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Country roads, take me home….or maybe away from home, if you’re one of the thousands of couples who are choosing to do something different from the traditional wedding and eloping instead. If stunning views are your thing (and why wouldn’t they be?), the New River Gorge has lovely rivers which you can view from several overlooks. Or if you’d like stunning photographs from your special day, hiking in Dolly Sods offers up views of colorful meadows, complete with striking peat moss that makes for awesome visuals and really makes the white of a wedding dress stand out.
The colorful foliage means that fall is a great time to marry in West Virginia, and the weather shouldn’t be too cold either. Outdoor weddings can also take place in late spring / early summer when it isn’t too hot. For winter weddings, you can expect gorgeous crisp snow however temperatures will be low!
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 West 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 is required to solemnize marriages in West Virginia. Judges may perform marriage ceremonies, as well as ministers. Ministers must be licensed and registered with the state.
Those ordained by online ministries may officiate your wedding, but they will still need to register with the state. This process involves submitting hard copies of your ministry credentials, so plan ahead of time if you need to get these ordered.
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