How to Get Married in an Online Wedding Ceremony in Utah

Get married online with the help of Utah County's remote marriage services

 

 

Updated May 2024: Special thanks to Russ J. Rampton, Digital Services Supervisor & Utah County Deputy Clerk for providing us with up-to-date information. Contact the Utah County Clerk's office with any additional questions on performing remote appearance ceremonies.

 

 

Thousands of couples all around the world are getting married without ever leaving home – with the help of Utah County’s fully online marriage portal. 

 

This online marriage portal is the only one of its kind in the United States, and makes it possible for both U.S. citizens and international couples located anywhere in the world to be married remotely by a wedding officiant in Utah, using a Utah marriage license.
 
Utah County’s online wedding service has been life-changing for LGBTQ+ couples in countries where same-sex marriage isn’t yet legal, and for couples in countries like Israel, where strict religious laws forbid nontraditional or civil marriage ceremonies. The service has also been useful for members of the military, disabled couples, and for some immigration purposes, when restrictions or illness make travel difficult.
 
Using the online marriage portal, couples are able to apply for a remote marriage license and fill out all the necessary documents over the internet. The wedding ceremony is performed by a wedding officiant located in Utah, and the ceremony is legally binding, even for those living internationally. 
 
(Note: Some countries, like China, do not recognize same-sex marriages solemnized in the U.S.)
 
Below, we cover the process to get married in a remote wedding ceremony in Utah.

 

 

How To Get Married Online in Utah in a Remote Wedding Ceremony 

 

Plan an online wedding in Utah: for U.S. citizens and international couples
 

 

Resources for the Couple:

 

The first step to being able to get married online is obtaining the marriage license. 

 

Traditionally, this is accomplished by both parties going in person to the county clerk’s office in the county where they'll physically hold the ceremony. 

 

However, as you can see, Utah County provides a unique exception to this requirement. As long as your wedding officiant is physically located in Utah, you can obtain your marriage license from anywhere in the world regardless of citizenship or nationality.

 

During the ceremony, the officiant must be physically located within the state of Utah, and assigned as the designated host of the video-conference session (remote appearance ceremony), in order to use the Utah marriage license. That physical location will be needed to complete the license.

 

 

How to apply for your marriage license:

 

Even though applying for your marriage license is a big step, the process itself is very easy. You'll begin by using the Utah County Online Application.
 
To begin with, both applicants will need a valid email address. Utah County will send you an automated email with an application link to the first email and both parties will use that same link.
 
As noted on the Utah County website, this process has recently been updated to make things easier for international applicants. The website states: "It is no longer necessary to use a US based address when completing an application. ALL APPLICANTS should provide their current mailing address and provide their correct State/Province and Country of birth."

 

Both parties to the marriage must also provide documentation to verify their age, legal name, and identity. They will also need to sign an affadavit stating they agree to personal jurisdiction in Utah if they divorce or annul their marriage. This means that if the couple chooses to end their marriage, they must follow Utah's divorce laws.

 

Note that as of May 1st, 2024, Power of Attorney cannot be used to apply for a remote marriage license. 

 

Items you will need to complete your application:

 

• A valid credit or debit card to pay the license fee

 

• An unexpired, government issued ID card, Driver's License, Passport, or Military ID for each applicant (IDs from a country outside the U.S. can be validated by their system)

 

• If a divorce has been granted within the last 60 days, a certified copy of the divorce decree

 

• Access to a printer (to print the officiant worksheet and instructions, you will receive the license through a unique URL)

 

• You’ll need documentation to verify the following information, so make sure you have these details ahead of time: legal name, address, social security number (if applicable), date and place of birth, names of the applicants’ respective parents and their places of birth

 

 

Tips for completing the online application:

 

• If possible, use Google Chrome when filling out your application. And, try to avoid using a Mac or an iPhone if you can. PCs are known to work best on their system.

 

• You don’t have to complete the application in one sitting. The system will save your progress between devices and between sessions.

 

• Both applicants do not have to be in the same physical location to complete the online application, but you will have to complete it in sequence as if you were in the same spot. This means that the second person can’t begin to fill out their portion of the application until the first person has finished their section. If you aren’t filling out the application in the same physical place, applicant 1 should register their email and complete their portion before sending their fiance the application link.

 

• You'll need to send a clear, non-blurry picture of the front and back of your ID or passport, and it will have to be free of glare. To do this, turn off the flash on your camera and or any other special features like motion or 3D.

 

• You'll need to take a selfie that matches the picture on your ID. Your face should fill the entire photo just like a passport photo and make sure not to wear any article of clothing that obstructs your face unless it is something you wore in your ID photo as well. 

 

 

A destination wedding in Utah without leaving home! 
There are no residency or citizenship requirements to obtain a marriage license in Utah, so you can apply from anywhere in the world. Just make sure that your wedding officiant is physically located in Utah during the ceremony. 

 

 

During the ceremony:

 

During remote appearance ceremonies, all participants are connected through video conferencing software that allows everyone involved to see and hear all other participants in real time. It’s essential that the officiant and two witnesses are able to clearly see and hear each party willingly enter the marriage commitment. 

 
During the ceremony, your officiant will act as host. In order for the marriage to be valid, the host location must be physically located within the boundaries of the State of Utah. This host location will be listed on the marriage certificate and establishes the jurisdiction for the marriage.

 
Utah also requires that wedding ceremonies include two witnesses over the age of 18. These witnesses can join the celebration remotely, but they must be able to see and hear all activity in real time. 
 
As of May 1st, 2024, your ceremony must include a verbal 'declaration of intent,' which means that you must state your willingness to marry. There are no other specific requirements in Utah for wording, nature, tone, or other aspects of the ceremony. All other aspects of the ceremony are left up to you, the couple, and any cultural traditions or religious tenets you choose to include.  

 

 

After the Ceremony

 

After your officiant has digitally signed and submitted the marriage license, the Utah County system will auto-generate a digital, certified copy of the Marriage License and Certificate of Completed Marriage. 
 
This information is stored in the county’s database, making the marriage official. The next business day, the County marriage license office will print a certified copy of your license and mail it to the address you’ve requested. 

 

Congratulations, you're officially married! 

 

 

...

 

 

Learn more by visiting the Utah County Clerk Office : Marriage Licenses

 

Complete details for officiants and couples who wish to marry remotely can be found here:

 

• A Guide to Virtual Wedding Ceremonies in Utah: For Officiants & Couples

 

 

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You might also like:

 

• Officiate a Virtual Wedding Like a Pro!
   
• The more the merrier! Why hybrid weddings are a good idea

 

• A Virtual Wedding Ceremony Script with Special Readings

 

Browse Online / Remote Wedding Articles

 

 

Illustration by Jessica Levey

From the article: The more the merrier! Why hybrid weddings are a good idea

 

Learn how to host a hybrid wedding by livestreaming a small in-person wedding ceremony to your remote online guests... the best of both worlds: small intimate weddings and online weddings! Learn more here.

 

 

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Get ordained! 

 

How to Become a Wedding Officiant in Utah

 

Friends and family members can perform wedding ceremonies in Utah if they’ve been ordained. Get ordained online with AMM to get started.

 

 

 

 

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