If you are considering eloping in DC, you probably have a lot of questions – luckily, we have plenty of answers! As experts in the local Washington, DC wedding community, we are very familiar with the different rules and regulations for getting married in DC. Here are answers to some of the most common questions:
Do you provide marriage services to all couples?
YES! We have been longtime supporters of marriage equality for all, and every one of our officiants performs LGBTQ+ marriages in DC. Like our slogan says, “All Couples, All Love.”
How much do you charge?
We offer very competitive rates, and our fees vary depending on the service and the type of ceremony you are looking for. Links to all our services and a full schedule of fees is located on our Marriage Services page.
How do we book one of your officiants for our ceremony or other service?
We know your time is valuable, and we make it easy and convenient for you to hire us – simply fill out our contact form or call us at 800-721-VOWS (8697) and we will get back to you very quickly. We will answer any questions you may have and will send you a digital contract and any required forms via email. Once you return the contract and payment, we will schedule your ceremony and you’ll be all set – most couples are able to complete the entire booking process the same day they contact us.
What are the requirements for getting a marriage license in Washington, DC?
The requirements for applying for a license and getting married in DC are reasonably straightforward, but the DC Marriage Bureau is currently operating at reduced capacity and our customers have reported delays receiving their marriage license of up to 8 weeks or more when applying online. Until processing delays at the DC Marriage Bureau are no longer an issue, we are recommending that anyone who needs to get married within the next 3 months use our Legal Online Marriage Package instead. Normal turnaround for online marriages is 3 business days, with rush service available if you need to get married sooner. For couples who still want to use a DC marriage license, comprehensive information on the process for submitting a marriage license application can be found on our DC Marriage License Requirements page.
Can we apply for a marriage license online or by mail?
Yes! You can actually do everything online with our Legal Online Marriage Package – apply for your marriage license, get legally married, and obtain a certified copy of your marriage license. The DC Marriage Bureau has also recently implemented an online marriage license application intake form, but our customers have reported delays of up to 8 weeks or more for marriage licenses and certified copies. DC’s online marriage license application process is also not very secure, as it requires you to submit sensitive personal information over potentially unencrypted channels such as email.
How much time does it take from the time we apply for our license until we get it?
For our DC Elopement Packages that include online legal marriage service, you can receive your marriage license online by the next business day (often the same day if you apply early on a weekday). For DC marriage licenses, you can apply in-person or online, but our customers have been reporting delays of up to 8 weeks or more to get their marriage license after applying online due to limited service at the DC Superior Court.
If you need to get married in the next 3 months, we recommend using our Legal Online Marriage Package. Otherwise, please see our DC Marriage License Requirements for more information on applying for a marriage license in DC.
When does a DC marriage license expire?
Once you have the license, there is no rush to perform the ceremony. DC marriage licenses never expire, so once you have it you can get legally married whenever you wish.
Can we get married the same day we arrive in Washington, DC?
Yes, but only if you’ve booked us for an elopement package that includes online legal marriage, or if you’ve already obtained a DC marriage license. For the fastest, easiest experience, we recommend doing your in-person elopement ceremony and online legal marriage separately (such as our Simple Elopements Package “B” or any of our Elopement Experiences™ packages) so you can get married at your convenience.
Can we get a marriage license in Washington DC if we aren’t DC residents?
Yes! DC law doesn’t require marriage license applicants to be residents of the District of Columbia. However, the DC Marriage Bureau has fairly strict documentation requirements (especially for international applicants using a passport for ID) so be sure to check out our DC Marriage License Requirements page before you apply.
Can I have a friend perform my wedding ceremony in Washington, DC?
Wedding ceremonies can only be legally performed in DC by authorized, registered wedding officiants who have been approved by the city and whose names are on file at the DC Marriage Bureau office. If you would like to have a friend or family member perform your ceremony, they will need to complete that process and pay a licensing fee, which takes at least a few days and up to 8 weeks when applying online.
DC Elopements has a staff of professional wedding officiants who are already authorized and on the list, and we are pleased to offer a number of packages and services to help you get married in DC. For a full menu of services and pricing, please visit our DC Marriage Services page.
Do we need to have any witnesses for the ceremony?
Our Legal Online Marriage Package does require two witnesses over the age of 18 be present on the web conference, or we can provide witnesses for $20 each. Witnesses are not required for marriages using a Washington, DC marriage license. All that is needed for the marriage to be legal is the signature of the authorized, registered wedding officiant whose name is printed on your DC marriage license.
Where can I get married?
If you are using any of our packages that include online legal marriage, then you can have your elopement ceremony anywhere you’d like! If you are using a DC marriage license, your ceremony must take place inside city limits of the District of Columbia. You may NOT use a DC marriage license to get married outside of the city. We do perform weddings in Maryland and Virginia, but you need to have the appropriate marriage license issued by the jurisdiction where your ceremony will take place.
If I want to get married outside of DC, what do I do?
The easiest thing to do is use our Legal Online Marriage Package to get legally married, then you can have your elopement ceremony wherever you’d like. In Maryland you will need to obtain a marriage license from the county in which you are being married. In Virginia, you can obtain a marriage license in any county and use it anywhere in the Commonwealth of Virginia. If you would like to get married in one of the other states that we serve, simply use our contact form and we will happily give you more information.
Do you have a place you recommend that we stay?
There are many wonderful hotels, inns, and Bed and Breakfasts where you can stay in DC. Many out-of-town couples chose a location that also allows them to get married in their room or in a part of the property. We offer recommendations for accommodations on our Recommended Professionals page.
For LGBTQ+ couples, the Dupont Circle neighborhood is really the epicenter of the LGBTQ+ community in Washington, D.C. It offers some of the city’s best restaurants and nightlife, and many of our couples choose to stay in this area.
We are coming to DC from out-of-state to get married, what do I need to know?
The first thing to know is that you can’t just show up and get married like you do in Vegas. The easiest thing to do is use our Legal Online Marriage Package to get legally married online, and then schedule your in-person DC elopement ceremony anytime you’d like. If you want to use a DC marriage license, you still need to take several hours on a weekday to go to the courthouse and attempt to get a license before you can be legally married. The DC Marriage Bureau now has an online marriage license application, but our customers have reported delays of up to 8 weeks or more in receiving marriage licenses and certified copies. Make sure that you have hired an authorized, registered officiant before you apply DC. You will need to provide the name of your officiant on the marriage application itself when you submit it, or the staff at the Marriage Bureau will not issue your license.
Can we choose which officiant will perform my ceremony?
We do allow you to select your specific officiant for full-scale wedding ceremonies, which are handled through our sister company, DC Officiants. Our license signing and elopement ceremonies are performed by the officiant that we have scheduled on your particular day. If you have a request for a specific staff member, please let us know prior to scheduling your service and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
Can you recommend any other professionals?
YES! We have worked in the wedding business in this area for over a decade and we know a ton of fabulous vendors – we are happy to recommend someone for any service. Take a look at our Recommended Professionals page, or contact us and we will be happy to help!