Last updated: 2026 • Official Source ↗
Quick answer
Washington: For a DC courthouse wedding ceremony, apply through the DC Courts Marriage Bureau, pay the listed $45 license application fee, choose a court-official civil ceremony, a registered officiant, or self-officiating, and request certified copies after the marriage is processed. DC Courts says court-official ceremonies should be requested on or near the date you want, allowing at least ten business days after the license is issued.
Washington's listed marriage license fee is $45. There is no waiting period, and the legal document or notice path has a None planning window. Compared with the US city average of $64, Washington is $19 below average and ranks 29 of 97 for lowest listed cost.
If you are searching for a courthouse wedding in Washington, start with the marriage license or required legal paperwork. Civil ceremony appointments, city hall options, officiants, and return rules are handled locally, so confirm ceremony availability with the official office before choosing a date.
Official details can change without much notice. Treat this as a planning guide and verify with the linked office before you apply.
DC is different from many city hall wedding searches because the Marriage Bureau handles licenses, court-official ceremonies, registered officiants and self-officiating. The useful comparison is which ceremony authority you want, not which courthouse is cheapest.
| Option | Best for | Verified facts |
|---|---|---|
| DC Marriage Bureau license | Couples who need the legal license first | $45 listed application fee; processed remotely and in person; license does not expire once issued |
| Court-official civil wedding | Couples who want an onsite or virtual ceremony through DC Courts | Request the civil wedding and allow at least ten business days after license issuance |
| Registered outside officiant | Couples using a private ceremony location | The intended celebrant must be named and authorized/registered with the Marriage Bureau |
| Self-officiating | Couples who want the simplest DC legal ceremony path | One of the parties performs the ceremony and both parties attest to the application information |
Use the Marriage Bureau first, then choose the ceremony authority that fits your timing.
Source-backed check: DC Courts says the Marriage Bureau processes license applications and officiant applications remotely and in person, performs onsite and virtual civil ceremonies, and maintains marriage records from 1811 to present.
The right DC option depends on whether you want the court to perform the ceremony, whether you already have an officiant, or whether you want to self-officiate.
Source-backed check: DC Courts describes court officiants, other officiants and self officiants as separate paths, so the page keeps those choices separate.
| Option | Best for | Confirm before applying |
|---|---|---|
| Court-official ceremony | Couples who want the courthouse or virtual civil wedding path | Date request, whether onsite or virtual is available, and the ten-business-day timing note |
| Outside officiant | Couples planning a venue, hotel, home or photo-forward ceremony | Officiant authorization/registration and the exact full name to provide on the application |
| Self-officiating | Couples who want a low-friction legal ceremony without another officiant | How both parties attest, sign, return and request certified copies |
People searching for Washington Dc Marriage License usually need three answers in one place: how to get the marriage license, whether an official ceremony is actually available, and how to get proof after the signed record is filed. Treat those as separate steps before you book travel, photos or a small reception.
Source-backed check: CivillyWed uses the linked official source as the final reference for Washington, DC fees, timing and filing details.
Washington searches often collapse the legal paperwork and the ceremony into one phrase. Separating them makes the plan easier and helps avoid paying for an officiant or photographer before the legal date is usable.
Source-backed check: The official The Marriage Bureau, a division of the Superior Court, page should answer the legal rules; use this guide to organize the questions before you contact the office.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Where do we apply for the marriage license? | The issuing office controls ID rules, fee, waiting period, validity and whether an appointment or online pre-application is required. |
| Who can perform the ceremony? | Some locations offer a judge, clerk, commissioner, justice or city hall ceremony; others only issue the license and require a separate authorized officiant. |
| What happens if the official ceremony is full? | A private authorized officiant may be the simplest backup if the license can be used at another location in the same jurisdiction. |
| When can we order proof? | Certified-copy timing matters when the marriage record is needed quickly for legal, travel or administrative changes. |
Start by confirming eligibility, gathering the documents listed below, and applying through the official marriage license path. In Washington, DC, the listed fee is $45, there is no waiting period, and the document or notice path is valid for None.
Washington, DC follows the marriage license rules for Washington D.C.. The city guide below focuses on local office details, documents, timing, and ceremony planning, while the linked official source should be checked before you apply.
Use these topics to check the legal step, ceremony choice, timing, records and proof before a courthouse, city hall, or civil wedding appointment.
The Marriage Bureau, a division of the Superior Court, issues marriage licenses and certified copies, and authorizes religious and civil celebrants to perform weddings in the District of Columbia. The bureau maintains marriage records from 1811 to the present and assists the public with marriage-related inquiries. Applications and ceremonies are processed remotely and in person at the Moultrie Courthouse.
Click on 'How to Get a Marriage License' on the Marriage Bureau webpage to learn the application process.
Submit the application remotely or in person at the Marriage Bureau located in the Moultrie Courthouse, Room JM-690, 500 Indiana Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20001.
If requesting a civil ceremony, complete the 'Civil Wedding Request Form' available on the Marriage Bureau webpage.
Certified copies of marriage licenses can be requested through the Family Court at FamilyCourtCertifiedCopies [at] dcsc.gov.
| City | License Fee | Wait Time |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $45 | no waiting period |
| St. Louis, MO | $48 | no waiting period |
| Hartford, CT | $50 | no waiting period |
| Kansas City, MO | $50 | no waiting period |
| Louisville, KY | $50 | no waiting period |
These recently added city guides now feed the homepage search, fee graphs, country hubs, state pages, money pages, sitemap and internal links.
The listed marriage license fee for Washington is $45. Fees can change, so verify the amount with the official office before applying.
Washington: There is no waiting period. If you are planning a civil or courthouse wedding, build that timing into your date planning.
Courthouse, city hall, or civil ceremony availability depends on the local office. The marriage license or required legal paperwork is the first step; use the official source to confirm ceremony appointments and local rules.
Yes. DC Courts says you may request a civil wedding with a court official, and the Marriage Bureau performs onsite and virtual civil ceremonies.
DC Courts lists the marriage license application fee as $45, with a possible waiver of part of the fee for an original DC Domestic Partnership Certificate.
DC Courts says once issued, a marriage license does not expire.
Yes. DC Courts describes self-officiating as a ceremony where one of the parties performs the ceremony and both parties attest to the application information.
Start with the The Marriage Bureau, a division of the Superior Court,. Some offices perform ceremonies, some only issue the marriage license, and some require a separate judge, clerk, commissioner, justice or authorized private officiant.
No. The marriage license is the legal permission or record step. The ceremony is the solemnization step, and it may require a separate appointment, fee, witness plan or officiant.
Plan around the timing shown here: no waiting period and a None validity window. Then confirm appointment availability, ceremony openings and certified-copy timing with the official office.
The Marriage Bureau is located in the Moultrie Courthouse, Room JM-690, 500 Indiana Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20001.
The Marriage Bureau is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
The text indicates applications are processed remotely and in person, but does not specify full online application availability.