Warning: A new Connecticut law requires at least a 48-hour waiting period. The law takes effect on October 1st, 2026.
Here are the steps you’ll have to take, whether you are eloping or having a formal wedding.
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Choose where you are going to get married (your venue).
Confirm your venue and make your deposit before proceeding. Many venues book up more than a year in advance.
(Most couples wait until their venue is confirmed before they hire their officiant and other wedding professionals.)
Find the Town Clerk’s contact information for the Town where your venue is located.
Call the Town Clerk’s Office and make an appointment to apply for your marriage license.
Your marriage license fee will be $50.00. Please check to be sure how payment may be made.
You (and your spouse-to-be, if possible,) attend your marriage license application appointment. (This is “Day 1” if you are applying together.)
The next day that the Town Clerk’s Office is open would be “Day 2.” You should relax as much as you can and enjoy the anticipation of being married soon. (Hint: It’s a great date night!)
The following day that the Town Clerk’s Office is open will be “Day 3”; one or both of you can pick up your marriage license!
Yes, it must be either you two together or one of the two of you. Nobody else can pick up your marriage license for you.
Contact your wedding officiant and other wedding professionals (including your venue) to let them know that you have your marriage license.
It is also a convenient time to confirm the date, time, and place of your ceremony. Everyone will be happy for you!
On the day of your ceremony, be sure to deliver your license to your officiant before your ceremony starts.
Your officiant must have your license in their possession to legally marry you!
After your ceremony you are officially married! Congratulations! The officiant must fill out their portion of your license and return it to the Town Clerk’s Office.
By state law, your officiant is not allowed to give it back to you!
After the Town Clerk or an Assistant Town Clerk has received your license and completed their portion of it, then you can get one or more certified copies. Each copy will cost $20.00.
Your certified copies are your legal proof that you are married.
We wish you a long and happy marriage!
And of course we’d love to be your wedding officiant!
Footnotes
Town
Your venue may be in a Connecticut Town (such as Waterford) or City (such as Hartford or Bridgeport). For your convenience, we will refer to either one as a “Town”.
Most couples go together to apply for their marriage license,
You can go separately, if you must, but you’ll need two appointments.
The 48-hour clock for your waiting period starts ticking when the second person finishes filling out your application and pays the application fee. That would then become “Day 1.”