When is your actual marriage date?

Your legal date is at the courthouse and is your actual marriage. The following day is a symbolic ceremony.

Yes, your official wedding date will be whatever day you sign paperwork.

Your marriage date would be 11.18

Yeah your official legal date will be the date you go to court. However, when telling people I would use the date of my ceremony. It's up to you. That would be the day I got married in my eyes. Have you ever thought of having a family or friend get certified. It doesn't take that long.

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WHAT!?!?! Are you frfr. I didn't know that, I thought you just signed some papers, picked up the paperwork and then you get married. Can I go to the courthouse the day of? lol

Thank you for asking this question, I really didn't know the courthouse date was your REAL marriage date.

We had a family friend get ordained online. The day after our wedding ceremony and reception we got together with him and signed the paperwork with witnesses. We wrote the date that we had our ceremony. Then he mailed in the paperwork, etc. this was in NJ

Oh and we had to apply to get all that paperwork beforehand. So in other words about a month before our wedding we went to the court building offices with a witness and obtained a marriage license stating we were getting married on a specific day. This is the paperwork we brought to our officiant to sign the day after our wedding.

View Quoted Comment Each state is different, but in most states you have to apply for the marriage license, which usually has some sort of waiting period (anywhere from 24 hours to a week usually). Then, you pick up the marriage license, which needs to be signed by 2 witnesses on the day of the ceremony. The officiant then files that with the county, at which point your marriage certificate gets issued (with some delay) and either mailed directly to you or you will need to pick it up.

View Quoted Comment I'm not sure you're thinking the same thing. Picking up your marriage license doesn't mean your married until officiant administers vows and license is signed at that time. OP is going to courthouse to get married then having a symbolic ceremony with friends/family.

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Okay so a week before, I apply to get a marriage license. Let some days pass. Then day of ceremony I go pick it up with two witnesses...depending on the state.

View Quoted Comment Check the rules for the county you are getting married at, as things can change. For instance, in my state the marriage license was good for over a month, so we applied for and picked it up earlier to avoid any mishaps (delays in processing, availability to pick it up, etc.). We actually also needed a witness when we went to apply for the marriage license itself. I'm in NJ. Every state is different. Look up the process in your state before going forward, especially since it looks like your date is the week between Christmas and New Year's, and a lot of people go on vacation thise times and government offices may have adjusted hours of operation. Plus a lot of people are still virtual.

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much! This make sense! I just have to ask around to see if anyone can be ordained.
I really want my marriage date to be the same as my ceremony date. Just officiant are so expensive and I actually just want photos at there ceremony and not do vow exchange. Maybe a private vow exchange b/w us only.

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Okay got it. Thank you Hannah, good looking out.

View Quoted Comment Glad this forum is helpful to everyone ^^

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RIGHT!!! I was really over here sad like what happened.

View Quoted Comment No no, it’s not the date you pick up your marriage license, it’s the date you and your officiant sign the license. So if you picked up your marriage license on Thursday, then got married with your officiant; and you, the officiant and your witnesses (if needed) signed the license on Saturday, then Saturday would be your official wedding date. Hope that makes sense!

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Thank you Cece