Download Article

Download Article

If you are a resident of the state of Georgia or simply planning on having a long-distance or destination wedding ceremony at a Georgia location, figuring out how to become married can be an exhaustive procedure. From locations to venues, caterers, and getting your marriage license, there are many elements to consider. By finding the correct professionals to help y'all pull off this significant large solar day and getting your wedlock license on time, you can have a beautiful wedding ceremony in Georgia.

  1. 1

    Determine if you are eligible to marry in Georgia. Before you tin can get your marriage license and married in Georgia, effigy out if you lot are eligible to marry under the land's laws, which can vary slightly by county. This will ensure that y'all don't run across any problems or delays in getting your license.

    • Neither you nor your partner may be married to another person when y'all apply for your license. If you are widowed or divorced, you must provide proof of your old spouse's death or of your divorce.[1]
    • You must be eighteen years of age or older to get married in Georgia without parental consent.[2]
    • Some counties allow persons every bit young as 16 to go married with parental consent.
    • Georgia prohibits marriage between relatives closely related by blood, merely does let matrimony between cousins.[iii]
    • Any person who is developmentally disabled may marry but if he or she is capable of agreement the idea of matrimony.[4]
    • For questions on specific laws in the canton in which you will ally, contact a local clerk. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority offers a search engine at https://world wide web.gsccca.org.

  2. two

    Gather proper documentation and payment to apply for your marriage license. When you arrive at the court or local clerk's part, you'll need to accept proper documentation and identification to apply for your matrimony license. This volition help ensure that at that place aren't delays in getting your license or married.

    • Fill out the awarding for a spousal relationship license in Georgia, which you can option upward at the local clerk'south office.
    • You will demand ID in English language to obtain a marriage license. Acceptable forms of ID are driver'south licenses, military IDs, passports, or birth certificates. Remember that your ID must also be valid.
    • If your ID is not in English, you must have a notary type a certified translation of the documents.
    • If you lot were previously married, you must present proof of your divorce or your former spouse'southward death before the matrimony license can be issued.
    • Georgia abolished claret testing to obtain marriage licenses in 2003.[five]

    Ad

  3. three

    Secure the license fees. In addition to your documentation and identification, you lot'll need to secure the correct fees to pay for your marriage license. Y'all take the option to reduce the general fee past taking a premarital counseling course.

    • Spousal relationship license fees in Georgia vary by canton.
    • In full general the matrimony license fee is approximately $56.[6]
    • You tin can take a half dozen 60 minutes premarital education class to waive the marriage license fees.
    • Premarital education classes are oft available at local religious and community centers. Taking i of these classes may reduce the price of your marriage license by $30.[7]
    • Note that some areas but accept cash payment for marriage licenses.

  4. 4

    Figure out the advisable County Probate Court. County probate courts event spousal relationship licenses to couples in Georgia. Call alee of your nuptials engagement to ostend hours of operation and whatever other questions you may have.

    • For a complete list of probate courts in Georgia, consult the website http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/georgia/#counties.
    • Some County Probate Courts have websites with data on specific laws in their county of jurisdiction. In the event that in that location is no website for your specific County Probate Court, you can telephone call the number listed to verify information.
    • If you lot are not a resident of Georgia, you will use for your license in the county where your ceremony will happen.[8]
    • If you and your fiancé(e) are from Georgia, y'all will apply for a license in the county in which you lot are a resident. If only i person is a Georgia resident, employ for a marriage license in that county of residence.

  5. five

    Obtain your Georgia spousal relationship license from a local county probate court. You must purchase your license at a Canton Probate Courtroom before you can become married in Georgia. Make sure to take all of the proper documentation and fees ready earlier yous go far at the County Probate Court to avert delays.

    • Both parties applying for a marriage license must appear at the County Probate Court.[9] If one political party is cannot be present, he must submit a notarized Supplemental License application.
    • Sign your application at the County Probate Court.[10]
    • Georgia does not accept a waiting period for union licenses.
    • Once issued, a Georgia marriage license will never expire.[11]

  6. 6

    Modify your surname if desired. If you and/ or your partner would similar to change your surname upon marriage, yous must state this on your Georgia marriage license application. Making sure to state this on the marriage license awarding will help ensure that you have legally inverse your surname and can avoid a longer process of changing your surname one time the union has occurred.[12]

    • Once you change your surname on the marriage license, there are no other forms y'all need to fill up out.[13]

    Ad

ADVERTISEMENT Make time for yourself, in therapy

  1. 1

    Decide on a location. Before y'all tin begin planning the actual ceremony, yous and your fiancé(e) should make up one's mind on a location for your Georgia hymeneals. From Savannah to Atlanta and Columbus, there are many places in Georgia perfectly suited for a wedding.

