Do I need to get a marriage license in the state I am eloping?

Yes? every state requires you to get a marriage license IN the state you are holding your ceremony. So if you live in Michigan, and are getting married in Hawaii, you’ll need to get a license in Hawaii. You will then submit the license to the state of Hawaii and they will mail you a marriage certificate which will then translate to a certificate in the state you live in. If you are holding a symbolic ceremony, you can get a license in your state, but if you intend for your ceremony to be legal you’ll need to abide by state guidelines to get your marriage license in the state you are holding your ceremony.

Written by Janessa White

Janessa White is the co-founder of Simply Eloped and has helped thousands of couples plan elopements. As an expert in the field, she has been featured on Brides.com, Vox, and HuffPost. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot.