Courthouse Brides -- Need Info!!

You have to get your license before ( 3 days min.) and I was told that you do not need and appointment and they are able to provide witnesses, or you can bring your own

It depends on your state. In Illinois, for example, you get your license then you have to wait 48 hours. The JOP will sign your license after the ceremony. The bailiff can be the witness if you don't have one.

In San Diego, CA you can get it just before your ceremony. You do need to schedule an appointment, and yes you do need a witness, although one can be provided for a fee.

Check your local county web site for more info.

Thanks guys. I was asking because there's no info about it on our county's website — so I called, and found out they don't do courthouse weddings! Oopsie! Does anyone in PA know if you have to get married in the county you live in? Or does it not matter as long as it's in PA?

We got ours ahead of time, and than did have to set up an appointment.

IDK about PA, but here if one or both of you is a resident of the state you need to get the license from the county you live in, and it's just easier to get married in the same county. If neither of you resides there than it's supposed to be from the county in which you plan to marry. Call the county clerk. They'll know.

Thanks Pan. I don't know why PA makes it so complicated! I hopeful we can just get our town's mayor to officiant for us, as that would solve all the problems/questions I have. In PA it has to be a judge, mayor, or "a minister, priest, or rabbi of any regularly established church or congregation." Which translates to "no, you can't get your friend ordained online and have them officiant. Sucker." : ( I was hoping we could just go to the courthouse and do it there instead of dealing with this, but nope! Can't do that either.

We live in PA, you can get your license and get married in any county, so I'd check your neighboring counties.

Ooo, and I forgot to say, you can also do a self-witnessed marriage (I think that's what it's called). I don't know all the details, but my brother and his wife did that.

Well we paid $50.00 and got our marriage licenses (unofficial, was not stamped) went to the courthouse paid $20.00 and scheduled our wedding date. Lady told us things we needed to know like who can attend, what hours to come etc. We did need two witnesses One for me and One for him. We got our Official marriage licenses on the 7th of November 2011. (we married October 21st 2011) I have no clue why it took so long. Maybe we should have asked how long it would take for us to get the official. We called and called day after day and no one had it. A friend of ours married not too long ago and got her marriage licenses the same day! Weird for us because the judge told us we'll have to pick it. hope i've helped.

Check the vendor search on this site for Officiants in your area. Many of them offer a "civil ceremony" and sometimes for the same price as a courthouse wedding.