Beach Wedding Legal Requirements

When most people think of beach weddings, they picture white sands and blue seas. However, they often fail to ponder the details, like the legal aspect of getting married. It’s not all about celebrating your new bond together—it’s a legal contract as well. That’s why it’s important to have a firm grasp of the legal requirements before planning any tropical beach weddings.

Now, by legal requirements, I’m referring to the specific laws and statutes set out by your state that indicate the age at which you can get married, how much your marriage license will be, how long you have to wait before getting married, how long the license stays valid and whether or not you have to complete a blood test to qualify.

Kind of takes the fun out of it, doesn’t it? But you shouldn’t let these pesky details get you down. Rather, embrace them as a part of planning the best beach weddings your friends and family will ever see. Understanding and abiding by these legal requirements is just another thing on your marriage preparation to-do list.

Once you start thinking of them that way, you can buckle down with your beach wedding planner and start creating the perfect ceremony and reception you’ve always wanted. Get the legal stuff out of the way first so you can then focus on the fun stuff!

The best beach weddings have a laid back feel about them, and you can only manage to pull that off if you have all your ducks in a row before hand. Find out the marriage license requirements for your state and do what needs to be done well enough in advance so it doesn’t add any stress to the beach weddings planning and most of all, the day itself.

What follows are the state-by-state requirements for getting a marriage license. However, rules and laws can change, so be sure to double check this information with your county clerk just to be on the safe side.

Alabama

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Alabama, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 30 days. Expected cost is $25 and a blood test is required.

Alaska

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Alaska and you  have to wait three days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 90 days. Expected cost is $25 and a blood test is not required.

Arizona

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Arizona, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for a year. Expected cost is $50 and a blood test is not required.

Arkansas

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Arkanasa, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 60 days. Expected cost is $35 and a blood test is not required.

California

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in California, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 90 days. Expected cost is about $70 and a blood test is not required.

Colorado

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Colorado, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 30 days. Expected cost is $20 and a blood test is not required.

Connecticut

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Connecticut, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 65 days. Expected cost is $30 and a blood test is required.

Delaware

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Delaware, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married one day following your application’s approval and the license itself is valid for 30 days. Expected cost is $30 and a blood test is not required.

District of Columbia

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in District of Columbia, but you have to wait three days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid indefinitely. Expected cost is $35 and a blood test is required.

Florida

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Florida, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married three days following your application’s approval and the license itself is valid for 60 days. Expected cost is $88 and a blood test is not required.

Georgia    

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Georgia, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid indefinitely. Expected cost is $30 and a blood test is required.

Hawaii

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Hawaii, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 30 days. Expected cost is $50 and a blood test is not required.

Idaho

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Idaho, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for one year. Expected cost is $30 and a blood test is required.

Illinois

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Illinois, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married one day following application approval and the license itself is valid for 60 days. Expected cost is $30 and a blood test is not required.

Indiana

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Indiana, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 60 days. Expected cost is $20 and a blood test is not required.

Iowa

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Iowa and you have to wait three days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 20 days. Expected cost is $30 and a blood test is not required.

Kansas

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Kansas and you have to wait three days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away thereafter and the license itself is valid for six months. Expected cost is $50 and a blood test is not required.

Kentucky

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Kentucky and you have to wait three days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away thereafter and the license itself is valid for 30 days. Expected cost is $35 and a blood test is not required.

Louisiana

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Alabama, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married three days after application approval and the license itself is valid for 30 days. Expected cost is $25 and a blood test is required.

Maine

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Maine and you have to wait three days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away thereafter and the license itself is valid for 90 days. Expected cost is $20 and a blood test is not required.

Maryland

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Maryland and you have to wait two days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away thereafter and the license itself is valid for six months. Expected cost is $35 and a blood test is not required.

Massachusetts

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Massachusetts and you have to wait three days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away thereafter and the license itself is valid for 60 days. Expected cost is $4 and a blood test is required.

Michigan

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Michigan and you have to wait three days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away thereafter and the license itself is valid for 33 days. Expected cost is $20 and a blood test is not required.

Minnesota

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Minnesota and you have to wait five days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away thereafter and the license itself is valid for six months. Expected cost is $70 and a blood test is not required.

Mississippi

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Mississippi and you have to wait three days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away thereafter and the license itself is valid for 90 days. Expected cost is $20 and a blood test is required.

Missouri

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Missouri and you have to wait three days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away thereafter and the license itself is valid for 30 days. Expected cost is $50 and a blood test is not required.

Montana

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Montana, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 180 days. Expected cost is $30 and a blood test is required.

Nebraska

You have to be 19 years old to apply for a marriage license in Nebraska, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for one year. Expected cost is $15 and a blood test is not required.

Nevada

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Nevada, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for One year. Expected cost is $35 and a blood test is not required.

New Hampshire

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in New Hampshire and you have to wait three days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married three days following your application’s approval and the license itself is valid for 90 days. Expected cost is $45 and a blood test is not required.

New Jersey

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in New Jersey and you have to wait three days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away thereafter and the license itself is valid for 30 days. Expected cost is $28 and a blood test is not required.

New Mexico

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in New Mexico, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for one year. Expected cost is $25 and a blood test is not required.

New York

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in New York, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married one day after your application’s approval and the license itself is valid for 60 days. Expected cost is $30 and a blood test is not required.

North Carolina

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in North Carolina, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 60 days. Expected cost is $40 and a blood test is not required.

North Dakota

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in North Dakota, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 60 days. Expected cost is $35 and a blood test is not required.

Ohio

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Ohio and you have to wait five days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away thereafter and the license itself is valid for 60 days. Expected cost is $30 and a blood test is not required.

Oklahoma

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Oklahoma, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 30 days. Expected cost is $25 and a blood test is required.

Oregon

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Oregon and you have to wait three days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away thereafter and the license itself is valid for 60 days. Expected cost is $60 and a blood test is not required.

Pennsylvania

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Pennsylvania and you have to wait three days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away thereafter and the license itself is valid for 60 days. Expected cost is $40 and a blood test is not required.

Rhode Island

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Alabama, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 90 days. Expected cost is $24 and a blood test is not required.

South Carolina

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Alabama and you have to wait one day to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away thereafter and the license itself never expires Expected cost is $25 and a blood test is not required.

South Dakota

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in South Dakota, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 20 days. Expected cost is $40 and a blood test is not required.

Tennessee

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Tennessee, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 30 days. Expected cost is $35 and a blood test is not required.

Texas

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Texas, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married 72 hours following your application’s approval and the license itself is valid for 30 days. Expected cost is $31 and a blood test is not required.

Utah

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Utah, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 60 days. Expected cost is $40 and a blood test is not equired.

Vermont

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Vermont, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married one day following your application’s approval and the license itself is valid for 60 days. Expected cost is $20 and a blood test is not required.

Virginia

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Virginia, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself is valid for 60 days. Expected cost is $20 and a blood test is not required.

West Virginia

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in West Virginia, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married three days following your application’s approval and the license itself is valid for 60 days. Expected cost is $23 and a blood test is required.

Washington

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Washington and you have to wait three days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away thereafter and the license itself is valid for 60 days. Expected cost is $51 and a blood test is not required.

Wisconsin

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Wisconsin and you  have to wait 6 days to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away thereafter and the license itself is valid for 30 days. Expected cost is $80 and a blood test is not required.

Wyoming

You have to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license in Alabama, but you don’t have to wait to receive it following application submittal. You can get married right away and the license itself does not expire. Expected cost is $25 and a blood test is not required.