What Is a Quickie Wedding? Your Ultimate Guide to Fast, Legal, and Meaningful Same-Day Marriages
In today’s fast-paced world, not every couple wants to spend months planning a wedding. Some want to make their love official—today. Whether for romance, necessity, or practicality, more couples are turning to a convenient, stress-free option known as the quickie wedding.
At Get Married Today, we specialize in helping couples tie the knot quickly, legally, and meaningfully through our same-day marriage services in California. We provide the marriage license, officiant, and legally binding ceremony—all in one easy appointment.
But what exactly is a quickie wedding? Is it legal? Who is it right for? And why are more people choosing this modern alternative to traditional weddings?
Let’s break it all down.
📍 Want to get married today? Book your fast and legal wedding now at GetMarried.Today
Chapter 1: What Is a Quickie Wedding?
A quickie wedding is a legally binding marriage ceremony that takes place quickly—often on the same day that the couple decides to get married.
Unlike traditional weddings, which involve months of planning, event venues, hundreds of guests, and large expenses, a quickie wedding is:
• Fast – Often same-day or next-day.
• Legally recognized – Includes a valid marriage license and officiant.
• Simple – No elaborate planning required.
• Private or small – Usually just the couple and a witness or officiant.
📍 Learn how marriage licenses work in California at California Department of Public Health
Chapter 2: The History of the Quickie Wedding
The idea of a “quickie wedding” isn’t new. It gained popularity in the early 20th century when couples started heading to Las Vegas for quick, no-fuss marriages.
Why Vegas?
• No waiting period for marriage licenses.
• 24/7 chapels and officiants available.
• No residency requirement.
📍 Learn more about fast-track wedding destinations at Brides
Today, however, California offers the same benefits without the long drive or chaotic Strip environment.
Chapter 3: Are Quickie Weddings Legal?
Yes! A quickie wedding is completely legal as long as:
• The couple obtains a valid marriage license.
• The ceremony is performed by a licensed officiant.
• The completed license is returned to the county clerk for recording.
Get Married Today handles all of this for you—we issue your license and perform your ceremony, so you don’t need to worry about logistics.
📍 Read about officiant rules and license guidelines at US Marriage Laws
Chapter 4: Why Do Couples Choose Quickie Weddings?
There are many reasons why couples opt for a fast wedding:
1. Elopement
Couples want an intimate ceremony without the stress of planning a large event.
📍 Explore elopement ideas at The Knot
2. Military Deployment
Service members often marry quickly before a deployment for legal and financial protections.
📍 Learn about military marriage benefits at Military.com
3. Immigration & Visa Applications
A legal marriage is often required for green card or spouse visa applications.
📍 Read about marriage and immigration at USCIS
4. Pregnancy or Family Reasons
Couples may want to be married before a baby arrives or for religious/cultural expectations.
5. Budget-Friendly
Avoid spending tens of thousands of dollars on a traditional wedding.
📍 Budget wedding tips available at Wedding Wire
Chapter 5: How to Plan a Quickie Wedding with Get Married Today
We make it easy to get legally married in California—no courthouse wait times, no confusion.
Step 1: Book Your Appointment
📅 Visit GetMarried.Today to book your marriage ceremony.
Step 2: We Issue Your Marriage License
📜 We’re authorized to issue California marriage licenses on-site.
📍 Marriage license rules: California Vital Records
Step 3: We Perform Your Ceremony
🎤 Our licensed officiant performs a legal wedding, customized to your needs.
Step 4: File & Record Your Marriage Certificate
📑 We take care of submitting your license so that it’s recorded by the county.
📍 For official marriage certificate copies, use VitalChek
Chapter 6: Where Can You Have a Quickie Wedding in California?
With Get Married Today, you choose the location:
• 🏡 At home
• 🏖 At the beach
• 🌳 In a park
• 🏨 At a hotel
• 🚗 Drive-thru style
• 🕍 Small private venue
📍 Discover top wedding spots at Visit California
Chapter 7: What Documents Do You Need for a Quickie Wedding?
Just a few essentials:
• Valid photo ID (passport or driver’s license)
• Be over 18 years old
• Not currently married to someone else
📍 Learn more about requirements at Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Chapter 8: Is a Quickie Wedding Recognized Internationally?
Yes! If you’re from another country and want your California marriage to be recognized back home, we can help.
• We work with Orange County Apostille to apostille your marriage certificate.
• This ensures legal recognition in countries like the UK, Germany, Australia, and Mexico.
📍 Learn how apostilles work at The Hague Conference
Chapter 9: FAQs About Quickie Weddings
Q: How fast can we get married?
A: Same day! Book your appointment and we’ll handle the rest.
Q: Do we need witnesses?
A: Not if you use a Confidential Marriage License, which we provide.
📍 More on confidential licenses at Nolo
Q: Is our marriage legal for taxes, insurance, and benefits?
A: Yes! Once your marriage is recorded, it’s valid for all legal purposes.
Chapter 10: Real Couples, Real Quickie Weddings
Maria & Luis from Mexico
“We were in California for a short trip and decided to get married. Get Married Today made it happen—license, ceremony, and apostille in one day!”
Sarah & Tom from the UK
“We were tired of waiting. They made our marriage legal and stress-free. And the apostille made it easy to register back home.”
Sgt. Andrew & Emily
“I was deploying in a week. They married us the same day and made it official.”
Chapter 11: Book Your Quickie Wedding Today
📍 You don’t need Vegas. You don’t need stress. You just need love—and a little help from us.
🎯 Book your quickie wedding today at GetMarried.Today
25 High-Quality Resources & Backlinks:
1. California Department of Public Health
3. Military.com – Marriage Benefits
4. Visit California – Wedding Locations
7. VitalChek – Marriage Certificate Copies
8. Orange County Clerk-Recorder
10. Nolo – Confidential Marriage Licenses
11. Zola – Wedding Planning Guide
12. Wedding Wire – Budget-Friendly Ideas
13. The Hague Apostille Convention
15. SSA.gov – Name Change After Marriage
17. Travel.State.gov – Passport Name Change
18. National Park Service – Wedding Permits
19. Wedding Spot – Find Venues
24. Joshua Tree – National Park Weddings
25. GetMarried.Today
Conclusion
A quickie wedding is more than just a fast wedding—it’s a meaningful, legally binding, and memorable way to start your new life together without stress, delays, or chaos.
Whether you’re local, from out of state, or visiting from abroad, Get Married Today offers you a modern alternative to traditional or Vegas-style weddings with all the benefits and none of the drama.
📍 Book your quickie wedding now at GetMarried.Today
💍 Because love shouldn’t have to wait.
Get Married Today – Fast. Legal. Effortless.