Same Day Wedding Services in Southern California
Skip the courthouse wait and become legally married in a single visit. With Get Married Today, you can obtain your California marriage license and celebrate a beautiful same day wedding ceremony in our chapels or at your dream location across Southern California.
Fast, Legal, and Beautiful — Without the Stress
A same day wedding doesn’t mean rushed or informal. It means you can handle the legal side of marriage in one coordinated experience while still honoring your story with a meaningful ceremony. Get Married Today is designed for couples who value time, privacy, and flexible options over courthouse waitlists and complicated logistics.
No appointments, no long lines
Courthouses can be booked out for weeks or closed on evenings, weekends, or holidays. With Get Married Today, you work directly with licensed professionals who can issue your license and perform your ceremony on the same day — often when courthouses are unavailable.
For detailed guidance on timing, read Can You Really Get Married the Same Day in California?
Chapel, beach, home, hotel, or hospital
Same day weddings can happen in cozy chapels, on scenic beaches, in hotel suites, at homes, or even at hospitals and care facilities. Our team focuses on the legal steps while you choose the setting that fits your relationship and schedule.
Explore mobile options on the Same Day Marriage at Your Location page.
Military, immigration, and life changes
Many couples choose a same day wedding because of deployment, benefits deadlines, immigration timelines, health concerns, or travel plans. Get Married Today is structured to support these time-sensitive situations with clear instructions and legally compliant procedures.
For international couples, visit Same Day Marriage in California for International Couples .
Types of Same Day Weddings You Can Book
Every couple’s same day wedding looks a little different. Get Married Today offers a range of settings so you can become legally married in a way that matches your personality — from simple signings to cinematic locations.
Chapel Elopements
Enjoy a private, legal ceremony in one of the partnered chapels in Anaheim/Orange, Irvine, or San Juan Capistrano. These spaces are ideal if you want a quiet, intimate setting that still feels like a dedicated wedding environment.
To see how chapel-based services work in Orange County, review Same Day Marriages in Orange County — Elope and Get Legally Married Today .
Beach & Coastal Weddings
Many couples dream of saying “I do” with waves in the background and coastal cliffs in their photos. Same day beach weddings combine the legal structure of a civil ceremony with the relaxed, romantic feel of an outdoor elopement.
For inspiration, read about coastal elopements at Inspiration Point and Pirate’s Cove on Intimate Same Day Marriage Services in Newport Beach .
Disneyland & Anaheim Area Weddings
Turn your visit to the Happiest Place on Earth into the first day of your married life. Same day weddings near Disneyland allow you to handle the legal process and then enjoy the parks, hotels, or Downtown Disney as newlyweds.
Learn more on Disneyland Elopement – Anaheim, CA and the 24-Hour Marriage in Anaheim, CA page.
Hospital & Bedside Ceremonies
When health or mobility is a concern, a bedside ceremony can be the most meaningful way to honor your commitment. The same legal procedures apply — license issuance, officiant, and filing — but everything is adapted to the clinical environment with respect and care.
Explore details at Legal Marriages in Hospitals and Same Day Marriage Services at Hospitals in Southern California .
Same Day Weddings for International Travel
If you are flying in or out of California and need to become legally married before you return home, a same day wedding allows you to complete the legal process in a single visit. Later, you can request apostille certification to use your marriage certificate abroad.
For document legalization after your wedding, visit Orange County Apostille for marriage certificate apostille services.
Inclusive & Same-Sex Same Day Weddings
Get Married Today proudly serves LGBTQ+ couples and families. The legal process for a same day wedding is the same for all couples — and the experience is designed to be respectful, affirming, and free of discrimination.
Get more information on Same-Sex Marriage Services .
From Idea to Legally Married — All in One Day
A same day wedding still follows clear legal steps. The difference is that Get Married Today coordinates everything in a single, streamlined process so you know exactly what will happen and when.
Make sure both partners are at least 18 years old, not currently married, and able to present valid government-issued photo IDs. If either of you has been previously married, you must know the exact date the last marriage ended. You can cross-check everything against the marriage license requirements.
