If you’re planning to get married soon—especially as part of an international relationship or immigration process—you’re probably asking:
👉 How long does it take to get a marriage license?
👉 Can we get married the same day?
👉 How do we get an apostille for international use?
At Get Married Today, we provide a fast and efficient solution for couples who need to get married quickly and need their marriage certificate recognized internationally. We not only help you get legally married on the same day, but we also assist with apostille certification so your marriage certificate can be used in other countries under the Hague Apostille Convention.
📍 Need to get married fast with international recognition? Book now at GetMarried.Today and let our team handle it all!
✅ How Long Does It Take to Get a Marriage License in California?
Short Answer:
In California, you can get a marriage license and be legally married on the same day—if you use a provider like Get Married Today.
Traditional Route (Courthouse):
If you go through a courthouse, the process can take:
- 1–2 weeks to get an appointment
- Several hours at the courthouse
- Up to 10 business days to receive the marriage certificate in the mail
- Extra processing time if you need an apostille
With Get Married Today:
- Marriage license issued on-site
- Same-day ceremony
- Marriage certificate processing immediately
- Apostille certification initiated within 24–48 hours
📍 Learn more about California marriage licenses at California Department of Public Health.
🕓 When Time Matters: Who Needs a Rapid Marriage License?
1. International Couples
🌍 Planning to marry in California and return home? Your marriage certificate needs an apostille for legal recognition in your home country.
📍 Learn how the Hague Apostille Convention works at HCCH.net.
2. Immigration Cases
🛂 Need to submit a marriage certificate with a green card or visa application? You need it fast and legally authenticated.
📍 Learn about marriage-based immigration at USCIS.
3. Military Couples
🎖 Before deployment, military couples often need to get legally married and submit documentation within days.
📍 Discover military marriage benefits at Military.com.
4. Last-Minute Elopements
💑 Want a spontaneous wedding that’s still 100% legal and internationally valid? We’ve got you covered.
📝 What You Need to Get a Marriage License
Whether you go through the courthouse or use our same-day service, here’s what you’ll need:
- Valid government-issued photo ID (passport, driver’s license, etc.)
- Full names, birth dates, and places of birth
- If previously married, proof of divorce or annulment
📍 See full requirements at US Marriage Laws.
📦 What’s Included in Our Same-Day Marriage Service
At Get Married Today, we make the process simple and streamlined:
✅ Issuing the Marriage License
Our team is authorized to issue Confidential Marriage Licenses, which do not require witnesses and are perfect for private elopements.
✅ Performing the Legal Ceremony
A licensed officiant performs your wedding ceremony on-site or at your chosen location.
✅ Filing the Marriage Certificate
We ensure that your signed certificate is filed with the county immediately for processing.
✅ Apostille Certification (Optional)
If you need to use your certificate abroad, we handle the apostille process through our partner Orange County Apostille.
🌍 What Is an Apostille, and Why Might You Need One?
An apostille is a special certificate issued by a government authority that validates a document for international use.
If you’re getting married in the U.S. but plan to use your marriage certificate in countries like:
- United Kingdom 🇬🇧
- Germany 🇩🇪
- Mexico 🇲🇽
- Australia 🇦🇺
…you’ll likely need an apostille.
📍 Learn about apostilles at the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
Countries That Require Apostille
Over 120 countries follow the Hague Apostille Convention, including:
- France
- Spain
- Brazil
- South Korea
- Japan
- Italy
📍 Full list of participating countries: HCCH Country List.
🌐 How We Expedite Apostille Processing
Most government offices take 2–4 weeks to issue an apostille. We can process it in as little as 1–3 business days thanks to our collaboration with Orange County Apostille.
Here’s how it works:
- We file your marriage certificate immediately.
- Our apostille partner picks up the document from the county recorder.
- The certificate is authenticated and apostilled.
- The apostilled document is shipped to you via express courier or email (scanned copy).
📍 Learn about expedited apostille services at Orange County Apostille.
📌 Top Locations for Same-Day Weddings in California
Want your wedding in a beautiful, stress-free location? We come to you!
🌴 Beach Weddings
- Laguna Beach – Visit Laguna Beach
- Santa Monica – Visit Santa Monica
🌺 Garden & Park Weddings
🏡 Home & Airbnb Weddings
- Host a cozy ceremony in your home or rental.
📍 Browse locations at Wedding Spot.
💬 What Our Couples Say
“We came from the UK and got married the same day. Apostille was done in 48 hours. Amazing service!”
– Sarah & Mark
“We needed our marriage certificate fast for my wife’s green card. Get Married Today handled everything.”
– Ricardo & Ana
“A beautiful sunset beach wedding, marriage license, and apostille in one week? Incredible.”
– Emily & Jens
🙋♀️ Frequently Asked Questions
Can We Get Married on the Same Day in California?
Yes! With Get Married Today, you can get your license and be legally married within hours.
Can I Use My Marriage Certificate in My Home Country?
Yes—with an apostille, your marriage certificate will be recognized in all Hague Convention countries.
How Long Does It Take to Get an Apostille?
We can process apostilles in 1–3 business days through our partner Orange County Apostille.
What If I’m Not a U.S. Citizen?
No problem! California does not require U.S. residency or citizenship to issue a marriage license.
📍 For more answers, visit GetMarried.Today.
✅ Summary: Why Use Get Married Today for a Fast Marriage & Apostille
| Feature | Traditional Process | Get Married Today |
|---|---|---|
| Same-Day Marriage License | ❌ | ✅ |
| On-Site Ceremony | ❌ | ✅ |
| Apostille Processing | ❌ (weeks) | ✅ (1–3 days) |
| Travel to Courthouse | ✅ | ❌ |
| Available 24/7 | ❌ | ✅ |
📝 Book Your Same-Day Marriage & Apostille Today
📍 Don’t wait! If you need a legal, fast, and internationally recognized marriage, book your appointment now at GetMarried.Today .
💍 Let Get Married Today help you:
✅ Get married in hours
✅ Get your marriage certificate filed
✅ Have your certificate apostilled for global use
Your love doesn’t have to wait—and neither should your marriage paperwork. ❤️