First Atheist works for me.

The Spaghetti Monster is more of a "position" religion--it's all about the person who belongs to it, it serves as a platform for a point of view.

Your purpose in obtaining this ordination is to help your brother, not tout a position or make a statement. It's your brother's day, not yours. That's why I'd go with the FCA--it's just a simple statement, without any snark about belief systems attached.

I've never heard anyone officiating a wedding say anything about that, but I suppose it might show up on the marriage certificate. I'll ask him. He's not quite as big an atheist as I am, and sure, I don't want to use his wedding as a vehicle for my beliefs. That's a good point.

In fact, I was at one quite recently--and the bride and groom were atheists. Some of the guests were Catholic, most lapsed, there were also a few other assorted Xtians, a cadre of Jews, a few Buddhists, a gathering of UUs, and the odd Muslims here and there. And there were also atheists in attendance as well.

Oddly enough (and totally unrelated to this discussion but interesting), they put the word "sacred" in their vows. Three times! I wasn't sure if that was a new use of the term, something personal with them, a sop-nod to one set of parents, or what. It was deliberately interjected, though!

We don't have that problem with ordination being a requirement here in MA (anyone can get a one-day pass, in essence), but someone always asks about the process when it's family or friend officiating (I have a large family-huge and racially/ethnically/religiously diverse--and even in this non-wedding era, I go to a LOT of weddings). It was a friend of the couple that did the honors, and she got quite a lot of questions afterwards. She did a great job as the officiant, as well--she kept the focus on the couple, was articulate, kept the ceremony moving along, etc. She got a lot of props after-the-fact (be warned, it will be a topic of conversation when someone you don't know ambles up to you at the reception); some people who didn't realize the relationship thought she was a Justice of the Peace, she was so professional in her management of the ceremony.

Best of luck to you--it's quite an honor to be asked to do that!

The friend flew in from TX, obtained a one day license and performed the ceremony beautifully.

Of the last half dozen weddings I have attended, all were officiated by a friend/close relative of the bride and/or groom, and only two of those weddings were officiated by a religious officiant (who was the same person at both weddings--a relative of the groom(s), in fact).

Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

IF you accept the premise that Cappolini is better than Fettuccini and that Franco American is better than Chef Boy-ar-dee, I can ordain you.

Send $1.00 for postage for the Certification of Plateful Ordination and it is yours.

How fun for you to say and story to tell their kids. Atheist would be just a little interesting

Unlike your other two options, the captains licensee could prove beneficial in the future.

Congratulations to your brother and his bride.

I blame Star Trek, and possibly 'The Love Boat'.

A friend married a couple last year and I thought it was because he had his captain's license, but he may have also had some mail order license.

legally binding steps later. That happens sometimes.

Do the civil thing and then have fun.

Just want my signature to be valid on the marriage certificate.

You know crossing the T's dotting the I's.

There would be no need to ensure T's or I's are crossed and dotted any more than one would normally do.

(Now there's a word I pulled out from some dusty corner of my brain...) Have fun, in any event.