Need a wedding officiant in Fort Lauderdale? Ministers at the Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale, 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park, officiate weddings, vow renewals and commitment ceremonies for couples who are not members. You can hold the ceremony in the Main Auditorium (275 auditorium-style) or the Multipurpose Room (50 auditorium-style), with on-site parking for 150 vehicles.
At a glance
- Who we marry: couples of every faith, background and orientation. Membership is not required.
- Ceremony types: weddings, vow renewals and commitment ceremonies.
- Style: spiritual and non-denominational, with words you shape together with the minister.
- Where: at the Center, in the Main Auditorium (up to 275 seated) or the Multipurpose Room (up to 50 seated).
- Reception option: Welcome Lobby up to 200 cocktail-style, or a seated dinner for up to 110 in the auditorium.
- Parking: on site for up to 150 vehicles.
- To ask: call 954-566-2868 and speak with Jim Wood, Director of Operations.
An officiant for couples who aren’t members
Many couples have no congregation of their own, or they come from two different traditions and don’t want either family’s house of worship to take over the day. Others simply want someone with real ceremony experience instead of a friend reading from a phone.
The Center for Spiritual Living is a New Thought community that welcomes people of every faith and background, and our ministers officiate for non-members as part of that welcome. You don’t have to join, attend services or share our beliefs to be married by a CSL minister.
That openness includes same-sex couples, interfaith couples, couples marrying for the second time and couples who describe themselves as spiritual but not religious. Everyone gets the same care.
What a spiritual, non-denominational wedding sounds like
A non-denominational ceremony doesn’t follow a single church’s script. It can speak about love, commitment and community in language that fits both of you, and it can be as light or as reflective as you want.
You work with the minister on the words. Some couples write their own vows and want a short frame around them. Others want the minister to tell the story of how they met, include a reading chosen by a parent, or leave a quiet moment to remember someone who couldn’t be there. The minister helps you shape those pieces into a ceremony that sounds like the two of you.
If you want a ceremony with no religious references at all, say so at the start. If you’d like to honor a tradition from your family, talk it through with the minister so it’s handled with care.
Ceremonies our ministers lead
Weddings
A wedding at the Center can be a full ceremony for 200 guests or a short service for a dozen. The minister leads the ceremony, and the Center’s team helps with the room, the chairs and the sound. If you also need a reception space, see our small wedding venue in Fort Lauderdale for how the auditorium, Lobby and Multipurpose Room work together.
Vow renewals
Ten, twenty-five or fifty years in, a vow renewal says something different than the first wedding did. A minister can help you look back on what you’ve built and say new promises in front of the people who watched it happen.
Commitment ceremonies
Some couples want to mark their commitment publicly without a legal marriage, or before one. Our ministers lead commitment ceremonies too, with the same personal approach as a wedding.
A courthouse wedding alternative
Plenty of couples start by looking at a courthouse wedding because they want something quick, simple and small. If you’d still like a real room, a few guests and an officiant who knows your names, a short ceremony at the Center is a good middle ground. You keep it simple and still have a place for your family to sit and a stage to stand on.
Where your ceremony takes place
Ceremonies led by our ministers are held at the Center, in Oakland Park just north of Wilton Manors. Pick the space that matches your guest list:
| Room | Size | Capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Auditorium | 2,944 sq ft | 275 auditorium-style; 110 seated dinner | Weddings with a center aisle and a stage, or a ceremony and dinner in one room |
| Multipurpose Room | 1,026 sq ft | 50 auditorium-style; 70 cocktail-style | Elopements, small vow renewals and intimate commitment ceremonies |
| Welcome Lobby | 1,418 sq ft | 200 cocktail-style | A standing reception or toast after the ceremony |
Room details, furniture and kitchen equipment are listed on the venue rental page.
Planning tip: Ask about the officiant and the room in the same call. Booking the minister and the space together keeps the date, the timing and the setup in one plan, so nobody is coordinating between two schedules.
What’s included when you marry at the Center
- A CSL minister to lead your wedding, vow renewal or commitment ceremony
- Time with the minister to shape the words of the ceremony
- 275 tan banquet chairs and a stage in the Main Auditorium
- A professional sound and video booth with projection and streaming; a Center technician can run sound or stream the ceremony for family far away (ask about equipment and operator fees)
- Round tables, buffet tables, basic linens and place settings for 200 if you add a reception
- Access to the licensed commercial kitchen for your caterer with an auditorium or Multipurpose Room rental
- On-site parking for up to 150 vehicles and complimentary Wi-Fi
Every room and amenity is detailed on our Oakland Park event space rental overview. For questions about policies such as décor, outside vendors or timing, the Director of Operations walks you through everything when you inquire.
Your marriage license
Before the ceremony, the couple gets a Florida marriage license from the county clerk. In Broward County, start with the Broward County Clerk of Courts.
How booking an officiant works
- Call or inquire. Reach Jim Wood at 954-566-2868 or use the contact form. Share your date, guest count and the kind of ceremony you want.
- Tour the Center. See the auditorium and Multipurpose Room and choose the space that feels right.
- Hold your date. Confirm the room and the minister for your day.
- Plan the ceremony and setup. Work on the words with your minister, and plan the chairs, sound and any reception with Jim Wood.
Planning from nearby?
Couples come to Oakland Park from across the area. These guides cover drive times and parking from nearby cities: ceremony venue near Wilton Manors, venue rental in Fort Lauderdale, event space in Oakland Park and venues near Lighthouse Point. The Broward County venue planner’s guide covers the whole county.
Our ministers also officiate celebrations of life for families who are not members; see our celebration of life venue page. For rehearsal dinners and larger receptions, see the banquet hall.
Frequently asked questions
Can a CSL minister officiate our wedding if we aren’t members?
Yes. Ministers at the Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale officiate weddings, vow renewals and commitment ceremonies for couples who are not members. You don’t need to attend services or share our beliefs.
What is a non-denominational wedding ceremony?
It’s a ceremony that doesn’t follow a single religion’s script. At the Center, you work with the minister on the words so the ceremony reflects your story, your values and any traditions you want to include, or none at all.
Do your ministers officiate same-sex and interfaith weddings?
Yes. The Center for Spiritual Living welcomes every faith and background, and our ministers marry same-sex couples, interfaith couples and couples who aren’t religious. Everyone receives the same personal approach.
Where does the ceremony take place?
Ceremonies are held at the Center, 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park. The Main Auditorium seats up to 275 and the Multipurpose Room seats up to 50 auditorium-style, with parking on site for 150 vehicles.
Is a ceremony at the Center a good alternative to a courthouse wedding?
For many couples, yes. You can keep it short and small, with a few guests, while still having a minister, a real room and seating for family. Call 954-566-2868 to ask about dates.
Do we need a marriage license first?
Yes. The couple gets a Florida marriage license from the county clerk before the ceremony. Broward couples can start with the Broward County Clerk of Courts.
Can we have a vow renewal or commitment ceremony instead of a wedding?
Yes. Our ministers lead vow renewals and commitment ceremonies as well as weddings. Each one is shaped with the couple, so it fits the moment you’re marking.
How much does it cost to book an officiant and the space?
Pricing is by inquiry. Call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868 for availability and a quote for the minister and the room you need.
Ready to talk about your ceremony? Call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868 or reach out to plan a visit. Come see the rooms, tell us about the two of you, and we’ll help you find the right minister and space for your day.