Late-Night, Weekend & Holiday Weddings: How to Get Married When the Clerk Isn’t Open | Get Married Today

Get Married Today · Southern California

Late-Night, Weekend & Holiday Weddings: How to Get Married When the Clerk Isn’t Open

The courthouse may be closed, but your wedding doesn’t have to wait. Discover how to get legally married late at night, on weekends, and on holidays in California using mobile officiants and same-day license solutions.

Late-night, weekend & holiday weddings · 24/7

“The clerk’s closed… can we still get married tonight?”

Yes. In many cases, you can still get legally married even when the county clerk’s office is closed for the evening, weekend, or a holiday. With authorized license issuers and mobile wedding officiants, you don’t have to wait for the next business day.

Perfect for

Spontaneous, urgent & holiday weddings

Where we can meet you

Homes · Hotels · Parks · Hospitals · More

✔️ Mobile officiants who can travel to you 24/7 in much of Orange County & nearby areas.
✔️ Options for same-day marriage license & ceremony when legally available.
✔️ Private elopements, living-room ceremonies, hotel-room weddings, and more.

🕒 Late-night & holiday timeline

A typical last-minute wedding flow

From “Let’s get married tonight” to “We’re officially married” in a few simple steps.

1

You decide you want to marry now—after work, from the hospital, during a holiday, or before a flight.
2

We confirm that you either have a valid California marriage license, or explore options to issue a license and perform the ceremony the same day where permitted.
3

A mobile officiant travels to you—home, hotel, park, hospital, or other agreed location— to conduct a legal ceremony.
4

The license is completed, signed, and returned to the appropriate county so your marriage is officially recorded.

Tip: If you know your preferred county, reviewing California marriage license basics in advance can save time.

Can you get married when the clerk’s office is closed?

Yes—if you plan correctly and understand your options. California law requires a valid marriage license and a ceremony performed by an authorized officiant, but it does not require the county clerk’s office to be open at the time of your ceremony.

Get Married Today focuses on helping couples create fast, legal, and dignified ceremonies when regular government offices are closed—including late nights, weekends, and many major holidays.

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Legal basics (California):

You must have a valid, unexpired marriage license issued by a California county.
An authorized officiant must perform the ceremony and complete the license.
Both parties must be present, coherent, and able to give consent.
Each party must present a valid government-issued photo ID.

Two main paths

Late-night, weekend & holiday wedding scenarios

Every couple is different, but most situations fall into one of these categories:

✔ You already have a license from the county clerk and simply need an officiant who can meet you and complete the ceremony.
✔ You need a license and a ceremony the same day, outside clerk hours, and want to explore authorized same-day license solutions.
✔ You’re out of time before deployment, travel, surgery, or a major life event and can’t wait for regular office hours.

Evening elopements Weekend weddings Holiday ceremonies Emergency weddings

We can travel to you 24/7

Not every couple can come to a chapel or courthouse—especially at the last minute. Get Married Today offers mobile wedding officiants who can travel to many locations across Orange County and surrounding areas at almost any hour, subject to availability and safety.

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Examples of where we can meet you:

Your home, apartment, or backyard.
Hotel rooms and suites near airports or business centers.
Scenic parks, overlooks, or beaches (where permitted).
Hospital rooms or nearby courtyards when a loved one cannot be moved.
Retirement communities and assisted living facilities.
Conference rooms or office spaces when time is critical.

For couples planning simple, private ceremonies at home or in a hotel, explore private elopement ceremony options and mobile wedding officiant services in Orange County.

24/7 mobile wedding “map”

On-site ceremony · You choose the spot

We regularly receive requests for late-night, weekend, and holiday weddings across Southern California.

🏠 Living room or backyard in Irvine, Anaheim, or Costa Mesa.

🏨 Hotel weddings near John Wayne Airport, LAX, or Disneyland.

🏖 Sunset or nightfall ceremonies at beaches where allowed.

🏥 Urgent hospital bedside weddings or courtyard ceremonies.

🌆 Downtown rooftops, city overlooks, or quiet parking areas.

🌙 Holiday-weekend elopements when the courthouse is dark.

For couples wanting more ideas, browse beach & park elopement inspiration in Orange County and pop-up wedding ceremonies in Southern California.

Legal requirements: IDs, coherence & witnesses

A late-night or holiday ceremony follows the same legal rules as a weekday wedding: the law protects you by requiring genuine consent and proper identification.

✔ Valid IDs: Both parties must present a valid government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID).
✔ Coherent & sober enough: Each person must be able to understand what marriage means and freely consent. If someone appears too impaired or confused, the officiant cannot proceed.
✔ Presence: Both parties must be physically present at the ceremony—no remote or proxy marriages.
✔ Witnesses: Depending on your license type, one or two witnesses may be required. (Some specialized licenses allow a ceremony without witnesses.)