Decide whether you want a simple signing, a short civil ceremony, or a more personalized script. Choose between an office/chapel, your own location, a hospital, or a scenic spot. Many couples review Same Day Marriage at Your Location to decide which setting is best.
When you arrive, you’ll complete a short application with names, birth information, prior marriage details, and other required data. The authorized staff with Get Married Today prepare your confidential or public marriage license so it can be issued on the spot.
Your marriage license is issued by a Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages. Any required sworn statements are notarized, and the officiant reviews your information for accuracy. This ensures your marriage will be recognized under California law and across the United States.
You’ll then participate in your ceremony — which can be as brief or as customized as you prefer. Some couples exchange formal vows, while others prefer a simple legal declaration and ring exchange. You may be able to invite a few guests, depending on the setting.
The officiant signs your license, confirms that the ceremony took place, and prepares the document for filing with the County Clerk. Get Married Today submits your license for you, eliminating the need for a separate courthouse trip.
Once the county records your marriage, you can request certified copies for name changes, immigration, military benefits, and more. If you need to use your marriage certificate abroad, you can work with Your Local Notary Public and Orange County Apostille to notarize and apostille your document for international use.
Exact timelines for county recording and certified copies can vary by county. Your officiant will explain which county will record your license and how to order copies after your same day wedding.
Many couples use a same day wedding to complete the legal portion of their marriage, then host a larger celebration or religious ceremony on a separate date. Your same day civil wedding secures the legal paperwork now while you continue planning for a future reception, destination wedding, or cultural ceremony.
Articles like Why Orange County Is the Best Place for a Legal Last-Minute Wedding and Same Day Marriage in Anaheim/Orange, CA can help you choose where to complete the legal side.
Same Day Weddings When the Courthouse Is Closed
Many couples discover they can’t get a government appointment on the day that matters most to them — like New Year’s Eve, a holiday weekend, or a special anniversary date. Get Married Today is built specifically to serve couples during those off-hours, evenings, and holidays.
Holiday Same Day Weddings
Whether you want to be married on Christmas, Halloween, New Year’s Eve, the 4th of July, or Valentine’s Day, a same day holiday wedding allows you to choose a meaningful date without relying on county office schedules.
For in-depth holiday options, visit:
Traveling or Visiting California?
If you’re visiting California for a trip or family gathering, a same day wedding lets you become legally married before your return flight, without months of advance planning. Many couples combine their trip with a quick civil ceremony and photos, then host a celebration back home later.
Learn more in Traveling for the Holidays? Get Married While Visiting California — No Courthouse Needed .
What You Need to Bring to Your Same Day Wedding
The legal requirements for a same day wedding are the same as any California civil marriage — the difference is how quickly everything is coordinated for you. This overview is not legal advice, but it summarizes what most couples can expect when preparing for their appointment.
- Valid identification for both partners. Acceptable IDs typically include a driver’s license, state ID, passport, military ID, or consular ID, in line with the requirements checklist.
- Both parties present together. You must both appear in person to sign the marriage license application and participate in the ceremony on the day of your wedding.
- Prior marriage details, if applicable. If either partner was previously married, you should know how and when that marriage ended (divorce, death, or annulment).
- Ability to understand and consent. Both partners must understand the nature of marriage and be entering into the union voluntarily, without coercion.
- Optional: witness requirements. With a confidential marriage license, no witness is required. For public licenses, at least one witness usually signs. Many couples choose confidential licenses for privacy and convenience.
For more detailed explanations of confidential vs. public licenses, see the Confidential Marriage License page.
Once your license is recorded by the county, you can order certified copies and, if needed, request an apostille for international use. Many couples who marry through Get Married Today later use Orange County Apostille and Your Local Notary Public to handle certified copies, sworn statements, notarization, and apostille certification for immigration or foreign government use.
If you’re getting married for immigration or international purposes, you can also review:
Same Day Wedding FAQ
These questions focus specifically on same day weddings — how they work, who they’re for, and what you can expect before and after the ceremony.