Getting married in Florida is one of the easiest legal processes in the country: there’s no residency requirement, no blood test, and no waiting period for Florida residents. You apply for a marriage license, hold a ceremony with a registered officiant, and your officiant files the signed license with the county clerk.
How do you get married in Florida step by step?
To get married in Florida, you and your partner apply for a marriage license at any county clerk’s office, hold your ceremony within 60 days, and have your officiant return the signed license to the clerk. The whole legal process can be completed in under a week.
Here’s the actual sequence most couples follow:
- Apply together for a marriage license at any Florida county clerk’s office, in person, with valid photo ID.
- Pay the $86 application fee, or $61 if you’ve completed a state-approved premarital course.
- Wait three days if both of you are Florida residents and have not taken the premarital course — out-of-state couples have no waiting period.
- Hold your ceremony within 60 days of the license being issued, with at least one registered officiant present.
- Sign the license at the ceremony — you, your officiant, and (optionally) two witnesses.
- Your officiant returns the signed license to the issuing county clerk within 10 days. They mail you a certified copy.
That’s the entire legal process. Everything else — the venue, the vows, the music, the photographer — is yours to design.
What are the Florida marriage license requirements?
Florida marriage license requirements are simple: both partners must be 18 or older, present together with valid photo ID, declare they are not currently married to anyone else, and pay the application fee. Florida does not require a blood test, residency, or witnesses to apply.
You’ll need to bring your driver’s license, passport, or state ID. If you’ve been married before, bring proof the previous marriage ended — a divorce decree, annulment, or death certificate. Same-sex marriage has been fully legal in Florida since 2015 and follows exactly the same process.
Cost: $86 standard, $61 if you’ve taken a Florida-approved premarital preparation course (which also waives the three-day waiting period for residents).
Where can you get married in Florida?
You can get married almost anywhere in Florida — beaches, gardens, courthouses, hotels, theme parks, and private homes are all legal. Florida has no rules about where the ceremony takes place, only about who performs it and how the license is filed.
Central Florida couples have an unusual range of options. You can elope at sunrise on Cocoa Beach, exchange vows at a Disney-area venue, hold a garden ceremony in Winter Park, or have a quiet courthouse signing in Lake Mary or Sanford. Each county clerk’s office has slightly different appointment systems, but the marriage license itself is valid statewide.
The only practical limit is venue permission. Public beaches and parks may need a small permit, and private venues will have their own ceremony rules — always confirm before booking.
Who can legally officiate a wedding in Florida?
In Florida, weddings can be legally officiated by ordained ministers, judges, court clerks, and notaries public. Florida is one of only four states where notaries can perform marriages, which is why many couples here hire a professional wedding officiant rather than a religious minister.
A professional wedding officiant brings something a courthouse signing cannot: a personalised ceremony written for you, the experience to handle Florida’s unpredictable weather and emotional family moments, and the practical knowledge to file your license correctly afterward.
Whoever you choose, ask three questions before you book: are you legally registered to officiate in Florida, will you write a custom ceremony for us, and will you handle filing the license after the wedding?
If you’ve reached this point and you’re thinking “okay, I just need someone to actually marry us” — that’s exactly what we do. At Orlando Wedding Officiants, our wedding officiant services cover everything from a ten-minute beach elopement to a fully personalised ceremony with custom vows. Book a free consultation and we’ll walk you through your specific situation.
How long does it take to get married in Florida?
If both partners are Florida residents, the legal process takes a minimum of three days from license application to ceremony. For out-of-state couples, there is no waiting period — you can apply in the morning and marry the same afternoon.
This is one of the reasons Florida is the most popular destination wedding state in the country. We’ve written a separate guide on getting married in Florida from out of state that walks through every step for non-residents.
From a planning perspective, allow at least 6 to 8 weeks if you want a venue and a personalised ceremony. The legal side can be fast — building a wedding day that actually feels like you takes a little longer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Married in Florida
Can you get married in Florida if you don’t live there?
Yes — Florida has no residency requirement for marriage. Out-of-state and international couples can apply for a Florida marriage license at any county clerk’s office, with no waiting period and no blood test. You only need valid photo ID, both partners present, and the $86 application fee.
Is there a waiting period for marriage in Florida?
Florida has a three-day waiting period only for couples where both partners are Florida residents. Out-of-state residents have no waiting period and can marry the same day as their license application. Florida residents can also waive the wait by completing a state-approved four-hour premarital preparation course before applying.
How much does it cost to get married in Florida?
A Florida marriage license costs $86, or $61 if you’ve completed a state-approved premarital course. Beyond the license, expect to pay $250 to $800 for a wedding officiant and whatever your venue costs. The total legal cost to be officially married in Florida can be under $400 including a courthouse-style ceremony.
Do you need witnesses to get married in Florida?
Florida does not legally require witnesses for a wedding ceremony — the marriage license has spaces for two witness signatures, but they are optional. Only the officiant’s signature is required for the license to be legally valid. Most couples still ask two friends or family members to sign as witnesses for the keepsake value.
How long is a Florida marriage license valid?
A Florida marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. The wedding ceremony must take place within that 60-day window, and your officiant must return the signed license to the issuing county clerk within 10 days of the ceremony. After 60 days the license expires and you’ll need to apply again.
Ready to plan a Florida wedding ceremony that’s legally sorted and genuinely meaningful? At Orlando Wedding Officiants, we handle the entire ceremony — from script writing to license filing — so you can focus on your partner and your day. Explore our wedding officiant services or book a free consultation — we’ll make sure your ceremony feels exactly like you.