How To Get Your Marriage License in Colorado

If you’re planning a wedding in the fantastic state of Colorado, first off congratulations! I’m a little biased since I live here, but I honestly believe Colorado to be one of THE best places to have your wedding!! From its stunning mountains the state is known for, to the charming small towns, and endless activities for you and your guests to enjoy, there really are infinite reasons to have your wedding here! There’s a LOT of planning that goes into a wedding though, as I’m sure you are quickly finding out. One area of planning that isn’t as glamorous as choosing your vendors or your venue is ironing out the legalities of your Colorado marriage license.

This often stresses out a lot of couples at first, but I’m here to tell you that this process is actually very simple here in Colorado! So let’s go through the questions my couples ask when going through this process!!

A bride and groom sign their marriage license together while inside a log cabin in Colorado

Does it Matter What County We Get Our Marriage License In?

NOPE! When getting your marriage license in Colorado it’s important to note that you do not need to get married in the same county that you obtain your marriage license from!! This offers you a lot of flexibility. For instance, if you’re planning an adventure wedding and there’s no clerk’s office near your venue, you don’t need to worry as you can just head to the closest one at the start of your wedding weekend in Colorado!

A bride and groom sign their marriage license on a Yeti cool while in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado

How Long Does it Take to Get a Marriage License in Colorado?

In short, not long at all! Though it can depend on the location, for the majority of Colorado County Clerk’s Offices you will need to go in on a weekday, fill out some paperwork, and then you can walk out with your marriage license the same day! Not only can you receive your marriage license the same day that you apply, but you can also use said license the same day you obtain it. There is no waiting period when you apply for a marriage license in Colorado!!

2 photos side by side, the left is of a bride and groom with their dog signing their marriage paperwork, the right is of two brides in a field signing their paperwork with their dog next to them

How Long Will My License Be Valid?

Once you have your Colorado marriage license in hand you’ll have 35 days to sign it, so plan accordingly in terms of your wedding day festivities! Once signed you’ll then need to return the license to the County Clerk’s Office within 63 days for it to be valid. All things considered this is PLENTY of time to work with, just don’t put it off too long that you forget to send the license back!!

2 photos side by side, the left is of two brides kissing each other in a field holding their marriage license, the right is of a bride and groom signing their marriage license

What Documents Do I Need to Get Married in Colorado?

In order to receive your Colorado marriage license you’ll need to provide a valid form of identification. This can be your US State drivers license or permit, US state issued ID, military ID or passport that includes English language or certified English language translation. You will also both need to provide some additional info like your parents names and addresses, the last 4 digits of your SSN, your place of birth, and (if applicable) information about your previous divorce. Lastly you’ll need to pay the $30 fee for the marriage license.

2 brides stand in a field surrounded by the Colorado mountains in the fall with their dog at their side as one of the brides reads her vows

Can My Dog Sign as a Witness For My Colorado Wedding Ceremony?

Yes and no. One of my favorite things about Colorado is that it allows self solemnization, something we’ll cover a little more in depth later), and this practice used to allow for couples to have their dogs “sign” as their witness for their wedding! I’ve always loved this as a part of a wedding day, but recently there’s been a change with this unique trend in Colorado.

With the trend rising in popularity in Colorado there are some counties that are starting to say no to this as an option including Denver and Arapahoe County. So if you are hoping to have your dog be a part of your wedding and sign as your witness be sure to call the county you plan to obtain your license from to be sure your license will be accepted! If you are planning to have your dog sign as a witness I highly recommend using one of these dog friendly stamp pads for your pup to sign!!

2 brides have their dog sign their marriage license as their witness while standing in a field surrounded by the Colorado mountains

A bride and groom pose with their dog while holding their marriage license after their elopement in Colorado

A bride and groom have their dog sign their marriage license while in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado for their elopement

Other Things to Note

That covers most of the information you need to know when applying for your marriage license in Colorado, but there are still some other details I’d like to discuss. First is that since Colorado allows self-solemnization you don’t need a witness or officiant for your marriage to be official! Read more about self solemnization in this blog of mine! With no need for a witness or officiant you can technically complete your paperwork either before or after your wedding ceremony itself. This makes your schedule even more flexible as you can then take care of these legalities before or after your day to make things easier for you the day of your wedding!!

A bride and groom have their dog sign their marriage license with it's paw print

There’s a lot that goes into planning a wedding in Colorado outside of getting your marriage license! Lucky for you I have a TON of resources just like this one walking you through all the ins and outs of planning your wedding day here in Colorado! Check out the previous link if you’re looking for self care tips to keep your sanity during wedding planning, a full breakdown of the planning process for a Denver wedding, a list of my favorite wedding venues in the Colorado mountains, and more!! Finally, if you’re looking to book me to document your Colorado wedding day be sure to send me an inquiry via my contact page!