    • Knowing the location volition also help you apply for your marriage license in a timely manner.
    • Consider indoor and outdoor locations. Georgia has a pleasant climate and offers a broad variety of country parks and celebrated sites that can host your wedding.
    • The Georgia Department of Natural Resource has a list of state parks and historic sites that you lot can consider at http://gastateparks.org/weddings.
    • You may too want to think about a destination hymeneals at one of Georgia's many coastal islands such as Skidaway Island, Jekyll Island, or Sea Island.[xiv]

  2. 2

    Send guests relieve the engagement cards. Half dozen to eight months before your actual wedding ceremony, and before you transport formal invitations, ship your guests "save the appointment" cards for your wedding. This volition let guests to schedule time and salvage money for travel and gifts if demand exist.[15]

    • Your save the date card doesn't take to be formal every bit the invitation. It should just permit people know the date and location of your wedding.[16]
    • If you have engagement photos or only a picture of you and your fiancé(e) that you lot like, y'all tin use this on the card.[17]
    • Send save the date just to the people who you want to nourish. Even if some people already know and accept said they volition come, make sure to ship them salve the date cards every bit well.[18]

  3. 3

    Hire a hymeneals planner. If yous tin beget information technology or only want some extra assist, consider hiring a wedding planner. She can help you coordinate the diverse elements of planning your wedding from venues to photographers. She may too assistance decrease stress on your wedding 24-hour interval.[19]

    • The costs of hiring a wedding planner varies greatly according to how they bill, where they are located, and the types of services you desire. A adept rule of thumb is to estimate about 15% of your full wedding ceremony budget for a wedding planner.[xx]
    • Some wedding planners may have special deals with several venues that yous like to help control the costs.[21]
    • There are many ways to find a hymeneals planner in Georgia. You tin can enquire friends, family, or colleagues for suggestions. You may also want to search for a wedding planner yourself.
    • More often than not, the easiest fashion is to search for a wedding planner is online. Some wedding related websites offering search engines for wedding planners past location that tin help y'all detect several dissimilar options.[22]
    • You can also use local wedding magazines, blogs, and metropolis guides to help you observe a wedding planner in your location.[23]

  4. 4

    Notice and book a venue for the anniversary. Finding the perfect venue for your wedding ceremony anniversary can exist one of the most difficult parts of planning a wedding. If yous're not using a local wedding ceremony planner to help you, there are many factors to consider when looking for and booking a anniversary venue.

    • Remember near the type of ceremony you want. Do you desire a religious anniversary in a church building? Do you desire something simple such as at the justice of the peace? Or maybe you want an outdoor ceremony at the embankment.[24] Having a basic idea of what type of ceremony you want can assist narrow down potential venues.[25]
    • Consider how many guests you accept. Y'all'll need to brand sure that your venue can suit all of your guests comfortably and inside local zoning and fire laws.[26]
    • Figure out how much piece of work yous are willing or desire to practise with a location. For example, if you want to get married in a befouled, it may crave cleaning non only before just also after your ceremony. By contrast, a reception hall, which may not experience as intimate, may provide staff to do the "dingy work" for y'all.[27]
    • At that place are many ways to find a venue in Georgia. Y'all can inquire friends, family unit, or colleagues for suggestions. Y'all may besides want to search for a wedding planner yourself.
    • More often than not, the easiest style is to search for a venue is online. Some wedding related websites offer search engines for wedding planners by location that can aid you detect several different options.[28]
    • Y'all can also utilize local nuptials magazines, blogs, and urban center guides to help you observe a venue in your location.

  5. five

    Select an officiant. Who you choose to officiate your nuptials can have a significant bear upon on your wedding, including setting the tone for the day. Select an officiant for your nuptials who works with the type of ceremony you want and with you and your fiancé(e)'south personalities.[29]

    • Your anniversary may help set the type of officiant you select. For example, if you choose a religious ceremony, you will likely want your officiant to reflect your behavior.[30]
    • If you are non having a religious ceremony, you could have a judge, justice of the peace, or friend who is an ordained minister officiate your anniversary.[31]
    • Any person who is a licensed or ordained government minister, clergyman, or pastor of a recognized religion may perform a hymeneals anniversary in Georgia.[32]

