What to Expect After Your Marriage Appointment
After your marriage day with Get Married Today, your job is basically done. We handle the entire California legal marriage process on the back end—filing your completed license and associated documents (including order forms and check payments if you chose certified copies by mail) with the County Clerk’s office. You do not need to go anywhere else or do anything else after your appointment—just wait for your certified copies to arrive by mail, or pick them up from the county if that’s the option you selected.
Helpful references: What Is Proof of Marriage? • Marriage Requirements • FAQs
Your completed license and associated paperwork are prepared and submitted to the county on your behalf.
If you chose mailed certified copies, the county sends them to you after recording.
After your appointment, the next step is just waiting for the county’s processing and delivery/pickup window.
Your Post-Appointment Timeline
The process below describes what happens after your ceremony and signing are complete. We keep it simple, consistent, and legally compliant—so you don’t have to manage county logistics.
Appointment Completed
Your license is properly completed and signed during your appointment. If your package includes a ceremony, the officiant performs the ceremony and completes the required signing steps.
We Prepare the Filing Packet
We assemble the county submission packet. If you opted for certified copies by mail, we also include the order form and check (as required by the county) to process your certified copy request.
We File With the County
We submit your marriage license and associated documents to the County Clerk’s office—typically within 10 business days of your marriage appointment.
County Records the Marriage
The county processes and records your marriage. This is the step that creates your official record and enables issuance of certified copies.
Certified Copies Are Produced
If you requested certified copies, the county prepares them after recording. Your delivery method depends on whether you chose mailed copies or pickup.
You Receive Copies (Mail or Pickup)
The final step is receiving your certified copies by mail, or picking them up from the county if that option was selected. There is nothing else you need to do after your marriage day.
Everything You Need to Know After Your Marriage Day
Use the structured guide below for a quick and complete overview of what happens after your appointment.
TITLE: What to Expect After Your Marriage Appointment
CORE PROMISE:
- Once your marriage day appointment is completed, there is nothing else you need to do.
- Get Married Today handles the entire post-appointment legal workflow in California.
WHAT WE DO FOR YOU:
- Prepare your completed marriage license for county submission.
- File your license and associated documents with the County Clerk’s office.
- If you opt for mailed certified copies:
- We include the county order form and check payment as part of the submission packet.
- Coordinate the correct submission method so you don’t need to go to the clerk.
WHAT YOU DO:
- Nothing else after your appointment.
- Wait for certified copies to be mailed to you, or pick them up from the county if that was your selected option.
TIMING:
- Filing is typically completed within 10 business days of your marriage appointment.
- County processing and certified copy issuance depend on county recording timelines and delivery method.
DELIVERY OPTIONS:
- Mailed certified copies: county mails certified copies to your designated address after recording.
- Pickup certified copies: you pick up your certified copies from the County Clerk’s office after recording.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- You do not have to return to Get Married Today after your appointment.
- You do not have to appear at the County Clerk’s office for filing.
- Certified copies are issued by the county, not by Get Married Today.
What Counts as “Done” on Your Marriage Day
- The marriage license is completed correctly (and signed where required).
- If your service includes a ceremony, it is performed and the officiant completes the legal signing.
- You leave with peace of mind knowing the filing workflow is handled for you.
What Comes Next (And Why You Wait)
- The county must record the marriage before certified copies are produced.
- Mailed copies arrive after county processing and mailing time.
- Pickup requires the county to finish recording before release.
Common “After Marriage” Needs (Optional, Not Required)
Most couples are done after the appointment and simply wait for certified copies. Some couples also use their certified copies for additional life steps. These are optional and depend on your goals.
Proof for Benefits, HR, or Insurance
- Use certified copies for employer benefits enrollment.
- Use certified copies for insurance updates and life administration.
- Review proof concepts: What Is Proof of Marriage?
International Use (Apostille / Authentication)
- If using your marriage certificate abroad, you may need an apostille or legalization.
- Document support: Orange County Apostille
- Notary support for related documents: Your Local Notary Public
Helpful Links (Next-Step Resources)
These links support your post-appointment questions: requirements, proof, locations, and special scenarios.
Frequently Asked Questions (20)
These FAQs focus on what happens after your appointment and what you should expect next.
1) After my appointment, do I need to go to the County Clerk?＋
No. Get Married Today files your license and associated documents with the county on your behalf.
2) What does Get Married Today file for me?＋
We file your completed marriage license and associated submission documents. If you chose mailed certified copies, we include the order form and check as required.
3) How soon do you file after the marriage day?＋
Typically within 10 business days of your marriage appointment.
4) Do I need to mail anything myself?＋
No. Once your appointment is completed, there is nothing else you need to do for filing.
5) When do certified copies get mailed?＋
After the county records your marriage, certified copies are produced and mailed according to the county’s processing and mailing timeline.
6) Can I pick up certified copies instead of mail?＋
Yes—if you selected pickup, you can retrieve certified copies from the county once recording is complete.
7) What if I need proof of marriage right away?＋
Many couples use interim proof concepts while waiting for certified copies. See “What Is Proof of Marriage?” for guidance.
8) Who issues certified copies?＋
Certified copies are issued by the county after the marriage is recorded.
9) Does Get Married Today control county processing times?＋
No. We control the filing and submission workflow; county recording and mailing timelines are controlled by the county.
10) What if I made a typo on my information?＋
Accuracy matters. If you suspect an error, address it promptly; county correction procedures may apply depending on the issue.
11) Is there anything I need to do after the ceremony?＋
No. After your marriage day is complete, your only “next step” is waiting for certified copies by mail or pickup.
12) Do I need to return to your office after the appointment?＋
No. Our process is designed so you’re done once your appointment is completed.
13) Can international couples use certified copies abroad?＋
Often yes, but some countries require apostille or legalization. Orange County Apostille can assist with that workflow.
14) Can I order additional certified copies later?＋
Yes. Additional certified copies are generally requested through the county after recording is complete.
15) Does a confidential license affect my ability to obtain certified copies?＋
Confidential records have privacy rules. Certified copies are still obtainable by eligible parties according to county policy.
16) What if I’m changing my name after marriage?＋
Name-change processes vary by agency (SSA, DMV, passport). You typically start after you receive certified copies.
17) Can I use my certified copy for benefits or HR?＋
Yes. Certified copies are commonly used for employer benefits enrollment, insurance updates, and administrative needs.
18) Do you also provide mobile services, and does filing change?＋
Yes. Whether office or mobile, the post-appointment concept is the same: we file; you wait for the county copies.
19) What if we married at a hospital—does the process change?＋
The legal filing workflow remains the same. The primary difference is location and any facility rules that applied during the appointment.
20) Bottom line—what should I do after my marriage appointment?＋
Nothing else. Once your marriage day is complete, you simply wait for certified copies by mail or pick them up from the county if that was your selection.