Marriage License vs. Marriage Certificate: What’s the Difference?

How Get Married Today Helps with Fast Issuance & Apostille Certification for International Couples

Getting married is one of life’s most meaningful milestones—but when it comes to the paperwork, things can get confusing fast. One of the most common questions we get at Get Married Today is:

“What’s the difference between a marriage license and a marriage certificate?”

Whether you’re a local couple in California or you’re visiting from abroad and need official documentation for your home country, it’s essential to understand these two legal documents. Even more important? Knowing how to obtain them quickly and get them apostilled so they are recognized worldwide.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover:

• The key differences between a marriage license and a marriage certificate
• Why each is important
• How our team at Get Married Today ensures rapid processing
• How we help you get your marriage certificate apostilled for international recognition under the Hague Apostille Convention

📍 Ready to book your same-day wedding? Visit GetMarried.Today and let’s get started!

🔍 What Is a Marriage License?

A marriage license is a legal document that gives you permission to get married. Think of it as a permit—you must apply for and receive this license before your wedding ceremony takes place.

📌 Key Facts About a Marriage License:

• It must be obtained before the ceremony.
• It’s issued by a government office (like a County Clerk’s office).
• It typically requires valid photo identification (passport, driver’s license, etc.).
• Some counties require both parties to be present.
• In California, there is no waiting period, so you can marry the same day.

📍 For more information, visit the California Department of Public Health.
📍 Learn about local requirements at the Orange County Clerk-Recorder.

📝 What Is a Marriage Certificate?

A marriage certificate is the official proof that your marriage took place. Once your ceremony is complete and the license is signed, it is filed with the county and a marriage certificate is issued.

📌 Key Facts About a Marriage Certificate:

• It serves as legal evidence of your marriage.
• It is required for name changes, immigration applications, and spousal benefits.
• You can request certified copies from the county where you got married.
• You’ll need this document for international use—but it may need to be apostilled.

📍 Request your certificate online via VitalChek.
📍 See sample certificates and county details at US Marriage Laws.

💡 Marriage License vs. Marriage Certificate: The Big Differences

📍 Check FAQs about both documents at Nolo Legal Encyclopedia.

💍 How Get Married Today Handles Both

At Get Married Today, we handle the full marriage process for you—including both the license and certificate.

✅ We Issue Your Marriage License:

• No trip to the courthouse required.
• Issued by a licensed notary public acting as a Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages.
• Same-day service available, including weekends and holidays.

📍 Learn about Notary Public authority at the California Secretary of State.

✅ We Perform Your Legal Ceremony:

• At your location: home, hotel, beach, park, or private venue.
• Personalized, professional, and legally binding.
• Perfect for military members, elopements, and international couples.

📍 Read about different ceremony types at Wedding Wire.

✅ We File the Paperwork:

• After your ceremony, we submit your marriage license to the county.
• This generates your marriage certificate—usually available within 1–2 weeks.

📍 See county processing timelines at the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder.

🌎 Apostille Certification for International Recognition

🛂 What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is a special certificate that verifies the authenticity of your marriage certificate for international use. It is required by many countries to recognize foreign documents under the Hague Apostille Convention.

📍 Learn about the Hague Convention at the Hague Conference on Private International Law.

🌍 Who Needs an Apostille?

If you are a non-U.S. citizen or plan to use your marriage certificate in another country, you’ll likely need an apostille. Countries like the UK, Australia, Germany, Mexico, and many others require it.

📍 See the full list of countries that accept apostilles at the U.S. Department of State.

🤝 How We Help with Apostille Certification

We partner with the experts at Orange County Apostille to ensure fast, reliable apostille services for your marriage certificate.

💼 Here’s What We Do:

• Once your marriage certificate is ready, we help coordinate with our apostille team.
• We ensure your document is certified by the California Secretary of State.
• We handle all logistics and mailing (domestic or international).
• We offer expedited processing for urgent cases.

📍 Learn about California apostille procedures at the California Secretary of State Apostille Page.

📄 Common Use Cases for Apostilled Marriage Certificates

✅ Immigration and Visa Applications

Used for spousal visas, K-1 fiancé visas, green cards, and more.

📍 Learn more about marriage and immigration at USCIS.

✅ Registering Your Marriage Abroad

If you got married in California but live overseas, you may need to register your marriage locally.

📍 Visit Gov.UK for UK requirements.
📍 Visit Germany.info for German rules.
📍 Visit Embassy of Mexico for Mexican consular services.
📍 Visit Australian Government Marriage Recognition for Australian details.

✅ Name Changes

An apostilled certificate may be needed for name changes abroad on passports, driver’s licenses, and bank accounts.

📍 Get name change steps from Social Security Administration and DMV.

🕒 How Fast Is the Apostille Process?

• Standard: 1–2 weeks
• Expedited: 1–3 business days (available via Orange County Apostille)
• Delivery options: Pickup, mail, or international shipping

📍 Read about turnaround times and services at Orange County Apostille.

💼 What Documents Do You Need?

To get married and obtain an apostille, you’ll need:

• Valid ID (passport, driver’s license, or government-issued ID)
• Completed marriage license application (we help with this)
• Proof of previous divorce (if applicable)

📍 Check ID requirements at US Marriage Laws.

🎉 Why Choose Get Married Today?

✔ We issue your marriage license & perform the ceremony.
✔ Same-day appointments—available 24/7, including holidays.
✔ We file your marriage license and ensure legal compliance.
✔ We coordinate fast apostille services for international use.
✔ Perfect for local couples, travelers, military members, and immigration cases.

📍 Book now at GetMarried.Today and get married with ease!

❤️ What Our Clients Say

“We were visiting from the UK and got married the same day. The apostille arrived at our London address the following week!” – Emma & Jack

“Get Married Today took care of everything for our military wedding—marriage license, ceremony, and apostille for use in Germany!” – Tobias & Sarah

“A stress-free and private wedding in California. Thank you for helping us through the process!” – Ana & Carlos

📍 Book Your Legal Marriage & Apostille Today

No stress. No waiting. No courthouse hassle.

✅ Get legally married the same day
✅ Receive a certified marriage certificate
✅ Apostille your certificate for international recognition
✅ All in one simple appointment

📍 Book your wedding now at GetMarried.Today
📍 Need apostille service? Visit Orange County Apostille

🔚 Conclusion: Make Your Marriage Internationally Recognized—Fast

A marriage isn’t just a romantic gesture—it’s a legal milestone. With Get Married Today, you get a full-service solution:

• Same-day marriage license
• On-site ceremony
• Certified marriage certificate
• Apostille processing for international recognition

Whether you’re a California resident, a visitor from the UK, Australia, Germany, or Mexico, or someone needing urgent documentation for immigration or legal matters, we’re here to help—fast, easy, and legally binding.

📍 Book your appointment today at GetMarried.Today
📍 Need your certificate apostilled? Visit Orange County Apostille

💍 Let us take care of everything—so you can focus on love.