6cb1745c-2d95-4c51-9a0f-581550b0ae7b - Get Married Today

UncategorizedApril 7, 2025April 7, 2025Camden AlchanatiNo Comments

Is a Wedding Ceremony Required to Be Legally Married?

Planning a wedding can be a beautiful and exciting experience—but it can also bring a lot of questions. One of the most frequently asked is:

“Is a wedding ceremony required to be legally married?”

At Get Married Today, we understand that not every couple wants a traditional wedding. Some just want to make it official—fast, easy, and legally binding. If you’re wondering whether a ceremony is necessary to legally marry, the answer might surprise you.

📍 If you’re ready to get legally married without the stress of a big event, book your same-day marriage appointment at GetMarried.Today!

Short Answer: No, a Wedding Ceremony Is Not Required in the Traditional Sense

To be legally married in the United States, including California, you do not need a big wedding with a venue, reception, and all the extras. What you do need, however, is a legal marriage ceremony performed by an authorized officiant, and you must fulfill the legal requirements of your state.

So, while the ceremony doesn’t have to be elaborate, it is a part of the legal process. It’s not optional—but it can be as simple as a five-minute legal exchange with a licensed officiant.

Let’s break it all down.

What Makes a Marriage Legal?

To understand whether a wedding ceremony is required, you need to know what makes a marriage legally valid. Here are the general legal steps to becoming married in California (requirements may vary slightly by state):

1. Apply for a Marriage License

A marriage license is the legal document that allows you to marry.

📍 Learn about California marriage license requirements at California Department of Public Health.

2. Have a Ceremony (It Can Be Very Simple)

Once you have a marriage license, you must have a legal ceremony, during which:

The couple declares consent to marry.
A licensed officiant conducts the ceremony.
The license is signed by the couple, the officiant, and a witness (unless you use a Confidential License in California, which does not require a witness).

📍 Find out how Confidential Marriage Licenses work at US Marriage Laws.

3. Return the Marriage License to the County

After the ceremony, the officiant is responsible for submitting the signed license to the county so that your marriage becomes officially recorded.

📍 Order certified copies of your certificate at VitalChek.

What Is a “Legal Ceremony” and How Simple Can It Be?

A legal ceremony does not have to be a traditional wedding. It just needs to follow a few legal formalities.

Here’s what’s required:
✅ You must say your intent to marry in front of a licensed officiant.
✅ The officiant must be legally authorized to perform marriages.
✅ The officiant must complete and sign the marriage license.
✅ The license must be returned to the county.

That’s it. The entire process can take as little as 10–15 minutes.

📍 Learn about civil ceremonies at Brides.

Do You Need to Say Vows?

No. There’s no legal requirement to exchange personal vows or rings. Some couples opt to just say, “Yes, I do,” and that’s all that’s needed to legally consent to marriage.

📍 Get vow ideas or alternatives at The Knot.

Do You Need a Venue, Decorations, or Guests?

Absolutely not. None of those are required for a legal marriage. In fact, couples can get married:

In a private home
At a public park
At a courthouse
In an office with a notary public/officiant

📍 Want to get married in California without the fuss? Book at GetMarried.Today.

Get Married Today: Simple, Legal, and Fast

At Get Married Today, we provide everything you need to get legally married—without needing a traditional wedding. We specialize in:

Same-day marriage licenses
Legally binding ceremonies
Confidential marriage licenses (no witness required)
Mobile officiant services (we come to you!)
24/7 availability including weekends and holidays

📍 Book your appointment today at GetMarried.Today

What If You’re Getting Married for Immigration Purposes?

📑 A legal marriage certificate is essential if you’re applying for a marriage-based green card, K-1 visa adjustment, or spousal residency.

You don’t need a big wedding—just a valid marriage license and legally officiated ceremony.

📍 Read about marriage and immigration at USCIS.
📍 Learn about fast, legal weddings for immigration at Boundless.

Do You Need an Apostille for International Use?

If you’re from another country and want your U.S. marriage to be recognized back home, you’ll need an apostille certificate.

We partner with Orange County Apostille to offer apostille certification, so your marriage certificate is valid worldwide under The Hague Apostille Convention.

📍 Learn more at HCCH – Hague Apostille Convention.

Perfect for Military Members and Elopements

🎖 Service members often need to marry quickly for:

BAH housing allowance
TRICARE health coverage
Spouse inclusion in orders

We offer fast, flexible solutions for military couples—with same-day service and legal certification.

📍 Learn about military marriage benefits at Military.com.

Benefits of Skipping the Big Wedding

If you’re unsure whether a full-scale wedding is for you, here’s why thousands of couples are choosing to marry legally without a ceremony:

✅ Save Money

The average U.S. wedding costs over $30,000 (The Knot). Skip the expense!

✅ Avoid Stress

Wedding planning is stressful. We remove the pressure so you can focus on your relationship.

✅ Focus on What Matters

By skipping the event, you focus on the marriage, not the production.

✅ Travel Friendly

Visitors from the UK, Germany, Australia, and other countries can legally marry while in California.

📍 Plan a travel elopement at Visit California.

Ready to Get Married Without a Wedding?

You don’t need a big wedding to make your marriage legal, beautiful, and memorable. At Get Married Today, we offer:

✔ Same-day legal marriage services
✔ Marriage license + ceremony in one visit
✔ No guests, no decorations, no pressure
✔ Legally recognized worldwide