I'm not trying to be rude, I am genuinely curious. They don't have a minister or priest or rabbi...

My brother was married by a ship captain. My friend became ordained by the Universal Life Church and performed my ceremony. You can also have a court clerk or someone at city hall sign the marriage certificate. And then there are the Las Vegas chapels where you can have Elvis do it.

But a church? Why would they get someone ordained by a church if they are atheist?

I don’t make the laws

Nah, I was just curious.

I always wanted to get married by an Elvis.

They can have a wedding without a church but usually the minister is a priest or pastor who is ordained

Marriage does not require religion anymore. As a matter of fact, a marriage in church does in most countries not even have a legal status any more. Most churches or similar institutes do require you marry for the law first before you can marry in church.

That being said, atheists can just get married like everybody else, since the church and all religious rituals are all optional these days and have no legal status, only the law matters. And an atheist is not necessarily an anarchist. 😜

They contact Satan. MUH-HAHA!

Atheists also do not believe in Satan.

Yeah Atheists do not believe in Satan lmao

Marriage is a civil ceremony as recognized by law. That means a Justice of the Peace can preform the marriage (like mine) anywhere you choose. Marriage by religion is a different matter, but is still recognized as a civil matter (the rights of a married couple that can include divorce not recognized by the religion).

Places of worship can place restrictions on who is able to use their place as dictated by that religion's practices.

Curious has to how you were not taught this. We use to take civic classes in school that cover many aspects of society that we live in. But that was getting on to 40 years ago and as people today hate paying for education, it was probably cut.

Legally in the eyes of the law.

Justice of the peace?

We had a non-denominational wedding at a lovely venue in our favorite city park.

The officiant was one of my wife’s law school classmates, and the ceremony which was all of 5 minutes long basically consisted of a bunch of lawyer and contract jokes.

It was awesome.

More time for the wedding reception, which was a blast.

I’m atheist and I’m planning not to get married

They don’t

Really? I've spoken with atheists who are married, so something does not feel correct here.

like normal people...?