Legal Marriage in Hospitals – 24/7 Bedside Weddings
When a loved one is in the hospital, time and mobility are limited — but your right to a fully legal marriage is not. With Get Married Today, you can complete your confidential California marriage license, hold a meaningful bedside ceremony, and have everything filed with the county without ever visiting the courthouse.
Bedside Weddings Across Southern California Hospitals
Get Married Today travels throughout Southern California to issue your confidential California marriage license and perform a legally binding ceremony directly inside the hospital — whether you are in an intensive care unit, a private room, maternity, hospice, rehabilitation, or a long-term care setting. Our mobile service builds on the same process outlined on our Same Day Marriage at Your Location page, specifically adapted for hospitals.
Examples of Hospitals We Can Visit 24/7
These are examples of facilities where couples often request bedside ceremonies. We are not affiliated with these hospitals, and all visits must comply with each facility’s security and visitor policies.
| Region | Example Hospitals |
|---|---|
| Orange County | UCI Medical Center (Orange), Hoag Hospital Newport Beach, Hoag Hospital Irvine, Providence St. Joseph Hospital (Orange) |
| Los Angeles County | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA Health – Ronald Reagan Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center |
| San Diego County | Sharp Memorial Hospital, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, UC San Diego Health facilities |
| Inland Empire & Beyond | Loma Linda University Medical Center, Riverside Community Hospital, Kaiser facilities in Riverside & San Bernardino counties |
If your hospital is outside these examples, our core mobile marriage services still apply. We can travel to most hospitals and care facilities across Southern California as long as visitor access and hospital administration policies allow it.
Counties We Commonly Serve
We align our hospital visits with the same counties where we regularly support couples with same-day marriage services:
- Orange County – supported by the Orange County Clerk-Recorder
- Los Angeles County – overseen by the LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
- San Diego County – marriage records through San Diego County Clerk
- Riverside & San Bernardino Counties – regional medical centers and community hospitals
Regardless of where the hospital is located, your marriage will follow the same legal standards described on the Get Married Today marriage requirements page.
How a Legal Hospital Marriage Works with Get Married Today
A hospital wedding uses the same end-to-end structure as any other appointment with Get Married Today: one visit, every legal step. The main difference is that we bring the process to the patient’s bedside instead of asking you to visit a chapel or courthouse.
- Coordinate with the Hospital Team – Before your appointment, a family member or partner confirms visiting hours, room location, and any special rules (ICU limits, infection control, number of visitors). Hospital staff may provide helpful guidance on timing and privacy.
- Confirm Legal Capacity & Consent – Under California law, both parties must understand they are getting married, be able to communicate that decision, and consent freely. If a patient is heavily sedated, disoriented, or unable to respond coherently, we cannot proceed until their condition improves.
- We Travel to the Hospital – Our authorized marriage license issuer and officiant arrive at the hospital with all required paperwork, mirroring the mobile services described on Same Day Marriage at Your Location.
- Verify IDs & Background Details – Both parties must have valid, government-issued photo identification. We follow the same standards listed in the Marriage Requirements checklist and Confidential Marriage License page.
- Issue the Confidential Marriage License – At bedside or in a quiet consultation space, we prepare and issue your confidential California marriage license. You review all details and sign in person.
- Conduct the Bedside Ceremony – A brief, meaningful ceremony is performed in compliance with California law. You may include family members, short readings, vows, or spiritual elements, or keep it simple and civil.
- Officiant Signature & Filing – The officiant signs the license as minister, and we file the completed license with the appropriate county so your marriage becomes part of the official record.
- Proof of Marriage & Future Documentation – After filing, you can request certified copies through the county or use our guidance, similar to the process used for couples on Marriage for Immigration Purposes and international marriages.
Eligibility, Capacity & Documentation in a Hospital Setting
IDs & Documentation Needed
For a hospital wedding, you will generally need the same documents required for any Get Married Today appointment, as detailed on the Marriage Requirements page:
- Valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID for both parties (driver’s license, state ID, passport, military ID, or similar).
- Approximate date and manner of any previous marriage ending (divorce, death, annulment). Within 2 years, proof may be needed.
- Basic background information such as parents’ names and places of birth.
- Confirmation that you are living together or intend to live together as spouses, as required for a confidential license.
