When to sign your marriage license…
Wondering when or how to do the actual paperwork when it comes to your marriage? You’re not alone. You’re also not the first person to ask how would I even do this if we don’t live in the place we want to have our elopement or wedding.
My opinion, do the paperwork where you live. Let’s get into the pros and cons of signing your marriage license on the day you share your vows.
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Do you sign your marriage license on your wedding / elopement day?
You can, but you don’t have to. A good rule of thumb is what does that state or country require.
Does your marriage license expire a certain number of days after you have picked it up? If so make sure you account when you apply and pick it up and when you actually plan to do your wedding ceremony.
For example: Iowa Marriage license rules
Apply with a witness, wait 3 days, then you can pick it up. From there you have 6 months to complete your ceremony and turn in the completed marriage license to actually receive your marriage certificate and legally prove you are married.
Pros to signing your license before your elopement
What would the pro be to signing your license early? These are the popular ideas:
- Insurance (because if you live in the USA you know….)
- Not having to bring extra papers or do anything legal on your day (it’s already done)
- Don’t have to hire someone to do your ceremony, you’re already legal
- You can just share vows and enjoy the experiences you planned
- Easier to do paperwork near where you live if eloping out of state
Cons to signing your license before your elopement
Of course it’s me, I always try to see multiple sides to any story
- If you like the idea of the date being the day you legally sign papers and celebrate that day
- Family might cause drama because they “didn’t witness it”
- Feeling of “we’re already married” sooo (not everyone just a common feeling with some)
When do my clients sign their marriage license?
My clients, I’d say 1/5 will do paper work the day of their elopement. Most will legally get married prior to our adventures because they either don’t live where they are eloping, or they don’t want to have to worry about doing the marriage license.
Most will do their marriage license within a month or so of their elopement date. That way they usually have their marriage certificate in the mail when they get home from their elopement or right before they leave.
What should I do? Just tell me what to do!
Do what is easier. Trust me. Don’t stress.
While it’s mostly the same process across all 50 states, sometimes it truly is just easier to go to the courthouse where you live and apply, pay the $50-200 range, and then not stress about losing paperwork in the mail or filling out something wrong.
For each person though, I can’t say what is easier for you, just sit for two seconds right now and go would it make more sense to do this where I want to elope? What are the rules of that country / state? Does it matter to me when the legal part is done?
Once you answer those questions you will know when to sign your marriage license paperwork.
Need more help planning or visualizing your own wedding? Contact me!
I love talking this through with my clients for their unique elopements so just ask me! Helping with more than photography, I am a little bit of it all for you.
Use the links below to reach out to me now, or even read some more of my planning guides. I’m a Washington elopement photographer who works wherever you want to go.
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