided to really push his officiating services. He credits having a creative business card as well as help from Ann Coen Photography and LeAnna Theresa Photography for his quick expansion. Getting involved in the LBI Wedding Road Show, which he plans to attend this year, is also a “big boost to business.”
“With the exception of one nightmare couple, I have enjoyed every wedding I’ve ever officiated,” Mangino said.
One of his absolute favorites was a theme wedding he performed as Reverend Willy Wonka in a venue decorated as a chocolate factory.
“There were even oompa loompas on hand,” he said. “I asked the couple how Wonka could I get? And they gave me the freedom to go full Wonka. I created a ceremony that contained many lines from the movie. It was an epic ceremony that everyone loved.”
Mangino’s style is based on “energy, more energy and creativity.” He speaks loudly so everyone can hear. He likes to make sure the couple is the focus, but also tries to include their family and friends in the ceremony.
“I’ve been to many forgettable weddings where ‘minister mumbles’ can barely be heard and his energy is so low that you begin to wonder if this is a wedding or a funeral. I try to be the opposite of that,” Mangino said.
“When it comes to creating a wedding ceremony, I have very few rules. I’m up for almost anything. When I meet a couple for the first time, the first question I ask them is ‘How much God do you want in your ceremony? A lot of God, a little God or no God?’ Then we build off of that.”
Although Mangino likes to share a rough outline of the ceremony with the couple, he prefers to surprise them. He encourages couples to write their own vows “because it makes the ceremony that much more personal.”
He once had an emotional couple’s vows read aloud by their guests at the Spray Beach Chapel.
“It was the first time I ever tried this, and I had no idea what to expect,” he said. “The results were amazing. Everyone felt included, and I gave the couple a special moment they will never forget.”
Mangino said there is “so much” he likes about the job because it is “an honor” to participate in such a special day. Getting invited to the reception is “a really nice perk,” too.
“It’s something I take very serious,” he said. “I love to meet these couples who are about to embark on an amazing journey and craft a ceremony that everyone will remember.”
Mangino said he really enjoys performing outdoor weddings such as at the beach and along the bay, as well as at parks, farms and even on rooftops. He is scheduled to perform a service on top of a Ferris wheel in Wildwood this summer.
He plans to continue performing weddings and beach baptisms for as long as he can. “It’s too much fun to give it up.”
— Kelley Anne Essinger
This article was published in The SandPaper.
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