For general state guidance on vital records and licenses, couples can also review the California Department of Public Health resources.
Capacity & Coherence at the Bedside
Hospital weddings often involve fragile health situations, so we pay special attention to capacity and consent:
- Both parties must be awake, oriented enough to know who they are marrying, and able to answer basic questions.
- Speech does not need to be perfect, but the person must communicate agreement in a clear way (spoken words, nodding, or other reliable methods).
- If medication or sedation affects awareness, we may ask nurses, doctors, or social workers for input before moving forward.
- No one may be pressured, coerced, or rushed into marriage. Consent must be voluntary and knowing.
Our approach is consistent with California legal marriage standards and echoed in guidance found on Get Married Today’s FAQ and confidential license resources.
Common Situations for Legal Hospital Marriages
A hospital setting can be emotional, but it is also a place where legal clarity and family unity matter most. Get Married Today supports couples in a wide range of circumstances:
- End-of-life or critical illness: Ensuring your partner has clear legal standing for medical decisions, next-of-kin notification, and estate planning.
- Maternity & newborn care: Celebrating a new chapter while establishing a legal marriage before or after birth.
- Emergency surgery or sudden diagnosis: Providing peace of mind before a procedure or during an unexpected hospital stay.
- Immigration & benefits: Obtaining a valid marriage certificate to support immigration filings, insurance enrollment, and other benefits, using the same framework as our immigration-focused marriages.
- Military families: Aligning hospital-based weddings with timelines for deployment, PCS orders, or access to spousal benefits, similar to the support described on Military Marriage Resources.
After your hospital ceremony, certified copies of your marriage certificate can also be authenticated for international use through trusted partners such as Orange County Apostille, and supporting paperwork can be notarized through Your Local Notary Public when needed.
Top Resources for Legal Hospital Marriages
These resources help you understand the legal framework for your hospital wedding, from marriage requirements and confidential licenses to county record offices and hospital information pages.
- Get Married Today – Same Day Marriage Services
- Get Married Today – Marriage Requirements Checklist
- Confidential Marriage License – Get Married Today
- Same Day Marriage at Your Location
- Same Day Marriage in Irvine, California
- Marriage for Immigration Purposes – Get Married Today
- Get Legally Married on Holidays – Get Married Today
- Frequently Asked Questions – Get Married Today
- Same Day Marriage in California for International Couples
- Military Marriage Resources – Get Married Today
- Orange County Apostille – Apostille & Legalization
- Your Local Notary Public – Notary Services
- California Department of Public Health – Vital Records & Marriage
- Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk – Marriage Services
- Orange County Clerk-Recorder – Marriage & Vital Records
- San Diego County Clerk – Marriage Services
- UCI Health – UCI Medical Center
- Hoag Hospital – Newport Beach & Irvine
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- UCLA Health – Hospitals & Clinics
Hospital Marriage FAQ – Legal Bedside Weddings
1. Can we really get legally married inside a hospital room?
Yes. As long as both parties have valid ID, meet California’s marriage requirements, and can provide clear consent, Get Married Today can issue your confidential marriage license and perform a legal ceremony directly in the hospital. The setting can be a private room, ICU (if permitted), maternity ward, or another approved area.
2. Do both parties need to be physically present together?
Yes. California law requires both individuals to be present when the license is issued and the ceremony is performed. We cannot perform a proxy marriage except in very limited military circumstances governed by state law. Both partners must be together at the hospital during the appointment.
3. What if one partner is in the ICU or heavily sedated?
We can visit ICU patients when hospital policy allows, but we can only proceed if the patient is coherent enough to understand the marriage and clearly consent. If sedation, pain, or medical condition prevents meaningful communication, we will wait until the patient’s condition improves or reschedule.
4. What IDs are required for a hospital wedding?
Both parties must have valid, government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID, passport, military ID, or other acceptable identification. This mirrors the requirements listed on the Get Married Today requirements page. We cannot proceed without proper identification for both partners.
5. Can family members help if the patient cannot sign easily?
Family members can assist physically (for example, helping hold a pen), but the decision and consent must clearly come from the patient. If necessary, we may use alternate signing methods allowed by law, so long as the signer understands what they are doing and is giving their own consent.
