- San Diego       Wedding Officiant -

Couples must obtain their marriage license from ANY California County Clerk-Recorder before their wedding day.

• The license does not have to be from San Diego… it can come from any county in California. We cannot sign off on a license from another state.

• Just count back 90 days from your wedding date and you can obtain your California marriage license ANYTIME within that 90-day time period.

• There is NO waiting period.

• Your marriage license is effective immediately and valid for 90 days anywhere within the state of California. You are not legally married until your officiant signs and files your license with the County Clerk-Recorder.

• A blood test is NOT required.

• Applying for your marriage license CANNOT be done online. The couple must appear together and present one form of valid photo identification with proof of age. (US driver’s license, passport, etc.)

• If either party has been granted a divorce within 90 days of applying for a new marriage license, a copy of the final divorce decree must be presented at the time of issue. If it has been more than 90 days, the marriage license application only asks for the date of dissolution.

• Once you have your California marriage license, your wedding ceremony can be performed at the location of your choice by your wedding officiant, minister or reverend.

You DO NOT have to be legally married at the County Clerk’s office. We are happy to perform your ceremony at any location including Coronado beach, San Diego hotels, a Temecula winery, La Jolla, in your home or your backyard!

San Diego Regular Public Marriage License — $129

San Diego Confidential Marriage License — $144

To save time at the Clerk’s office, download and fill out your marriage license application BEFORE you go there.

• Download Application for San Diego Marriage License

A Regular Public LIcense requires (1) one witness to sign after the actual ceremony, and is public record.

The Confidential Marriage License does not require any witnesses and is private and not public record.

In order to obtain a Confidential Marriage License:

1. Both parties must swear in writing that they have already been living together.

2. The marriage record will be maintained as Confidential and ONLY the Bride or Groom may obtain copies of the marriage certificate, EXCEPT by order of a Superior Court.

The Confidential marriage license is effective right away and valid for 90 days anywhere within the state of California.

After the ceremony, we will send the license to the County Clerk of Record where you purchased the license via USPS trackable delivery so it has to be signed for and we have a formal record that it got to the Clerk safely.

NOTE: It is the legal responsibility of your officiant to file the license with the County Clerk.

OBTAINING OFFICIAL COPIES OF YOUR LICENSE

Official certified copies of your license (which becomes your Marriage Certificate) may be purchased approximately 14 days after the license is signed by ONE witness and your officiant, and returned to the county recorder’s office.

• Request Official Copy of Marriage License In-Person

• Request Official Copy of Marriage License By Mail