Washington DC Marriage License (Frequently Asked Questions) & DC Marriage License Agent

DC Marriage Equality Law took effect on March 3, 2010. And couples started marrying on March 9, 2010.

It takes 5 business days (from beginning to end) to process a marriage application.

Example: if you apply for a license on Monday, you will not be able to pick it up until Friday.

Are we required to submit our application in person, or can we send in the documentations by mail?
The application and identification must be submitted in person. You can always hire a Marriage License Agent to process your license for you.

I had a commitment ceremony years ago, and I just want an officiant to sign the license, can they do this?

No, an official ceremony must take place. That ceremony can be 3 minutes long, but there has to be an actual wedding.

I know that a ceremony is necessary in order for an officiant to sign our license, but is that requirement considered a "civil ceremony"?

A civil ceremony is a non-religious wedding. A minister can offer you a religious one and some of them will perform a civil marriage as well.

If I wanted to get married at the courthouse, is it true that the waiting period is 8-10 weeks long.

No you don't. You can find an officiant or minister that is authorized by the court to marry you.

In order to complete our marriage license application, we must record the name of our officiant, how can we determine who that will be?

If you are planning on marrying at the courthouse, then you can leave that blank. Then ask the clerk for a list of judges who are available for your civil ceremony and wait 8 - 10 weeks to have your wedding officiated.

Otherwise, you would have to find an authorized officiant who is available on the day and time you are planning to get married. And one recommendation has already been given.

Do I need to file both the marriage license form and civil wedding form? If so, which do I do first? Should I choose an officiant first?

You will process your marriage license application first. However, you can process both on the same day. The civil wedding form is your request for a courthouse marriage. And you can name your courthouse officiant when you pick up your license.

The website says it takes 8-10 weeks for confirmation of a civil wedding date. Do I need this if I decide to have the ceremony outside the court house?

We found a beautiful venue on the National Harbor, can we get married there?

No, the National Harbor is in MD. The DC marriage license is valid for use in DC only. Therefore, your marriage must be performed in the District of Columbia, not just any where in the DC Metropolitan Area.

DC is made up of NW, NE, SW, and SE coordinates. If the address to your venue does not have a DC zip code, then it is not in DC.

Where can we have the ceremony?

Officiants are not wedding planners, so they may recommend a church.

However, an elopement with a few witnesses can take place just about anywhere in DC. There are National Parks where a wedding can be held; such as the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, west ŠMarian and Lynne Wedding 5/21, photo by mac photography lawn ($50 permit required).

So do your research and think creatively, because a beautiful hotel suite (with balcony over looking the Potomac River) can serve as a fabulous elopement venue and a wonderful bed and breakfast. And the Mandarin Oriental Hotel (rates vary from day to day), is my #1 choice for a waterfront view.

However, most couples opt to stay in beautiful Dupont Circle because of its lively Gay nightlife and its reputation for being a Gay friendly town. And the Inn that Terri and Pamela raved about; is the Swann House. Check out "The Secret Affair Package." Their review is below.

"The Swan Inn greatly exceeded our expectations. The accommodations, lovely appointed rooms, eager staff, location, proximity to the metro (Dupont Circle), fabulous coffee and breakfast My partner, now wife and I, traveled from Texas to get married in DC. We found The Swan Inn to be PERFECT! If we travel to DC again we will stay at The Swan Inn!

We also want to recommend Rev. Starlene Joyner Burns, wedding officiant. She is intuitive and did an amazing job for us. We found her online and chose her based on who we perceived her to be. We were both amazed by her. She did and said all the right things. It was as if she knew us. Not only did she officiate our ceremony on the Lincoln Memorial, she served as our agent, filing for our license so we could avoid the 3 day waiting period. Her fees were very reasonable.

I must say, we would not do anything differently. Reverend Burns and The Swan Inn made our special time even more memorable. Thanks to all," Terri and Pamela

So selecting a venue can get easier once you know what it is you really want. With a wealth of beautiful hotels to select from, matching your taste to one of them will start your elopement off right. Kindly keep in mind that weekend hotel rates are cheaper in DC than weekdays. So you might think about using the services of a marriage license agent; because this kind of service can drastically reduce your expensive, by reducing the number of days you stay in DC.

So be careful about talking to the hotel staff about a wedding. Weekend rates do not apply then, wedding rates kick in quickly. Remember you are eloping in DC. And that is the difference. Weddings take a lot of planning. And an elopement takes two people, a marriage license, and a little space.

If I wanted to get a certified copy of the marriage license while I am in town, can I do this?

Yes you can, as long as the officiant is willing to give you the court's copy of the license. Just complete the yellow request card (that will be in your package) and present it to the clerk along with the seal envelope that contains the signed marriage license for the court.

If my marriage is not legal or recognized in my state, why would I need a certified copy of the marriage license? Can I use it to change my name?

A certified copy of the marriage license is a legal court document that can be used the same way a court request name change is used.

I write and revised the ceremony, travel to and from the wedding site, attend the rehearsal, (if needed), direct and coordinate the wedding party (if needed), correspond with you, officiate the ceremony, file the marriage license, and provide you with a keepsake certificate and ceremony.

Your domestic partnership must be dissolved first. So check the law for the state in which your domestic partnership took place.

For DC domestic partners, the DC marriage license will replace your domestic partnership certificate.

If I marry an immigrant, can I apply for a green card for my spouse to live with me in this county?

Unfortunately, the answer to that question is, no. Immigration follows federal law, where same sex marriage rights are still being denied. You can learn more about it at immigration equality.

Is there anything else that I need to do?

If so, kindly drop us a note letting us know how it assisted you in your planning. revsjb@comcast.net. Thanks Rev. SJ Burns