Do I Need a Witness to Elope or Get Married in Virginia?
I receive many inquiries from couples who know they want to elope or have a small quick wedding in Virginia, but do not know where to begin. While I have answered many other questions in articles found here on my website, today I am going to focus on one of the more popular questions I receive:
Do we need a witness or witnesses to be present for our wedding in Virginia?
The answer is NO, no witnesses need to be present at all. The only people required to be in attendance for your wedding are the two of you (the couple), and your officiant (me or another individual of your choosing who is authorized by the Commonwealth of Virginia to perform marriages).
While this often goes without saying, both of the individuals being married do need to be physically present. Virginia does not allow marriages by proxy.
So while you are not required to have a witness, you are more than welcome to invite guests to your elopement / small wedding. There are many FREE local venues around the area that can accommodate a small number of guests to witness your short civil marriage. You can check out my list of recommended locations that are the best options for holding your elopement or small wedding.
Need some help with planning your elopement? Not sure exactly where to start? Send me a message and I will be more than happy to assist you!