For couples planning in advance, our overview on same-day marriage in Irvine, California explains how IDs, witnesses, and license types work for quick weddings.

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Why coherence matters:

California requires that the people getting married understand what they are doing. If one person is heavily medicated, intoxicated, or confused, the officiant must wait until they are clear and coherent.

This protects your marriage from being challenged later and ensures that your ceremony is respectful, valid, and truly voluntary.

Holiday, weekend & special-date weddings

Many couples intentionally choose to get married when the rest of the world is on pause—New Year’s Eve, holiday weekends, three-day weekends, or the final days of the year. With the right plan, you can still have a legal, meaningful ceremony even when the clerk’s windows are closed.

Popular “clerk is closed” wedding moments

These dates often land outside regular government office hours.

New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day midnight ceremonies.
Weekend elopements for couples who work long weekday hours.
Holiday weddings when out-of-town family is visiting.
End-of-year weddings to be married before a certain year ends.
Three-day weekend escapes that turn into surprise weddings.

For couples racing the calendar, see our guides on same-day marriage licenses in Orange County and last-minute weekend weddings in California.

Courthouse vs. mobile wedding

Why many couples choose a mobile officiant when time and date really matter.

✔ Courthouse: Limited weekday hours, closed on weekends and major holidays, often fully booked weeks in advance.
✔ Mobile officiant: Flexible times, including early morning, late night, and many holidays, at a location you choose.
✔ Courthouse: Quick but less personal service; ceremonies can feel rushed.
✔ Mobile officiant: Personalized vows, meaningful moments, and time to breathe—even when it’s last-minute.

To explore alternatives to a courthouse wedding, read about courthouse-alternative weddings in Orange County.

Step-by-step: How to get married when the clerk isn’t open

Every county is different, but this general roadmap can help you understand how late-night, weekend, and holiday weddings usually work with Get Married Today.

Confirm your license situation. If you already have a valid California marriage license, you’re ahead of schedule—we can focus on planning your ceremony. If not, we’ll explore whether a same-day marriage license & ceremony is available in your situation.

Choose the county and style of ceremony. Decide where you want your marriage recorded and what kind of ceremony you prefer—short and simple, semi-formal, or somewhere in between. Our guides to same-day marriage in Irvine and private elopements in Southern California can help.

Pick your location. Select a place where everyone can safely and comfortably gather—your living room, a favorite park bench, a hotel balcony, or another meaningful spot. Many couples also browse beach and park ideas in Orange County.

Prepare IDs, witnesses & any special requests. Make sure both of you bring valid IDs, and confirm who will act as witness(es) if required. If you’re blending traditions, keeping things completely private, or writing your own vows, we can help you shape the ceremony.

Complete the ceremony & license. Your officiant conducts the ceremony, oversees the signing of the license, and ensures it is returned for official recording. If you later need certified copies for international use, partners like Orange County Apostille can help.

If you’ll use your marriage certificate internationally

Many couples getting married late at night, on weekends, or holidays are doing so because they need paperwork for immigration, visas, or international recognition. Once your marriage license is recorded and you obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate, you may need additional steps such as apostille or legalization.

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Common next steps for international use:

Order certified copies of your marriage certificate from the county where it was recorded.
Have the certificate apostilled or legalized for use abroad.
Translate the document if required by the foreign country.

For document-related services, couples often work with:

➝ Orange County Apostille · California apostille services ➝ California apostille services in Orange County ➝ Apostille for California marriage certificates ➝ Your Local Notary Public · mobile notary & legal docs ➝ Mobile notary in Orange County, California ➝ Get Married Today · main page ➝ Same-day marriage license in Orange County ➝ Same-day marriage in Irvine, California ➝ Mobile wedding officiant in Orange County ➝ Emergency hospital wedding options ➝ Last-minute weekend weddings in California ➝ Courthouse-alternative weddings in Orange County ➝ Private elopement ceremonies in Southern California ➝ Same-day marriage for military couples ➝ Elope in Orange County beaches & parks ➝ How to get a California marriage license ➝ Wedding officiant for LGBTQ+ couples in Orange County ➝ Late-night wedding ceremonies in LA & Orange County ➝ Holiday engagement & elopement ideas in Orange County

Frequently asked questions about late-night, weekend & holiday weddings

Every couple’s situation is unique, especially when you’re racing the clock or planning around a holiday. These FAQs cover the questions we hear most often about getting married when the clerk’s office is closed.

Q1 Can we really get married late at night or on a holiday?

Yes, in many cases you can. As long as you have a valid California marriage license and an authorized officiant, your ceremony can happen outside clerk business hours— including late evenings, weekends, and many holidays.

Q2 Do we need to visit the courthouse on the same day as our ceremony?

Not necessarily. If you already have a valid marriage license, you don’t need to return to the courthouse on your ceremony day. Your officiant will complete the license and ensure it is returned to the county that issued it, so your marriage can be officially recorded.

