When you get a marriage license... do you really have to have a church ceremony ASAP?

Question

my man and i was thinking about just going to city hall ( cuz neither one of us have enough to have a huge wedding) but he is concerned about the deadline to have church ceremony... is it true and if so... how long is the deadline.

Answer 1

Every state is different.  Some places you have 30 days from issuance of the license up to a year.  If you want a wedding, plan it and your license is one of the last things you get.

It does not necessarily have to be a church wedding.  You could have a civil wedding at the courthouse or a ceremony outdoors somewhere, or at a friend/family member's home.  In that case you'd need an officiant to travel to your site.  Most states, ordained minsiters, judges, justices of the peace are authorized to solemnize marriages and a few states have other people authorized by statute.

Best of luck to you.

Answer 2

Its different in every state...I think here in  FL you have to get married within 30 days of obtaining the liscense.

Answer 3

If you go get married at city hall you don't need a church wedding you are just as married whether you go to city hall or have a church wedding.  

Answer 4

This depends on where you are. Most states actually require that you WAIT X amount of time before getting married. Texas has a 72-hour waiting period, unless one member is of the armed forces. Besides that, you can get married Justice of the Peace at City Hall, and then wait years for a church ceremony, until you can afford it.  

Answer 5

There is no requirement to have a church ceremony.  

Answer 6

no you dont have to have a church ceremony. you can have a city hall wedding when a judge signs off on your marrige license which is usually valid for 60 days depending on the state you live in

Answer 7

Each state is different on how long before the wedding date that you have to apply for a marriage license and how long it's valid until before ceremony.  But you can get approval to have that reduced or waived by a judge and possibly extended.  (DH and I got married in TX and were suppose to have the license at least 3 days before and not more then 30 days, but he wasn't going to be in state until 2 days before so we got approval.)  

I didn't have a church wedding, but I did have it in my parents home.  It was much cheaper, but still really special.  The advice I was given was spend the money you need to to make it really special for you, but try not to go over that.  (We saved money on the location, had fewer guests so we could have better quality food and cake per person, had fewer and nicer centerpieces, paid friends to take photos/video and play music, but to me having the perfect dress, getting my hair done, and renting DH the perfect tux was really important.  (We sold the dress afterward, but I will always remember feeling like a princess.)  I know it's unsolicited advice, but wherever you have your wedding, think of the things that are REALLY important to you (and spend on those things) so that will make it special so it really feels like your wedding and not "just another celebration".  

Best of luck to you and your fiance!

Answer 8

You can just go to city hall and get the justice of the peace to sign off on the marriage there (do a quick vow ceremony and hae witnesses sign) and you're married.  Should take less than an hour from entering the courthouse to leaving it and you'll leave husband and wife, no church needed.

If you are just getting the licence while planning a big wedding, most places give you 3 months to use the licence once it is issued.

You never NEED to have a church ceremony, we're not. Ours will be done at a normal ceremony but by a justice of the peace, no religion involved at all.

good luck and congrats!

Answer 9

No. My Mom and Dad eloped! Of course city hall is all right. The justice of the peace, or a home wedding.

Answer 10

My marriage license is good for 60 days after I got it.