Why Do You Have to Wait Three Days to Get Married?
(And How to Skip the Waiting Period Entirely With Get Married Today)
Introduction: The Mystery of the Three-Day Wait
If you’ve ever wondered why some places make you wait before tying the knot, you’re not alone. Across the United States and beyond, several states enforce a mandatory waiting period between applying for a marriage license and getting married. In some cases, this delay can be three days or more — which may come as a frustrating surprise to couples who are ready to make it official, fast.
Whether you’re planning a spontaneous elopement, traveling to get married, or simply don’t want to deal with bureaucratic delays, the idea of having to “wait” after making a deeply personal decision can feel unnecessary. So, what’s the deal?
In this article, we’ll explore why the three-day waiting period exists, which states enforce it, how to avoid it legally, and — most importantly — how you can get married the same day through Get Married Today, a 24/7 licensed marriage service in California offering same-day marriage licenses and wedding ceremonies in one seamless appointment.
Ready to skip the wait and get married instantly?
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1. The Legal Reason: What Is a Marriage Waiting Period?
A marriage waiting period is the required time between when you apply for your marriage license and when you’re legally allowed to use it to get married. In states with a waiting period, you can’t have a ceremony or file your marriage certificate until the clock runs out.
Why Do Some States Require a Waiting Period?
The waiting period is primarily designed to:
- Discourage impulsive marriages
- Provide time for couples to reconsider their decision
- Ensure all required documentation is valid and verified
- Allow time for objections (in historical contexts)
- Give counties time to process paperwork
But here’s the thing — many states, including California, do not have any waiting period at all.
✅ In California, you can:
- Apply for a confidential marriage license
- Get married immediately
- Have your license filed and recorded the same day
📍Learn how same-day marriage works in California
2. Which States Require a Waiting Period (and Which Don’t)?
While not every state requires couples to wait before marriage, many still do — and the policies vary widely.
📌 States With a Waiting Period
Here are some examples:
| State | Waiting Period |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 6 days after applying |
| Minnesota | 5 days after applying |
| Illinois | 1 day (24 hours) |
| Delaware | 24 hours |
| Iowa | 3 days unless waived |
| Louisiana | 24 hours unless waived |
| Texas | 72 hours unless waived |
| Florida | 3 days unless premarital course is completed |
| Maryland | 48 hours |
See official marriage license requirements by state (CDC)
📌 States With No Waiting Period
Couples can marry the same day they get their license in:
- California
- Nevada
- Colorado
- Alabama
- Idaho
- Georgia
- Montana
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
💡 Travel tip: If you’re in a waiting-period state, you can fly to California and get legally married the same day through Get Married Today.
👉 Plan your instant California wedding now
3. Why the Law Requires a Waiting Period: 7 Historical and Legal Reasons
Waiting periods might feel outdated, but here’s where they came from:
1. To Prevent Impulsive Marriages
States wanted couples to reflect before making a lifelong commitment. The idea was to provide a “cooling off” period, much like laws for large purchases or contract cancellations.
2. To Allow for Parental or Legal Objections
Historically, a delay gave families or communities time to object to an unlawful or improper union.
3. To Verify Documentation
Early legal systems didn’t have digital record access, so clerks needed time to verify identity, age, prior marriages, and other eligibility requirements.
4. To Prevent Fraud
Waiting periods were one tool to discourage marriage-for-immigration scams or rushed marriages for benefits.
5. To Align with Religious Customs
In some regions, the law accommodated traditional wedding planning or church-based approvals that took days or weeks.
6. To Reduce Public Burden
By discouraging quickie weddings, some localities hoped to reduce annulments, court processing, and future divorce rates.
7. To Encourage Premarital Education
Some states (like Florida) incentivize couples to take premarital counseling by waiving the waiting period if they do so.
Still, not everyone has the luxury of waiting. That’s where Get Married Today comes in.