Where Can I Find a Same-Day Wedding Officiant?
When love can’t wait, neither should your wedding. Whether you’re eloping, need to legalize your relationship for immigration, military, or travel reasons—or simply want a spontaneous yet meaningful ceremony—you might be asking: Where can I find a same-day wedding officiant?
At Get Married Today, we provide licensed officiants across California who are available 24/7, even on weekends and holidays, to perform legally binding weddings—with or without a traditional ceremony. We also issue marriage licenses and provide same-day apostille certification when required.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn:
- What a wedding officiant is and what they do
- Legal requirements for officiants by state
- How to find an officiant on short notice
- Services available through Get Married Today
- Top 10 reasons people need a same-day officiant
- How to avoid common mistakes when hiring an officiant
- Real-life same-day wedding success stories
- Bonus: List of California cities where same-day officiants are available
What Is a Wedding Officiant?
A wedding officiant is the person legally authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony and sign the marriage license. In many U.S. states, officiants can be:
- Religious leaders (priests, ministers, rabbis, imams)
- Judges or justices of the peace
- Civil celebrants
- County clerks or deputy marriage commissioners
- Licensed non-denominational officiants like those at Get Married Today
To ensure your marriage is legally binding, your officiant must:
- Have legal authority in the state of the ceremony
- Sign and return your marriage license to the appropriate county clerk’s office
Legal Requirements for Wedding Officiants in the U.S.
Before you find a same-day officiant, it’s important to know if your officiant is legally allowed to marry you in your state.
California
- Does not require officiants to register with the state
- Accepts ministers, rabbis, judges, and ordained officiants—including online ordinations
- At Get Married Today, all our officiants are legally authorized to marry you anywhere in California
Other States (Brief Comparison)
| State | Officiant Registration Required? | Online Ordination Accepted? |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | No | Yes |
| New York | Yes (in NYC) | Yes |
| Texas | No | Yes |
| Florida | No | Yes |
| Illinois | No | Yes |
Why Someone Might Need a Same-Day Wedding Officiant
People choose same-day officiants for various reasons. Here are some of the most common:
1. Military Deployment
Service members often need to marry before deployment to secure spousal benefits, housing allowances, or base access.
2. Immigration Paperwork
Couples often need proof of legal marriage quickly to apply for green cards, visas, or spousal sponsorship.
3. Last-Minute Elopement
Some couples simply want to get married today without the stress of planning a big wedding.
4. Medical Emergency
When a loved one is hospitalized, couples may rush to get married to make medical decisions or secure rights.
5. Travel or Relocation
If you’re moving abroad or traveling for an extended period, getting married legally before departure might be urgent.
6. Court Deadline
Some couples marry quickly to meet deadlines set by family court, tax purposes, or legal agreements.
7. Pregnancy or Birth of a Child
Some parents prefer to be legally married before or after welcoming a child.
8. Holidays and Symbolic Dates
Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve, or numerically significant dates like 2/22/22 are popular choices for spontaneous weddings.
9. Surprise Weddings or Pop-Up Ceremonies
Some couples plan a surprise wedding during a party or vacation and need an officiant on the spot.
10. A Change of Heart
Sometimes, love simply can’t wait. You wake up and decide—today’s the day.
Where to Find a Same-Day Wedding Officiant
1. Get Married Today — Your One-Stop Solution
Get Married Today offers:
- Licensed officiants available 24/7
- Mobile services to your home, hotel, or favorite beach
- Marriage license issuance at the same time
- Optional same-day apostille for international use
- No courthouse visit required
📍 We serve all of Southern California, including:
Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Diego County, and Ventura County.
🔗 Book now: https://getmarried.today
2. County Clerk’s Office
Some counties offer marriage commissioners who can officiate, but they often require appointments, ID checks, and are closed on weekends.
3. Freelance Officiants on Online Platforms
You can search on:
- Thumbtack
- The Knot
- WeddingWire
- Yelp
These may have varying prices, limited availability, and no option to issue a marriage license.
4. Churches and Religious Institutions
Some may have on-call clergy, but they may require pre-marital counseling or church membership.
Why Choose Get Married Today for Same-Day Officiants?
Here’s what sets us apart:
| Feature | Get Married Today | County Clerk | Online Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available 24/7 | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Marriage license + officiant combo | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Available weekends/holidays | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Same-day apostille option | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Military/immigration discounts | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Real Same-Day Wedding Stories
💍 Vanessa & Leo (Military Couple, Oceanside)
Leo was set to deploy in 48 hours. Get Married Today issued the license, officiated the wedding in Laguna Beach, and gave them certified copies—all in one day.
👰 Carla & Raj (Immigration Emergency, Santa Ana)
Raj’s visa was expiring, and they needed to submit marriage paperwork. Within 3 hours, they had a marriage license and a legal ceremony performed by our team in Irvine.
💒 Madison & Emma (Surprise Elopement, Joshua Tree)
On vacation in Joshua Tree, they decided to elope under the stars. Our officiant met them that night and filed everything the next morning.
Questions to Ask a Same-Day Wedding Officiant
Before you book, ask:
- Are you licensed to perform weddings in this state?
- Can you issue the marriage license, or do I need to go to the county?
- How quickly will you file the marriage license after the ceremony?
- Are you available today, this evening, or tomorrow morning?
- Do you offer bilingual officiants?
- Can you come to our home, hotel, hospital, or beach?
- Can you perform civil, religious, or custom ceremonies?
- Can we get certified copies or apostille service from you?
At Get Married Today, we answer “Yes” to all the above.
Top 10 Cities Where You Can Book a Same-Day Wedding Officiant with Us
- Los Angeles – We offer courthouse-style elopements without the wait.
- Santa Ana – License and ceremony in one visit, no court hassle.
- Anaheim – Great for elopements near Disneyland or hotels.
- San Juan Capistrano – Romantic locations and private officiants.
- West Hollywood – LGBTQ+ inclusive officiants available 24/7.
- Irvine – Home base for quick license issuance and ceremonies.
- Riverside – Military and immigration-focused service available.
- San Diego – Beaches, elopements, and fast officiation.
- Beverly Hills – VIP weddings and confidential licenses available.
- Long Beach – Boat weddings and waterfront ceremonies with a same-day officiant.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you marry us at our home?
Yes! Our officiants are mobile and will come to your home, hotel, or other location of your choice.
What documents do we need?
A valid photo ID (passport, driver’s license, etc.). No birth certificate or social security number is required for a confidential marriage license in California.
Can we get married without witnesses?
Yes, if you choose a confidential marriage license (available through Get Married Today), you don’t need witnesses.
How fast can we get our marriage certificate?
We can file your license with the county clerk the same day. You can request certified copies immediately afterward.
What if we need to use our marriage certificate overseas?
We offer apostille certification services—perfect for immigration, visas, or foreign legal use.
Ready to Say “I Do” Today?
Love doesn’t always follow a calendar—and neither do we.
Whether you’re dealing with an emergency, have a deadline, or simply want a private and meaningful ceremony today, Get Married Today is here to help. Our team of licensed officiants, marriage license agents, and document specialists will walk you through every step.
🎯 One call. One visit. One legally binding marriage.
📞 Call or text: (714) 248-8500
🌐 Book online now: https://getmarried.today
📍 Serving all of Southern California