Application for Authorization to Celebrate Marriages in the District of Columbia

State law prescribes who can perform a marriage ceremony: active and retired Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, Superior Court judges, Superior Court commissioners, and judges of courts of limited jurisdiction, as well as any regularly licensed or ordained minister or priest of any church or religious ...

Neither party needs to be a DC resident in order to get married in DC.Unlike many other jurisdictions, Washington, DC only allows marriages to be performed by an officiant authorized by the court you can not have someone perform your ceremony who isn't authorized by the DC Court Marriage Bureau office.

How long does it take to get a Washington DC marriage license? You will get your DC marriage license the same day you apply. Allow yourself at least 2-3 hours to get your DC marriage license.

The District began allowing self-uniting marriages in 2014.Self-uniting weddings are quick, often lasting less than half an hour; cheap, costing just $45 for the marriage license application; and simple. All couples must do is show up at the courthouse with government-issued IDs.

Members of the clergy, judges, justices of the peace, and some notary publics are all qualified to perform weddings. Each state has its own rules about this, which can vary widely. In some states, mayors can perform the ceremony.

You don't have to get ordained by a religious organization or anything. You just have to fill out this Temporary Officiant Application with the DC Marriage Bureau, pay a $25 fee, and get the application notarized.

An authorized person of any religious denomination or society ($35 fee + application) a civil celebrant ($35 fee + application) a temporary officiant ($25 fee + application) a judge (or retired judge of any court of record)