If you’re working with a licensed officiant or minister, they will likely walk you through the process of the ceremony. If you’re planning on a family member or friend officiating your ceremony, they may need a little assistance understanding their role and your desires for the ceremony. That is where this post comes in!
Your friend or family member will need to be over 18 years old, present, and ordained to perform the ceremony. There are a number of ways a person can be ordained, but a common website used is Universal Life Church. Getting ordained through ULC will only take them a few minutes.
The law does not dictate the requirements of the ceremony except that, at some point, you and your fiance give your consent to marry and your officiant pronounces you married. Otherwise, you can pick and choose what aspects you include within your ceremony.
Below is a typical format for a wedding ceremony, but again, you don’t have to include these aspects:
Processional
Welcome/invocation
Declaration of intent/vows
Ring exchange
Pronouncement
Kiss
Recessional
Our recommendation is to take an evening with your fiance to look through a few of the websites at the bottom of this page and determine what represents you as a couple and what you'd like to include in your ceremony.
The law does require your officiant, you, your fiance, and two witnesses to sign the marriage license. Your two witnesses can be any one that witnessed you and your fiance give your consent to marry and your officiant pronouncing you married.
If getting married in Washington State, visit any county website for specific details. Here are a few common locations:
A marriage license purchased from any county in Washington State can be used to get married anywhere in the state. If you plan to marry in another state or country, you must apply for its marriage license and comply with its laws for getting married.
When a marriage license is issued, Washington state law requires a three-day waiting period before you can use it. This waiting period begins on the day your payment of the marriage license fee is processed. Licenses are valid for 60 days after the three-day waiting period.
Included in your paperwork from the government office, there should be a pre-addressed envelope. Mail this paperwork back to the office using the included envelope within 30 days of the ceremony (we advise having your officiant do it on your behalf). That’s it! You’re legally married!
