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Courthouse, officiant or church wedding: paperwork and fees

Pick the type of ceremony and your date. We’ll list what to do and when (with real dates), show your marriage license window, and add up the fees. Rules vary by state, so we give typical ranges - check with your county clerk for exact numbers.

Prices updated: · United States (USD) · free, no sign-up

Calculator result

Fees and paperwork

$560

from $350to $790
License: apply from
July 16, 2027
License: apply by
August 8, 2027
Days to go
300 days
0/13

  1. Book your officiant

    November 15, 2026 · now

  2. Check the officiant rules

    May 15, 2027 · later

  3. Apply for the marriage license

    July 16, 2027 · later

  4. Last safe day for the license

    August 8, 2027 · later

  5. Rehearsal

    August 14, 2027 · later

  6. Wedding day

    August 15, 2027 · later

  7. Officiant files the license

    August 20, 2027 · later

Fees

  • Marriage licenseset by state and county$70
  • Officiantprofessional; a friend ordained online often officiates for free$450
  • Certified copies (2)about $10-35 each, for the name change$40
  • Marriage license: apply no earlier than July 16, 2027 (in some states it is valid for only 30 days) and no later than August 8, 2027.
  • A friend can officiate in most states after a free online ordination, but a few places (e.g., New York City, Nevada, Hawaii) require registration first. Rules change, so check with your county clerk.
  • If either of you is not a US citizen or was married before, check your county clerk’s ID and document rules early - some counties want certified divorce papers or translated documents.

How we calculate

  1. Deadlines are counted back from your date. The marriage license window runs from 30 days to 7 days before the wedding: licenses are valid for 30-90 days depending on the state, and waiting periods run up to 3 days (24 hours in New York, 72 hours in Texas).
  2. Government fees vary by state and county: the license costs about $30-115, certified copies about $10-35 each, and a courthouse ceremony $0-100. Officiant fees, church fees and donations vary even more, so we show them as ranges.
  3. A stage is “now” when it is the next one ahead of you or due within 30 days. Stages past their deadline are flagged to catch up on.

Cheat sheet: prices and good practice

Marriage license

  • Fee: about $30-115, set by the state and county
  • Valid for 30-90 days in most states (New York 60, California 90)
  • Waiting period: none in many states, 24 hours in New York, 72 hours in Texas
  • The officiant files the signed license, usually within 5-10 days

Typical costs

  • Courthouse ceremony: $0-100 (New York City: $25)
  • Professional officiant: $300-600
  • Church or synagogue fee: $300-1,500, often less for members
  • Certified copies: $10-35 each

Questions and answers

How much does a courthouse wedding cost?

Usually just government fees: the marriage license (about $30-115), a ceremony fee at some clerk’s offices ($0-100; $25 in New York City) and a couple of certified copies. Altogether about $50-285, typically around $145.

Can a friend officiate our wedding?

In most states, yes: online ordination is free and takes minutes. Some places require officiants to register first (e.g., New York City, Nevada, Hawaii), so check your county clerk’s rules a few months ahead.

When should we get the marriage license?

One to four weeks before the wedding is the sweet spot: inside the validity window in almost every state and past any waiting period. Don’t forget it on the day - the officiant can’t marry you without it.

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