Hello,

I am a Universal Life Minister. My friends, US citizens, have asked me
to perform their wedding in Dunnagal / Dublin, Ireland (29 May). Can
you tell me what process I need to go through to make sure the
marriage is legal in the U.S., and I suppose, in Ireland?
Thank you!

To find out if the marriage will be recognized in the US contact that
state they will reside in and ask the clerk of the court.  Foreign
marriagea are usually recognized in the US - if not every foreign
married couple would have to get married again when they entered the
US (or anyother foreign county).  Just like states recognize marriages
performed in other states, countries do the same.

In order to perform a marriage in another country you would probably
have to be license in that country.  Contact the nearest Irish
consultate and find out.
You could perform a "marriage ceremony" and then have a civil ceremony performed
to make the marriage "legal".

The Irish State recognizes Civil Weddings and certain Religious Weddings.

Civil marriages are performed by a Registrar of Civil Marriages.

The following religious marriages are recognised by the State:
"Catholic"
"Church of Ireland (Anglican/Episcopalian)"
"Presbyterian"
"Certain Other Religious Bodies"
"Society of Friends (Quaker)"
"Jewish"

Obviously, you will not be able to perform a Civil Wedding, or a
Catholic or Jewish Wedding.  I doubt that you would be allowed to
perform a Church of Ireland, Presbyterian or Society of Friends
Wedding.

That leaves "Certain Other Religious Bodies". I don't know what this means,
but you could try contacting the County Registrar for Donegal in Letterkenny,
Tel.: +353-74-918711,
or The General Register Office in Dublin, 
Tel.: +353-1-6354000.

By the way, It seems to me that the couple are not fully aware of the
marriage regulations in Ireland.  They should be the ones researching
this instead of leaving it to you, as they are the ones already in
Ireland.

Also, I agree with daniel2d.  You have to make sure that marriage is
legally valid in the country where it is taking place.  Then it will
follow that it will be recognised by other countries.

Finally, Just to clarify, I'm only a commenter, not a researcher.
Someone else may be able to give you a more helpful answer.

I have found this page from the U.S Department of State; "MARRIAGE OF
UNITED STATES CITIZENS ABROAD".  It confirms parts of the above
comments, and may give you some other useful information about the
American side of your question.

http://travel.state.gov/family/family_issues/marriage/marriage_589.html

..... The validity of marriages abroad is not dependent upon the
presence of an American diplomatic or consular officer, but upon
adherence to the laws of the country where the marriage is performed.
.....

..... In general, marriages which are legally performed and valid
abroad are also legally valid in the United States. Inquiries
regarding the validity of a marriage abroad should be directed to the
attorney general of the state in the United States where the parties
to the marriage live. .....

..... The embassy or tourist information bureau of the country in
which the marriage is to be performed is the best source of
information about marriage in that country. Some general information
on marriage in a limited number of countries can be obtained from
Overseas Citizens Services, Room 4811, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20520. In addition, American embassies and consulates
abroad frequently have information about marriage in the country in
which they are located. .....