wedding license... how far in advance

We got ours about 3 weeks prior to the wedding. It only took 3 days for the request to go through. It also only took about 4-5 days to get our official license. Make sure to get a certified copy with the stamp for social security if you plan on changing your last name. Banks just need a regular copy so just scan your official into to your computer. You'll have to give a copy of your license to every place with your maiden name, again if you plan on changing. GL!!

This really depends on the state law of your ceremony venue. In Massachusetts, we applied for and got our marriage license the day before our ceremony. This involved getting special court permission to waive the normal three-day waiting period, but it was not that tough to get. Other states seem to be more strict about their waiting periods.

Lisa V., Fla. residents have to wait 3 days between getting the license & getting married. The license has 3 dates on it (issue date, effective date, and expiration date). The issue date is the same date that you apply for the license (both of you going to the courthouse & doing the paperwork). The effective date is the same as the issue date if you are non-residents; or 3 days later if you are residents. The expiration date is 60 days after the issue date.

The wedding date must be on or after the effective date and on or before the exipration date.

The license must be returned to the courthouse within 10 days after the wedding.

Yep I am very upset, I emailed the court in Seattle and I don't want to get second cermony to get marriage license...we may have to go to the courthouse to "marry" in Virgina before wedding or do it after honeymoon in Jan.