Marrying in the USA

If you want to get married in the USA or are planning a wedding with a US citizen, there are a few things to consider. Discover the most important steps, applications, and procedures on the way to your American wedding.

Can I get married in the USA?

In principle, citizens of all nationalities may marry in the USA. However, they usually need a marriage license from an official body.

How to apply for a marriage license

You will receive the marriage license for the USA after applying in the respective US state. For this, you usually only need to present your ID. However, to be on the safe side, we recommend that you have several documents ready to hand. These include:

• A passport or driver's license as proof of identity
• Proof of residence
• A birth certificate
• If it is not your first marriage: divorce, or death certificates
• In some states: social security number (if available)
• Other proof, depending on the US state (e.g., blood tests)

All documents submitted must be translated into English (by a sworn translator).

The rules for applying for and using marriage licenses vary from state to state and county to county. They differ in these respects:

• The location for applying for a marriage license (e.g., a resident's home or the county in which the wedding will take place)
• The government agency for the application (e.g., District Court, Municipal Clerk's Office, County Clerk's Office, County Recorder's Office, Probate Judge's Office, Registrar, Deputy, or Marriage License Office)
• Minimum age for the marriage license (between 15 and 21 years of age)
• Fees for the marriage license (between $ 50 and $ 85)
• Waiting time for a marriage license (between 0 and 5 days)
• Submission of blood tests (still required in some states)
• The validity period of the marriage license (how soon after issuance must the marriage take place?)
• The validity of witnesses to sign the marriage license
• The availability of "premarital education" seminars (to prevent marital problems)

Find out the exact guidelines in the state and county where you plan to marry. Each state provides information on its website about its rules and application procedures.

Flash wedding in Las Vegas - is it possible?

Do you dream of an adventurous flash wedding like in the movies? Then we have good news: There are actually US states where you can get married immediately after receiving your marriage license. This, of course, includes the wedding paradise of Las Vegas!

→ Learn more about spontaneous weddings in the USA

Can I apply for a marriage license online?

You can apply for a marriage license online in some US states, but you will still have to appear at the office in person (both partners) to have the license handed over (possibly with witnesses).

After the marriage license has been issued, you usually have to wait one day before you are allowed to get married.

Is the US marriage recognized in other countries?

Your marriage arranged in the USA is legally valid, even if you have yet to apply for recognition in your home country.

Nevertheless, applying for recognition, including a special marriage certificate with an apostille, is useful and may be necessary, for example, for further joint dealings with authorities and some legal claims.

Applying for recognition of your American marriage

If you wish to have your American marriage recognized in accordance with the Hague Convention, you should first apply for a marriage certificate in the USA with the note "Extended Version For Foreign Use."

For legalization (pre-certification of the certificate with apostille), contact your foreign embassy or consulate in the U.S. or the relevant apostille authority in the US state concerned.

The apostilled marriage certificate must be taken to the registry office in your home country, where you apply for official recognition of your marriage at the registry office appointment.

Getting Married in the USA: what to consider

If you are planning a wedding in the USA, there are several things to arrange in addition to applying for your marriage license. These include:

• Valid passports for the bridal couple and witnesses
• ESTA permits for all travelers (newlyweds, witnesses, guests)
• Birth, divorce, and death certificates (if applicable) in certified translation for the marriage license application

Attention: If you want to marry a US citizen and enter the USA for this purpose, you cannot use ESTA but have to apply for a fiancé visa (K-1).

Getting married for a Green Card: is it advisable?

After marrying a US citizen, you are entitled to a "Green Card by Marriage." This sounds tempting, of course, but given the strict precautions taken by US immigration authorities, a sham marriage is not advisable.

Why? If you were to get the Green Card after the rigorous checks and numerous hurdles in the application process, it would initially only be a Green Card on probation ("Conditional Green Card"). You would have to prove for two years that your marriage is legitimate.

Even the slightest suspicion by the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) could result in the loss of your residence permit. And if the authorities prove you have a sham marriage, you face even worse consequences because immigration fraud is a felony.

So unless you have fallen madly in love with an American, entering the Green Card Lottery is a much better path to a life in the US.

Getting Married in the USA: rules and traditions

Are you dreaming of a real American wedding with bridesmaids, a bridal shower, and a honeymoon? That's only understandable because Americans let it rip when getting married! These American wedding traditions are well worth keeping in mind:

The Bride's Maid

Bride's Maids are responsible for assisting with wedding preparations, choosing the wedding outfit (e.g., the wedding dress), and organizing the Bridal Shower (bachelorette party). During the festivities, they usually wear uniform dresses and hairstyles.

Best Man

The groom's male best man is the "Best Man" and performs many tasks during the wedding preparation. He also organizes the Bachelor Party, pays the wedding speaker, keeps the wedding rings, and gives a speech at the wedding reception.

Bachelor Party

No US wedding without a legendary Bachelor Party! In the company of his best friends, the groom celebrates his last hours as an unmarried man. It can get pretty wild, as seen in the Hollywood movie "Hangover."

Bridal Shower

For the ladies, things are (supposed to be) a little more civilized before the wedding. The American bachelorette party involves a reception with snacks and drinks, where the bride receives gifts. Sometimes, however, this cozy tea party is transformed into a movie-like party event ("Hen Night") that rivals the Bachelor Party.

Bridal Brunch

With a Bridal Brunch, the bride and groom thank everyone who helped during the preparations shortly before the wedding. There is food and gifts for all friends and relatives.

The Wedding Ceremony

The American wedding ceremony is almost always the same for straight couples: the groom waits at the altar while the bride is led by her father into the chapel and "handed over" to her future spouse. Musically, all this is accompanied by the traditional wedding march.

The celebration

The wedding celebration usually takes place immediately after the wedding ceremony: a cocktail reception to warm up, a sumptuous meal with lots of drinks, and then a no-holds-barred party with wedding cake, bouquet tossing, and dancing, from which the bride and groom just sneak off at some point. The honeymoon awaits!

LGBTQIA+ wedding in the USA.

Good news: Since 2015, same-sex married couples in the US have had the same rights as straight couples! As a result, many American wedding traditions are being reinterpreted in various ways. There are no limits to the creativity of a wedding organization!

Thank you notes

When the bride and groom have finished the romantic honeymoon, thank you notes are written to all the contributors and guests. This should happen within a period of four weeks after the celebration.

How much does a wedding in the USA cost?

How much money you spend on your wedding in the USA depends entirely on your personal ideas (and a little bit on the US state). For the most part, traditional American weddings don't skimp on anything. According to the news magazine Business Insider, Americans spent an average of $ 19,000 on a wedding in 2020.

More tips around the USA

Would you like to learn more about vacationing, living, and working in the United States? Then you will certainly find what you are looking for in our useful USA guides:

• Visitor visa for the USA
• Immigrating to the USA
• Moving to the USA
• Working in the USA
• Living in the USA