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With the U.S. federal government currently in a shutdown as of October 1, 2025, many couples may be asking: Does this mean we can’t get married today? If you’re planning to tie the knot in California—especially under a tight timeline—here’s what you need to know about how a federal shutdown could (or could not) affect your wedding plans, and how Get Married Today stays open for your big day.

What Does a Federal Government Shutdown Actually Affect?

A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass appropriations or a continuing resolution to fund federal agencies. As a result, many non-essential federal operations pause, and federal employees may be furloughed. Wikipedia+2ABC News+2

However, the key thing to understand is that marriage licensing and ceremonies in California are managed at the county and state level, not federally. The shutdown does not automatically close or suspend county clerk offices or local courts across all states.

That said, in jurisdictions or special districts where local operations are intertwined with federal funding (for instance, Washington, D.C.), marriage license issuance may be halted during a shutdown. CBS News+2Yahoo News+2

In short: A federal shutdown doesn’t necessarily stop marriages in California—but local operations might be impacted elsewhere.

How Get Married Today Remains Operational During a Shutdown

One of the core differentiators of Get Married Today is that we are authorized agents able to issue marriage licenses and perform ceremonies independently of the county clerk window. Even when government offices are closed, here’s how we keep your wedding moving:

  1. Book your appointment — Online or by phone.
  2. License issuance — Our team issues your legal marriage license in-house.
  3. Ceremony — Whether at our Orange County chapels (Anaheim, Irvine, San Juan Capistrano) or at your chosen location, we officiate on the same day.
  4. Legal recognition — You leave legally married, with certified documents.

You never have to wait for the county clerk to “open again” in order to get married. (We described this process in detail in our post Love Doesn’t Wait: Get Married Today Still Operating During the Government Shutdown. ) Get Married Today – Same Day Marriage

We also provide apostille, notary, and certified copy services, so that your marriage certificate is valid for international use—even when some government offices are offline. Get Married Today – Same Day Marriage

What If the County Clerk Office Is Closed?

In a scenario where a county clerk or recorder’s office suspends services (e.g. no counter, no filing, no public access), couples relying solely on county operations might face delays in:

  • Obtaining a marriage license from the clerk
  • Filing the signed license or certificate
  • Requesting certified copies from the clerk’s office

However, because Get Married Today acts as a licensed issuing agent, you bypass that bottleneck entirely.

If your plan was to go through the county clerk, you could be delayed until offices reopen. We caution couples not to depend solely on clerk availability during the shutdown.

Key Things to Confirm Before Your Wedding

Even with Get Married Today, it’s always wise to double-check a few things:

  • Your county or city laws—Some regions may have quirks or temporary interruptions
  • That your officiant is properly commissioned and certified to issue licenses
  • The validity window for your license (some counties require marriage within 90 days, others shorter)
  • Documentation required — identification, age, previous marriage dissolution, etc.
  • If you require international recognition — whether apostille or embassy registration will be impacted by any closed services

Why the Shutdown Is Unlikely to Derail Your Wedding in California

  • The federal shutdown is not a shutdown of all government—many state and local functions continue. CalMatters+1
  • California’s state and local systems are not directly tied to federal appropriations in terms of issuing marriage licenses
  • Get Married Today is structured to operate independently of county clerk hours or closures
  • Even in places like D.C., where local courts’ operations are intertwined with federal funding, marriage services have been paused—but that doesn’t apply in California. CBS News+1

What Couples Can Do Right Now

  1. Book with a trusted service (like Get Married Today) that can operate regardless of government hours.
  2. Gather your documents now—IDs, divorce or death certificates (if applicable), proof of age, etc.
  3. If you’re relying on county operations, check with your local clerk about open hours or closures.
  4. Ask about apostille / notarial needs early if your marriage will be used internationally.
  5. Don’t delay — love doesn’t have to wait for bureaucracy.

  1. /locations/orange-county-chapel
  2. /locations/irvine-office
  3. /locations/san-juan-capistrano-elopements
  4. /services/apostille
  5. /services/notary
  6. /faq/marriage-license-requirements
  7. /faq/international-marriage
  8. /blog/love-doesnt-wait-government-shutdown
  9. /blog/same-day-marriage-process
  10. /blog/why-elope-in-california
  11. /blog/military-marriage-services
  12. /blog/immigration-marriage
  13. /blog/holiday-wedding-availability
  14. calmatters.org “What a government shutdown means for Californians” CalMatters
  15. abcnews article on government shutdown ABC News
  16. wikipedia page on 2025 government shutdown Wikipedia
  17. wtop FAQ on shutdown WTOP News
  18. getmarried.today “Get Married Today Still Operating During Shutdown” Get Married Today – Same Day Marriage
  19. yahoo news on halting marriage licenses in DC Yahoo News
  20. cbs news “D.C. courts stop issuing marriage licenses” passage CBS News
  21. calmatters org (same as link 14) or another CalMatters piece
  22. local county clerk websites (for your county of interest)
  23. state of California’s vital records / marriage bureau page
  24. National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) marriage licensing overview
  25. U.S. Government “Shutdown” overview page

Conclusion

A federal government shutdown in 2025 may seem alarming, but it doesn’t have to derail your wedding plans in California. Because Get Married Today operates independently of county clerk constraints, you can still get legally married today—even while many government offices are closed.

Don’t let a lapse in federal funding stop your love story. Contact us now and let’s make sure you say “I do” on your schedule.