Can’t Afford a Wedding? How to Get Married for (Almost) Free

How to Have an (Almost) Free Wedding: Big Feels on a Near-Zero Budget

 

Getting married is expensive – at least, that’s what they say. But the truth is that it doesn’t have to be! With a little help from a close friend, you can get married for very little – almost for free.  If this sounds perfect, keep reading…

 

The average wedding cost last year was a staggering $35,000, and the median wedding cost (what most people spent) wasn't much better, at nearly $18,500. Shocking, isn't it? 

 

This hefty price tag includes designer wedding clothes, hair and makeup artists, a fancy wedding venue, chair and equipment rentals, food and drinks, entertainment, photographers, videographers, and more. And although that all adds up to an unforgettable party, at the end of the day, none of these big ticket items are really necessary to get married. 

 

Related: How Much Does the Average Wedding Cost? 

 

All you really need to get married is a valid marriage license, maybe a witness or two, and a wedding officiant to confirm your intentions and sign your license. Of these, only your marriage license comes with an unavoidable fee. Depending on where you apply to marry, this fee will typically be between $30 and $100, and can be as low as $5. 

 

Getting married for under $100? That's not free, but it’s a whole lot less than $35,000! 

 

Here’s what you’ll need to do…

How to get married for (almost) free

 

1. Apply for a marriage license

 

Your marriage license is the only unavoidable wedding expense. Each state decides how much to charge for a marriage license, so what you end up paying will depend on where you decide to get married. No matter where you choose to get married, you must have a marriage license.  

 

How much is a marriage license?

 

The cost of your marriage license will depend on where you apply to marry. The average cost of a marriage license in the U.S. is between $25 to $100. Click the link below to see the marriage license cost in your state.

 

• How Much Does a Marriage License Cost?

 

 

How to get a free marriage license? 

 

In general, it’s not possible to obtain a marriage license for free. However, some states do offer discounts on marriage licenses under specific conditions, such as when couples have completed a premarital counseling course before applying. For example, couples who get married in Texas can receive a $60 discount on their marriage license if they complete a state-approved premarital education course from the Twogether in Texas directory.

 

 

2. Free wedding officiants: Ask a friend or relative to officiate your wedding ceremony

 

Can’t afford a wedding officiant? No problem! Friends and relatives can get ordained online for free to serve as your wedding officiant.

 

• Get ordained online free with American Marriage Ministries

 

Note: In most states, this free ordination is all that’s required for your friend to officiate your ceremony. However, in states that require ministers to register before they officiate, you might need to purchase official minister credentials and pay a registration fee. Click the link below to see if you're state requires minister registration.

 

• See if your state requires minister registration

 

 

In search of a free wedding officiant? Look no further than your closest friend or relative!  Having a friend officiate your wedding is just affordable -- it's also deeply meaningful and a wonderful way to personalize your ceremony. You can ask a parent, grandparent, friend, coworker, mentor, or an adult child, anyone who's special to you! (Photo: FOTOGRAFIA INC. / iStock)

 

3. Ask a friend to be a wedding witness 

 

Some states require witness signatures on the marriage license. If you live in one of these states, ask a close friend or relative to serve as your witness on the wedding day. 

 

• See Your State's Marriage License Witness Requirements

 

 

Who can be a witness for a wedding? Most states allow any adult to serve as a wedding witness (or witnesses), which means you can ask close friends and relatives to do the honors. Some states require one witness to sign the marriage license; other states require two witnesses; and some states don't require any witnesses at all. 

 

4. Free wedding venues: Get married at home, elope, or choose a ‘sign & go’ ceremony

 

Choose a free wedding venue, like a friend’s backyard or a favorite relative’s living room. Don’t worry about expensive decorations or catered food – all that really matters is the love you share, and the vows and promises you make.

 

Small elopement ceremonies at a local beach or park are also a beautiful choice! These locations are usually free to use, although there are usually limitations on how many people you can invite and the type of equipment you can bring without applying for a special events permit. 

 

‘Sign and go’ ceremonies take even less work to plan than an elopement ceremony, which makes them a very popular way to get married. All you’ll need to do is declare your intentions to marry, sign your license with your officiant, file the license, and you’re married – no ceremony needed! 

 

• Read more about Sign & Go Ceremonies

 

Mother Nature offers many beautiful, free wedding venues! When you elope somewhere with natural beauty, you won't miss the overpriced wedding decor one bit. Marry in a local park or on the beach, in a close friend's backyard, or in your own living room! (Photo: Kosamtu / iStock)

 

 

Putting it all together...

 

Following this simple low-cost outline leaves you more money for a future honeymoon, a family vacation, housing costs, or a great meal and drinks with the people you love most. 

 

You don’t have to go into debt to get married, and you definitely don’t have to spend anything close to $35,000… unless you really want to!

 

The only unavoidable cost to marry is the fee for your marriage license. Asking a friend to officiate, planning a simple ceremony at home, or choosing a ‘sign and go’ elopement ceremony are all easy ways to get married on the cheap. So cheap it’s almost free.

 

 

Keep it simple! A little wine, a few friends, and a lot of love. 

 

Updated January 2025

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More Affordable Wedding Ideas & Inspiration 

 

• Plan Your Entire Wedding at Target (For Less Money Than Your Last Vacation)

 

• Stripped Down Wedding: Don’t Let Marketers Plan Your Wedding For You

 

• Netflix asks 'Marriage or Mortgage': We say NOPE.
   

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