  6. half dozen

    Locate and arrange a reception venue. Just as your officiant can set up the tone for the ceremony, your reception site will set the phase for your commemoration. If yous're not using a local wedding planner, there are many factors to consider when arranging your reception venue from number of guests to the atmosphere you want to create.[33]

    • Remember about the blazon of reception you desire and mode of your wedding. Do y'all prefer something formal with a band? Or maybe you want something romantic or hip with a DJ? Knowing the atmosphere you desire to create at your reception will help you more finer locate and book your venue.[34]
    • Depending on where your ceremony is, y'all may want yous reception to be at the same place. Some locations, such equally hotels, volition offer package deals for hosting a ceremony and reception, especially if you've called a destination wedding.
    • Brand sure your venue can accommodate all of your guests comfortably and within local zoning and fire laws.[35]
    • Discover out if the venue is full service, which may help subtract stress and how much you take to accommodate, including a caterer.[36]
    • There are many ways to observe a reception venue in Georgia. You tin inquire friends, family, or colleagues for suggestions. You may likewise want to search for a wedding planner yourself.
    • One of the easiest ways is to search for a reception venue is online. Some wedding ceremony related websites offering search engines for wedding planners past location that tin assist yous observe several different options.[37]
    • You lot can also apply local wedding magazines, blogs, and city guides to assist you detect a venue in your location.

  7. 7

    Detect and book caterer. Food at your wedding volition contain the largest aspect of your reception costs, so y'all'll want to find a caterer that provides you the highest quality nutrient for the best price. If you can, meeting with several different caterers tin can help you observe the right one for you and your wedding.[38]

    • If y'all've hired a hymeneals planner, she tin help you find the right caterer and may have special arrangements with specific caterers.
    • Your reception venue may include the price of food and service in its cost. Often, booking the reception venue with an on-site caterer can spare you fourth dimension and stress.[39]
    • You lot'll desire to ask potential caterers lots of questions including if they specialize in any types of food and whether they provide tables, chairs, linens and utensils.[40] Schedule a tasting to ensure that the food meets your standards.[41]
    • There are many means to find a licensed caterer in Georgia. Y'all can inquire friends, family, or colleagues for suggestions. You lot may also desire to search for a caterer yourself. You lot can look online or consult hymeneals magazines, blogs, and city guides to help you discover the right caterer.[42]

  8. 8

    Choose a wedding block designer and design. You can either use your caterer or hire a split up wedding cake designer to make the cake for your big day. Choose a design that reflects the style of your wedding and gustation that you and your guests will enjoy.[43]

    • You tin get many unlike types of cakes from simple sheet cakes to more elaborate tiered designs. The benefit of having a tiered design is that y'all tin can have different flavors to reflect the unlike tastes of you and your guests.[44]

  9. nine

    See with several different block designers and test several flavors of cakes and frostings to find the all-time one for your hymeneals. [45]

    • Depending on if yous cake designer is in the same city as your nuptials, adjust for shipping of the cake on your nuptials solar day.[46]
    • There are many means to find a hymeneals cake designer in Georgia. Yous can enquire friends, family, or colleagues for suggestions. Y'all may also desire to search for a caterer yourself. You tin can expect online or consult wedding magazines, blogs, and city guides to help you lot discover the right caterer.[47]

  10. ten

    Send the formal wedding invitations. When y'all've made all of the arrangements for your nuptials, you're fix to send invitations for your wedding in Georgia. Make sure to include all of the information on your various locations in Georgia and then that your guests will know where to go.

    • Send the formal wedding invitations vi to 8 weeks before your wedding. If you're having a destination wedding ceremony in Georgia, consider sending them three months or more than in advance to give your guests time to schedule vacation and travel.[48]
    • Make certain to include a borderline for RSVPs of 2 to 3 weeks so that your corresponding venues can accept a final caput count and accommodate for it.[49]
    • If your guests aren't from Georgia, you may want to include a listing of local hotels, inns, or B&Bs where your guests can stay.

  11. 11

    Confirm any reservations and take care of last minute details in Georgia. As the date of your wedding approaches, brand sure to confirm all of your reservations with Georgia businesses. Yous'll also desire to have care of final minute details inside the state, including getting your marriage license if you oasis't done then already.

    Advertising

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to go a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

References

Nearly This Article

Thanks to all authors for creating a folio that has been read 109,187 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Tracy Mallard

    Tracy Mallard

    Nov 28, 2016

    "This helped with the questions we had on getting married. "

Did this article help yous?