The great state of Pennsylvania is a wonderful place to get married. In fact, there were around 73,000 PA weddings in 2019. The total number of weddings in 2020 was 34,028 and Pennsylvania - (State) ranks 12 out of 51 States in number of weddings.
Some things in life are just complicated. The great news is obtaining a Pennsylvania marriage license doesn’t have to be one of them! Unless you’ve been through the process a few times, it can be confusing. Don't be too hard on yourself if you don’t understand everything. C.E.B. Ministry Wedding Officiants has coordinated hundreds of weddings in Pennsylvania, so we can help guide you when it comes to applying for a Pennsylvania marriage license.
The first thing I'd like to note is to be sure that if you are getting married in Pennsylvania that you MUST obtain your marriage license in Pennsylvania. We work with a lot of couples that live out of state but are coming to Pennsylvania to get married, so I always let them know they cannot obtain the marriage license in the state they live in.
Here are the steps you’ll need to take, and some things to consider, in order to make sure your nuptials are the real deal and legal!
How much money does a marriage license in PA cost?
A Pennsylvania marriage license costs between $45-$90 depending on which county you live in.
How long is my PA marriage license good for?
Your license is good for 60 days from the date it is issued.
Can I bring my partners documents in for them, or do we both need to be there?
Both marriage license applicants need to be present to apply.
What documents do I need to receive my Pennsylvania marriage license?
Both parties need a drivers license or government issued photo id. You will also need Social Security numbers for both parties.
How many days before my wedding should I apply for my marriage license in Pennsylvania?
PA law requires a mandatory 3 day waiting period before your marriage license can be issued, however, we recommend applying for your license 2-3 weeks prior to your wedding date.
Do I have to get my PA marriage license from the same county that I am getting married in?
No, once you have your Pennsylvania marriage license, you can get married in any of the 62 counties in PA. Please note, you may not use your PA marriage license to get married in a different state. Likewise, you are not allowed to get married in PA if you license was issued from a state other than Pennsylvania.
What if 1 or both people getting married do not speak English?
An independent translator must accompany the individual/individuals who do not speak English.
Do you have to be a Pennsylvania resident to get married in PA?
No, you do not need to be a resident of the state of Pennsylvania, however you would still need to apply for your marriage license in PA.
Does Pennsylvania allow same-sex marriages?
Yes, the state of Pennsylvania has legally recognized same-sex marriages since May 20, 2014.
If one of us was previously married, what info do we need to provide?
If you are divorced, you would need to provide a certified divorce decree with the day, month and year of final decree. You would also need to provide the county and state that it was granted. Females need to provide documents from Court of name change (if the last name is different from decree).
We have enclosed here links for each county in Pennsylvania. Here you will find the exact requirements for your county.
Looking for a Wedding Officiant? Not sure who, how or what it intel's. CEB Ministry can guide you along to help you understand and give you the type of ceremony that you feel fits you best.