Marriage License and Signing.

Yes, you apply and pick it up before you get married. After the wedding, witnesses sign it (if required). Then you (or your officiant) return it to the records office and they will send you the certified marriage certificate(s).

They filled up the top portion of the paper. You, your husband, officiant and witnesses complete the rest on wedding day. Mail it in and they mail your certificate. I'm planning on walking in the papers so I put it in our files before we travel.

Ahh. Thank you EC17.

ETA: Thank you A&L. We won't be traveling, so I may just mail it in.

They told us at court that we could sign it the night before at rehearsal dinner. Just to make sure the date on it reflects what we want the certificate to say.

We are planning on signing right after the ceremony.

A&L I think we'll wait until after the ceremony to sign, as well.

WindowsChick, that's a good point. My FH is catholic and his priest will be doing the officiating, but we aren't sure if he wants to come to the reception. The ceremony and reception are 20 minutes away, so well probably do the signing in front of everyone (just to get it done and out the way).

The pastor who will be marrying us already let us know that he never signs state marriage licenses. Glad he gave us the heads up.

Carrina, thanks for mentioning that. I'm going to make some phone calls tomorrow to the priest and the city to see what the steps would include precisely. I know it's something that I don't have to worry about now, but I want to make sure everything is done correctly.

Carrina, will you have to get legally married at the courthouse before or after the ceremony that the pastor 'officiates'?

Carrina, will you have to get legally married at the courthouse before or after the ceremony that the pastor 'officiates'?

My husband and I went and got the marriage license. I handed it to our officiant on our wedding day and he took care of the rest.