We are a group of professional wedding officiants who are all legally authorized to perform marriages in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Our company offers several different services for couples wishing to elope in Virginia, and we are experts in the legal issues relating to Virginia marriage. We also provide wedding officiant services for full-scale wedding ceremonies, which include a fully customized ceremony tailored specifically to your unique needs.
They say “Virginia is for Lovers” and we couldn’t agree more! Virginia is a very popular destination for elopements because there is no waiting period after obtaining a marriage license – engaged couples can apply for and pick up their Virginia marriage license at the courthouse and get married the same day. This makes Virginia an ideal place to get married quickly and easily.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Virginia Marriage License Requirements
While getting authorized to perform marriages as a minister in Virginia is rather difficult, it’s actually relatively easy to obtain a marriage license in Virginia. Couples considering Virginia for their marriage will be pleased to know that there is no waiting period for getting married – you can have your wedding ceremony the same day you get your license. Virginia’s marriage license requirements are among the friendliest in the nation for engaged couples, but finding an officiant authorized to perform marriages in Virginia is considerably more difficult than in other states. See below for information regarding Virginia’s marriage laws and the process for applying for a marriage license.
Virginia Marriage Laws
Virginia’s marriage laws are applicable state-wide, meaning that the same rules apply no matter what county or city you want to be married in. Virginia Elopements™ has been performing wedding ceremonies in Virginia years, and we are very familiar with the legal landscape in Virginia for both straight and same-sex couples. Virginia marriage legal highlights include:
- Marriage licenses are issues by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in any county or city in the Commonwealth of Virginia and can be used anywhere in Virginia.
- Both parties must appear in person together to apply for a marriage license in Virginia
- Both parties must bring with them proper identification – a current, valid US driver’s license, military ID, passport, or notarized copy of a birth certificate. TIP: It’s normally a good idea to bring multiple forms of ID with you to the courthouse in case you run into any problems.
- The minimum legal age to be married in Virginia without parental consent is 18 years of age.
- There is no blood test for a Virginia Marriage License.
- Virginia has specific prohibitions against marrying family members – contact a Circuit Court in Virginia for more information.
- Virginia also has prohibitions in place when one or both parties lacks the mental capacity to enter into a legal agreement.
- As of October 6, 2014, same-sex couples can be legally married in Virginia.
To apply for a Virginia Marriage License, visit a Circuit Court anywhere in the Commonwealth and complete a marriage license application. Marriage licenses are issued on-the-spot, and can be used immediately. Virginia does not offer “courthouse weddings.” In some jurisdictions you may have the option to be married by a Marriage Commissioner, but there are often restrictions on who may attend and what services are provided. Our Virginia Elopements™ wedding officiants have no restrictions, please visit our Virginia Marriage Services page for more details and pricing.
Of course, if you have any questions or would like to check our availability for your date, please contact us today!