Flash wedding in the USA

More and more couples are opting for a flash wedding on vacation in the USA to avoid waiting times in their home countries. We explain what you need to consider for your blitz wedding and where you can best get married in the USA without waiting times.

Flash wedding in Las Vegas: the classic

Las Vegas, in the US state of Nevada, is known for its quick and easy issuance of marriage certificates. The Clark County Marriage Bureau is open seven days a week (including holidays), and you can usually take your marriage license within minutes of arrival and get married right away.

Las Vegas is also known for its wide selection of wedding venues. From romantic little chapels to luxurious ballrooms and festive gardens, there is something for every taste and budget.

Many venues for flash weddings also offer all-inclusive packages. Everything your heart desires is already included: the wedding ceremony, the flowers, the photographer, and, if desired, a motto for the event (e.g., a priest in an Elvis Presley costume).

More places for a flash wedding in the USA

Besides Las Vegas, other places in the US are also perfect for a flash wedding, as the bureaucratic hurdles are low, and the vacation setting lives up to the romantic occasion.

Among the particularly marriage-friendly places is, for example, New Orleans in Louisiana. Here, you will find a fast procedure for obtaining a marriage license, which can be acquired in just 30 minutes at the clerk's office. 24 hours after that, you are allowed to get married in Louisiana.

There are many US states where the waiting period between the issuance of the marriage license and the permission to marry is eliminated. In addition to the already-mentioned Nevada, there are 30 states, including California and Hawaii, for example.

Spontaneous beach weddings in Hawaii are legendary, but there's still one drawback: you have to wait between one and three days in Hawaii and most of the other 30 flash wedding states before you're allowed to pick up your marriage license.

Requirements for a flash wedding in the USA

You must meet the following requirements to obtain a marriage license in the US:

• You are at least 18 years old.
• You have a valid identity card.
• You are not currently married.
• You are no more closely related to your partner than second or half cousins.

Remember that you will also need a credit card to apply for your marriage license.

How much does a flash wedding cost in the USA?

A US marriage license can cost anywhere from $ 30 to $ 200. Check the website of your destination (US state or county) for the applicable rules. There is also the cost of your desired ceremony, which can vary greatly.

Documents for a flash wedding in the USA

In many places (like Las Vegas), you usually only need a valid ID or driver's license for a flash wedding. However, to be on the safe side, we recommend that you also have the following documents (each with an English translation) available for both partners:

• Birth certificate
• If widowed: Death certificate of the spouse
• For divorced persons: Divorce certificate

You can usually take the marriage license directly after your personal appointment at the relevant office.

Where can we get the marriage license?

Where you need to appear in person for your marriage license depends on the US state or county in which you plan to have your flash wedding. In some states, it is the county courthouse. In others, it is the city hall, and sometimes there is a Marriage License Bureau of the city government. Check your destination’s website for the rules.

Most of the time, you can already fill out an online form before you show up in person to keep on-site time to a minimum. For example, for a flash wedding in Las Vegas, it would be the Clark County Clerk's Office application form.

Flash wedding with a US-American

It is not uncommon for people of different nationalities to fall in love with each other. So, of course, it often happens that US Americans and non-Americans get married.

For the non-American spouse, this marriage has a great advantage: They receive the right to a Green Card with the marriage, which entitles them to permanent residence in the USA. And there are even more advantages.

Green Card through marriage: All advantages at a glance

The Green Card is the most coveted immigrant visa globally. Those who become holders of the Permanent Resident Card (as the Green Card is officially called) by marrying a US citizen can enjoy various benefits. These include:

• An unlimited residence permit in any US state
• An unlimited work permit for the USA
• Unhindered entry and exit rights
• Studying in the USA without a student visa
• Up to 80 % lower tuition fees
• The right to apply for U.S. citizenship after three years

In addition, many other big and small things become much easier when living in the USA with a Green Card instead of a US visa. These include finding a job in the US, renting an apartment or buying a house, and even opening a bank account.

Attention, marriage swindlers!

As great as the temptation may be, you should not marry for the sole purpose of immigrating to the US. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) closely scrutinizes particularly freshly contracted marriages between US citizens and immigrants and subjects spouses to a rigorous marriage fraud interview. If you are found to have a sham marriage, you could face harsh legal consequences.

In addition, you will be issued a Green Card by marriage initially with a probationary period of two years. During these two years, you must prove the legality of your marriage. Only after that can you apply for the unlimited (unconditional) GreenCard.

The procedure of a flash wedding in the USA

You have found your dream partner and want to get married in the USA at short notice? Congratulations! On your way to marriage, you will go through the following steps:

1. Find your favorite US state to marry
2. Do your research on the applicable rules for the marriage license
3. Apply for your ESTA (or your K-1 or K-3 fiancé visa if marrying a US citizen)
4. Book your wedding package and flights
5. Pre-apply for a marriage license (online)
6. Show up in the office in charge of obtaining the marriage license
7. Marry the person of your dreams
8. Apply for a marriage certificate

Recognition of your American marriage

If you would like to have your US marriage recognized in your home country, you can apply for the marriage certificate together with the apostille, which will be issued by the responsible consulate.

With these two documents and a certified copy from the birth register, you can register your marriage at the registry office in your home country and thus officially register it.

Congratulations!