A marriage certificate is a document which proofs you're married.
Before you get married, you'll need to have a marriage license. This is little more than making sure you're allowed to get married. Depending on which state you're getting married it can be you need to have this at least 72 hours before the wedding. But don't apply too soon either since a marriage license has an expiration date, usually between 30 and 90 days after it's issued.
What information is on a marriage certificate?
- Your first and last name from before you got married
- Sometimes: your birth date and city
- The first and last names of the witnesses and their signatures
- Sometimes: the first and last names of your parents
- The city in which you got married
- The date on which you got married
Example marriage certificate
See here an example of a marriage certificate. Details may differ per state, but in essence most marriage certificates are the same.
Now that you know what you'll need to sign on the big day, you can start practicing, so that all your nerves won't make your forget what to do when the moment arrives! ;)
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WonderWeddings.com Tips
- Ask your wedding photographer to snap pictures of the signing of the certificate and other documents. A great moment to relive later.
- Do you have children? Then let them feel special by having them sign for your wedding too. Make a special little wedding book on your home computer and have them sign that, so that they too will have a personal memory from this special day.