Q3 What if we don’t have a marriage license yet?

If you don’t yet have a license, the first step is to determine whether a same-day marriage license and ceremony is available in your situation. Some authorized providers can issue licenses and perform ceremonies outside clerk hours. The specifics depend on location, timing, and your documents.

Q4 What IDs do we need to bring?

Each person must present a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, state ID, passport, or other acceptable document. The name on your ID should match the name you are using on your marriage license application, or you may be asked to provide supporting documents.

Q5 What does “coherent enough” mean in practice?

“Coherent enough” means that each person understands they are getting married, knows who they are marrying, and can answer basic questions about the ceremony. If someone appears too intoxicated, overmedicated, or confused, an ethical officiant must delay the ceremony until they are clearly able to consent.

Q6 Can you come to a hotel, Airbnb, or our home?

Yes. Mobile officiants frequently travel to private homes, apartments, backyards, hotels, and vacation rentals. These locations are ideal for late-night, weekend, and holiday weddings because they are comfortable, private, and not restricted by courthouse hours.

Q7 Can you perform a ceremony in a hospital?

When hospital policies allow it and the patient is coherent and able to consent, an officiant can perform a bedside or courtyard wedding. Couples considering this option often review emergency hospital wedding resources to understand what to expect.

Q8 Do we need witnesses for a late-night or holiday wedding?

Witness requirements depend on the type of marriage license you obtain. Many public licenses require at least one witness (and allow a second). Some specialized licenses may allow a ceremony without witnesses. Your officiant will clarify what is required based on your license type and county rules.

Q9 How long does the ceremony need to be?

The legal requirements are brief, but you can choose a ceremony that is as short or as personalized as you like. Some couples choose a simple five-minute civil-style ceremony; others include readings, vows, or faith-based elements. Even in emergencies, the moment can still feel deeply meaningful.

Q10 Can you help us if one of us is in the military or about to deploy?

Yes. Many urgent weddings involve deployments, PCS orders, or upcoming training. Resources such as same-day marriage for military couples explain how to plan an expedited ceremony that fits your timeline and documentation needs.

Q11 Can we have a late-night ceremony and a bigger celebration later?

Absolutely. Many couples choose a private, legally binding ceremony now—often at night or on a holiday— and then host a larger celebration or vow renewal later. Your legal marriage date will always reflect the date of the official ceremony, not the later party or reception.

Q12 Will our late-night or holiday wedding still be legally recognized?

Yes. If you follow California law—valid license, authorized officiant, required witnesses (if any), and coherent consent—your marriage is just as valid and recognized as any courthouse wedding, regardless of the time or date of the ceremony itself.

Q13 How soon will our marriage show up in county records?

After your ceremony, the completed marriage license is submitted to the county that issued it. Processing times vary by county and season. Once recorded, you can order certified copies, and then, if needed, proceed to services like Orange County Apostille for international use.

Q14 What if we need an apostille for our marriage certificate?

If your marriage certificate will be used outside the United States, you may need an apostille or embassy legalization. After you obtain certified copies of your certificate, an apostille service such as apostille for California marriage certificates can assist with international authentication.

Q15 Can you accommodate LGBTQ+ couples for late-night or holiday weddings?

Yes. Get Married Today welcomes and supports LGBTQ+ couples. Our LGBTQ+ wedding officiant services cover late-night, weekend, and holiday ceremonies with inclusive, affirming language tailored to your relationship.

Q16 Do we need a special type of license for a holiday or weekend wedding?

You don’t need a “holiday license,” but you do need a California marriage license that is valid on the day of your ceremony. Some couples obtain a regular license in advance; others explore options where the license is issued and used on the same day through authorized issuers.

Q17 Can you help if we’re flying in from out of state or another country?

Yes. Many couples fly in specifically to marry in Southern California. You’ll need to ensure you meet California’s identity and documentation requirements and have enough time to obtain or use your marriage license while you are here. Guides such as how to get a California marriage license are a helpful starting point.

Q18 Will our quick wedding still feel special?

Fast does not have to mean impersonal. Even a short, late-night or holiday ceremony can include vows, meaningful words, and small symbolic touches. Many couples later say that their “rush” wedding felt more intimate and personal than they ever expected.

Q19 Is there a dress code for a late-night or emergency ceremony?

There’s no legal dress code. Some couples choose formal attire; others arrive in work clothes, casual outfits, or even pajamas for a fun, spontaneous feel. The most important things are your license, IDs, coherence, and willingness to say “I do”—everything else is optional.

Q20 Where can we read more about same-day and last-minute weddings?

Get Married Today offers multiple guides for couples on tight timelines, including same-day marriage in Irvine, last-minute weekend weddings in California, and courthouse-alternative weddings in Orange County.