How to Legally Get Married in Washington
So you’ve decided to skip the ballroom and say your vows somewhere that actually means something to you. A foggy mountain ridge, a wildflower meadow, or a secluded beach on the Olympic Peninsula. Washington State is one of the best places in the country to elope or have a micro-wedding, and the legal process is refreshingly straightforward. Before you focus on the view, though, you need to make sure the paperwork is handled.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to legally get married in Washington State.
First, the Good News
Washington is incredibly couple-friendly when it comes to marriage laws. You don’t need to be a Washington resident to get married here. Couples fly in from all over the country (and the world) specifically to elope in this state. There’s no blood test required, no mandatory pre-marital counseling, and no complicated residency hoops to jump through.
Step 1: Apply for Your Marriage License
Your first official step is applying for a marriage license. You can apply through any county in Washington, and it doesn’t have to be the county where your ceremony will take place. That flexibility is a big deal for elopers, since you might get your license in Seattle but exchange vows on a glacier in the North Cascades.
How to apply: Most counties offer an online application to get the process started, which makes things easy. After submitting your online application, both of you will need to appear in person at the county auditor’s or recorder’s office to sign the paperwork and pay the fee.
What to bring:
- Government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport, or state ID) for both people
- Your Social Security number (if applicable)
- Basic info about your parents (birth names and birth state/country)
- Payment for the license fee
How much does it cost? License fees vary slightly by county and have increased in 2025, but generally fall in the $159–$172 range. Most counties accept cash, check, money order, and credit/debit cards (though some charge a small convenience fee for cards).
Who needs to be there? Both of you. You can’t send one person ahead. Washington requires both applicants to be present when the license is finalized in person.
Step 2: Understand the 3-Day Waiting Period
Here’s the most important planning detail: Washington State has a mandatory 3-day waiting period between when your license is issued and when you can legally use it. This waiting period cannot be waived under any circumstances, not even by a court order.
The clock starts the day your license is issued (not the day you submit your application online). So if you pick up your license on a Monday, the earliest you can get married is Thursday.
Once that 3-day window passes, your license is valid for 60 days. Your ceremony must take place within that window.
What this means for planning your elopement: Don’t wait until the week of your wedding to get your license. Aim to get it at least 4–7 days before your ceremony to give yourself a buffer, especially if you’re traveling from out of state or planning around county office hours (most are open Monday through Friday only).
Step 3: Have a Qualified Officiant
Washington State does not allow self-solemnization, meaning you can’t legally marry yourselves without a third party present. You’ll need a licensed or ordained officiant to perform your ceremony.
Under Washington State law (RCW 26.04.050), the following people can legally officiate a marriage:
- A licensed or ordained minister, priest, imam, rabbi, or similar official of any religious organization
- A sitting or retired judge (Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Superior Court, District Court, or Municipal Court)
- A court commissioner
Officiants do not need to be Washington residents. A minister from another state can legally perform your ceremony here, as long as the ceremony takes place in Washington.
Online ordination: Many elopers ask a close friend or family member to get ordained online (through organizations like the Universal Life Church) specifically to officiate their ceremony. This is widely accepted in Washington, though it’s worth double-checking with your county if you have any questions.
Note: Neither of you can officiate your own wedding, and your witnesses cannot serve as the officiant.
Step 4: Have Two Witnesses Present
Washington State requires at least two witnesses to be present at your ceremony. They’ll need to sign your marriage certificate. Witnesses must be at least 14 years old and understand what they’re witnessing.
For elopements and micro-weddings, this is one of the most common questions couples have. Here are a few options:
- Bring two guests. Even the most intimate elopements can include a small handful of loved ones.
- Ask your photographer and officiant. In many cases, your photographer can serve as one of your witnesses.
- Hire a witness. Some elopement officiants offer witness services as part of their packages.
If you’re dreaming of a truly private ceremony with zero guests, just keep in mind that Washington does require those two witnesses. It’s a small requirement that’s easy to plan around.
Step 5: Have the Ceremony
Once your license is valid and your officiant and witnesses are in place, you can get married anywhere in Washington State. Mountains, forests, beaches, vineyards, backyards, courthouse steps. The state places no restrictions on where your ceremony can take place, as long as you have any required permits for the location (more on that below).
During the ceremony, state law requires that you both verbally declare that you take each other as spouses in the presence of your officiant and witnesses. That’s it. There’s no prescribed script, and the ceremony itself can be as simple or as meaningful as you want it to be.
Step 6: Return Your Marriage Certificate
After the ceremony, your officiant is responsible for ensuring the signed marriage certificate is returned to the county auditor’s office within 30 days of the ceremony. Both of you, your officiant, and your two witnesses all sign the certificate.
Once it’s recorded, you can order certified copies for a small fee (typically $3 per copy). You’ll need these for name changes, updating your Social Security card, driver’s license, passport, and other legal documents.
Certified copies are not automatically mailed to you, so you’ll need to request them.
A Quick Note on Permits
Getting legally married in Washington is one thing. Getting access to your dream ceremony location is another. If you’re planning to elope in a national park (like Olympic, Mount Rainier, or North Cascades), on state land, or in certain state parks, you’ll likely need a permit. Permit requirements, costs, and availability vary widely by location.
This is one area where working with an experienced elopement photographer or planner makes a real difference. They know which locations require permits, how far in advance to apply, and what’s actually allowed.
The Bottom Line
Getting legally married in Washington is genuinely one of the easier parts of eloping here. The whole process comes down to five things:
- Apply for your license through any Washington county
- Get your license at least 3 days before your ceremony
- Have a qualified officiant
- Have two witnesses present
- Return your signed marriage certificate within 30 days
Do those five things and your marriage is fully legal in the eyes of Washington State, whether you say your vows on a mountaintop or on the edge of the ocean.
Have questions about planning your Washington elopement or micro-wedding? As an adventure elopement and micro-wedding photographer based in Washington, I’m here to help you navigate everything from permits to locations to the logistics of your perfect day. Let’s get you hitched Washington!
Be the first to comment