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A truly historic state, being one of the original 13 colonies means you can surround yourself in the scenery that our forefathers would have seen four hundred years ago. And with beaches, mountains, waterfalls and woodlands to explore, there is no shortage of adventure to be had on your elopement. If epic views are your thing, then the Shenandoah National Park has many that must be seen to be believed: cascading waterfalls, mountain overlooks and fields fills with wildflowers that all offer something different, yet beautiful, for your ceremony. Virginia Beach could be the place to go if you want a coastal wedding, but there are many smaller and quieter beach locations too.
You can get married at all times of the year in Virginia, as the weather tends not to have any extremes. Spring or Summer are ideal, with temperatures that aren’t too hot to enjoy the outdoors.
All states require a marriage license, so you need to ensure that you understand all of the requirements very early in the planning process. Luckily, it’s fairly straightforward in most cases as long as you meet the criteria and follow the state requirements.
Here is what you need to know about getting a marriage license in Virginia.
Yes! Same sex marriage is recognized in all states, and at a federal level, under the Respect for Marriage Act which was signed into law in December 2022.
No. Blood tests have been abolished as part of marriage license applications in all 50 states, so don’t worry if you’re afraid of needles!
Once you’ve gotten the admin out of the way, you can get to the part you’ve been dreaming of: the wedding ceremony!
As you’d expect, each state has different requirements to make a marriage legal. Make sure you follow the guide below to get your marriage legally recognized.
An officiant will be required to solemnize a marriage in Virginia. Any officiant is required to register with a County Clerk. There are 95 counties in Virginia, and some may have differing requirements so it’s best to check with the County Clerk’s office well in advance of the wedding date. Eligible individuals include: various judges, the state governor, Lieutenant Governor, members of the General Assembly, the Attorney General of Virginia or a minister of any religious denomination.
Although there is no law forbidding those ordained by online ministries from officiating a marriage, some people report difficulties in obtaining a license in some counties. If you’d like somebody who has been ordained online to be your officiant, then it may be worth finding out whether the county you apply in will grant you a license to officiate a wedding. If they won’t, you could try applying in a different county. Alternatively, you could perform the marriage ceremony and have someone authorized sign the license.
Get my step-by-step guide and plan your dream elopement!
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