wedding license... how far in advance

So long as you actually get married before the license expires, you are fine, even if it takes time afterward to file it.

I got mine 2 months before, just to have it done.

Our minister said three days ahead. Any earlier and it will be dated differntly than our wedding day. But thats in Fl.

Do it on your time off. Just don't lose it

Just don't do like me and have it 30 days ahead of time and then forget to bring it to the ceremony ! I had to send someone to our apartment for it about 30 minutes before the shindig started.

We did it (Iowa) a week before hand and I was freaking out because we didn't have it until 10 minutes before we left to go to Iowa (we live in MN) and I needed it to sign and everything at the actual wedding so I say the earliest the better but it all depends on your state.

That would be ok... remember, both of you have to go there.

Unfortunately you can't do it online unless that wedding date is less than 14 days away in LA...(believe me I tried.) So you have to go and wait in line one friday, then go and pick it up the next friday.

Yes, it's a screwed up system, but you can always hire an officiant with the ability to do a private license. It's more expensive, but you don't have the weird conditions.

Lisa...I'd get it a whole lot sooner than that. Depending on how backed up your Clerk of Courts Office is, it may take them a whole lot longer than the mandatory 3 day waiting period the state of FL places on marriage licenses.

Sorry to hajack the tread, but I am curious. Can get the marriage license in another state since he is stationed in VA and I live in WA? We are having a wedding in WA but I will be visiting him in VA two weeks before wedding and want to get marriage license there. Since we would have free time.

Miss Cupcake...You have to get the license from the county/destination in which you are getting married. Each state has different laws and waiting periods. For instance, we live in Pennsylvania, but we are marrying in Vermont. So, I need to get our license in Vermont.

Vermont has no waiting period or restrictions. They even have a Temporary Officiant that is legally recognized. A license in Vermont is good for 60 days.

Oh okay, make sense through. Oh boy, we will have to get it on Jan 5th :-/. I just hope that is not too late.

In most states it takes 3 business days and in some days you can get it expedited and done in one day for a nominal additional fee. Hope this helps!

Everyone is correct, even with conflicting info here. Each state and even county within sometimes has their own way of doing things. It is always best to go to the county clerk of the county you plan to marry in to find out their recommendation on times. In Michigan, you can now apply online, but need to pick it up in person.

In dc you have to get a blood test for what???

@Miss cupcake: call your county clerk's office for the county that you are getting married in. Everything varies so much on this subject. For example for OK, there is no waiting period and you get your license right there immediately. However, it's only valid for 10 days.

@ Brian... 14 days before the wedding to do it online??? That sucks...my co-worker was telling me how much of a breeze it was to fill out the stuff online and get your license. We will just go early on one of the days I have off I suppose.

You are lucky that you guys will have time. Because I just found out that WA marriage license can't be valid for three days! My FS don't land until very late on Jan 4th that we can't sign until two days before wedding. :-/. It said I need second ceremony to make marriage license valid if the wedding date is less than 3 days away.

We got ours the week of the wedding cuz hoenstly, I forgot about it. I wouldn't recommend waiting that long tho.

@Cupcake: "if both of you cannot apply for your marriage license application at the same time, you may be able to apply through an Absentee Marriage Application. Contact the county offices where you plan on getting married for more information about this option." -- found that online. You might want to check into it.

Awesome thanks