(a) When marriages are solemnized by a minister of the gospel or priest, the ceremony shall be according to the forms and customs of the church or society to which he or she belongs. When solemnized by a civil officer, the form observed shall be the one the officer deems most appropriate.
(b) It shall be lawful for religious societies who reject formal ceremonies to join together in marriage persons who are members of the society according to the forms, customs, or rites of the society to which they belong, with the exception that the requirements set forth in the Covenant Marriage Act of 2001, § 9-11-801 et seq., shall be complied with if the parties enter into a covenant marriage.
Structure Arkansas Code
Subtitle 2 - Domestic Relations
Subchapter 2 - License and Ceremony
§ 9-11-203. Issuance by clerks
§ 9-11-204. Issuance of license unlawfully — Penalty
§ 9-11-205. Notice of intention to wed — Noncompliance, penalties, and effect
§ 9-11-207. Applicants for marriage licenses to be sober
§ 9-11-208. License not issued to persons of the same sex
§ 9-11-209. Proof of age — Parental consent
§ 9-11-211. Military personnel — Waiver of certain license requirements — Proceedings
§ 9-11-212. Application without other's consent — Penalties — Damages
§ 9-11-213. Persons who may solemnize marriages
§ 9-11-214. Recordation of credentials of clerical character
§ 9-11-216. Solemnization contrary to law — Penalty
§ 9-11-217. Failure to sign and return license at time of marriage — Penalty
§ 9-11-218. Return of executed license to clerk — Effect on bond
§ 9-11-219. False return or record — Penalty
§ 9-11-220. Duty of clerk on return of license — Issuance of certificate