How to Get Married in Virginia from Another State
Are you looking to get married quickly in VA from another state? Here is a quick guide on how easy it is to get married in Virginia!
You and your partner have been together for several years. You have talked about getting married but do not have the budget (or time) to have a large, extravagant wedding. You wake up that morning and both decide that you want to get married that day. Not tomorrow…not next week…but TODAY. It’s a great idea! The problem is, where do you start?
In most states you are going to have a few barriers to get through. Usually getting your marriage license either requires a mandatory waiting period, a blood test, or some other type of regulation that will result in your spur-of-the-moment idea to get married crashing to a halt. This is NOT the case in Virginia!
So, how do you get married in Virginia?
Travel to Virginia and Get Your Marriage License
One of the many reasons I love being a marriage commissioner in Virginia is how easy it is for couples to begin their life together by getting married. If you have an official government ID (a driver’s license for example), YOU CAN GET MARRIED IN VIRGINIA!
That is all you need. No blood test. No birth certificate. No legal papers. Nothing. All you both need is a valid ID and $30 to pay for your marriage license and you can get married.
Any Virginia Circuit Court can issue a marriage license. If you want additional details on the specifics, you can read my article on getting a marriage license from a Virginia Court.
Now that you have your marriage license, it is time to get married! But…who is going to marry you? That’s where I come in.
Hire a Marriage Commissioner / Wedding Officiant
In order to get married, you need to find someone who is legally authorized to perform marriages in Virginia. While church pastors and priests can do this, you usually need to be a member of their congregation…and they are not going to be available on the same day without notice.
The Virginia Courts do not usually have a judge on staff that is available to marry someone either.
What you need is a marriage commissioner!
A marriage commissioner is sort of your modern-day Justice of the Peace. We are appointed individuals by the courts of Virginia authorized to conduct civil marriage ceremonies for couples.
I am proud to be authorized as a marriage commissioner and can do your wedding on the same day if you like. For more information, you can read about my Same-Day Marriage Service.
That’s All You Need to Get Married in Virginia!
That’s all you need…a marriage license and a marriage commissioner to perform your wedding…and you can get married in Virginia from any state.
While I am based in Winchester, Virginia, I am happy to travel all over the state for couples in need of wedding officiant / marriage commissioner services. I also am a professional photographer if you happen to be looking for a photograph or two to commemorate your same-day wedding!
If you plan on coming to the Winchester, VA courthouse to get your license, here are some tips that should make your visit go smoothly.
I wish you the best on your trip to Virginia to get married! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or text me directly at 540-686-1220.