6. Is the hospital wedding as legal as a courthouse wedding?
Absolutely. When your confidential marriage license is issued by Get Married Today and your ceremony is properly performed and filed with the county, your marriage is legally identical to one performed at a courthouse or county clerk’s office. The difference is convenience and location, not legality.
7. Do we need witnesses for a hospital wedding?
With a confidential California marriage license, witnesses are not required in the same way they are for a public license. Many couples still choose to include a close family member or friend at the bedside, but it is not legally required under the confidential license guidelines.
8. Can we personalize the ceremony in the hospital?
Yes. While many hospital ceremonies are brief, you can include personal vows, readings, prayers, or moments of silence if time and medical conditions allow. Our officiants are flexible and can adjust the tone—from simple and civil to more emotional and ceremonial—while still keeping everything efficient and respectful of hospital staff.
9. How long does a typical hospital marriage appointment take?
Most appointments take about 30–60 minutes, depending on hospital logistics and how much personalization you want in the ceremony. We work quickly, but we never rush consent or skip legal steps. Our goal is to minimize disruption to medical care while giving you a meaningful experience.
10. Can we get married in a hospital on weekends, nights, or holidays?
Yes. Get Married Today is structured for 24/7 service, similar to the options described on Get Legally Married on Holidays. As long as hospital policies and our availability line up, we can come on weekends, evenings, and most holidays.
11. What if we already started paperwork with the county clerk?
Many couples choose to use Get Married Today instead of a county clerk appointment because we handle license issuance and ceremony together. If you already have a public license from the county, we will review your situation and explain whether it can be used or whether a confidential license issued through us is more appropriate for your hospital wedding.
12. Can non-U.S. citizens get married in a hospital?
Yes. California does not require U.S. citizenship or residency to get married. Non-U.S. citizens can have a legal hospital marriage as long as they meet identification and capacity requirements. The certified marriage certificate can then be used for immigration, consular, or international purposes, consistent with the guidance on Marriage for Immigration Purposes and international couples.
13. Can a hospital wedding help with medical decision-making rights?
Being legally married can affect how hospitals view next-of-kin relationships and may help ensure your spouse is recognized in medical decision-making processes. However, you should consult your own attorney or medical team if you have specific legal questions. Our role is to ensure the marriage itself is valid and properly recorded.
14. How do we get certified copies of our marriage certificate after a hospital wedding?
After we file your signed license with the county, certified copies are available through the county clerk or recorder’s office in the county where the license was issued. We follow similar procedures to those outlined for couples in standard appointments, and we can guide you on timelines and request methods.
15. Can we use our hospital marriage certificate outside the United States?
Yes. Your California marriage certificate can often be used internationally once it is authenticated or apostilled. Many couples work with partners like Orange County Apostille to prepare their certificate for foreign governments, consulates, or embassies.
16. What if the patient’s condition changes during the appointment?
If at any point the patient’s condition worsens, medical staff need immediate access, or capacity becomes unclear, we will pause or stop the process. Medical care always comes first. If conditions improve later, we can reassess whether it is appropriate and legal to continue.
17. Can we include children or extended family in a hospital ceremony?
Usually yes, as long as hospital visitor policies allow it. Some units limit the number of visitors or the length of visits, especially in ICU or high-risk areas. We encourage you to coordinate with the nurse or unit clerk beforehand to confirm who can be present in the room during the ceremony.
18. Are hospital weddings only for emergencies?
Not at all. Many hospital weddings are urgent, but some are simply practical: maternity stays, planned surgeries, or extended rehab stays where it’s easier for us to travel to the patient. As long as legal requirements are met, we can handle both urgent and non-urgent bedside weddings.
19. How is a hospital wedding different from a chapel ceremony with Get Married Today?
The legal elements—license issuance, ceremony, officiant signature, and filing—are the same. The main differences are location, logistics, and length of ceremony. Our chapel locations, such as the one described on Same Day Marriage in Irvine, are designed for photos and guests, whereas hospital weddings are focused on accessibility, comfort, and health needs.
20. How do hospital weddings fit into Get Married Today’s overall services?
Hospital weddings are one part of our larger 24/7 same-day marriage system, which includes office chapels, mobile services, destination elopements, and holiday appointments. Whether you’re in a hospital room, at home, in a chapel, or at another special location, the goal is the same: one appointment, every legal step handled for you, so you can focus on each other.