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How to Get Married in Oklahoma: Plan a Wedding in the Sooner State
Published Friday, May. 26th, 2023
Planning an Oklahoma wedding? This short guide will help, with advice on how to find a wedding officiant, choose a venue, and apply for your marriage license.
Oklahoma offers wide open skies, rolling farmland, bustling city centers, and your pick of great food, wedding venues, state parks, and historic sites – making it easy to see why this South Central state is a local favorite for weddings and elopements.
Applying for a marriage license in the Sooner State will look different in each county, so it’s important to get a head start on the planning process to avoid unnecessary stress. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a short guide to help you begin.
Asked to officiate a wedding in Oklahoma?
Photo:Samantha Gades / Unsplash
Get married in Oklahoma!
How to get married in Oklahoma in 6 Steps
1. Get yourself a sweetheart!
Got one? Whew! There will be a few more boxes to check, but the hardest part’s over.
2. Find a wedding officiant in Oklahoma
A wedding officiant is the person who conducts your ceremony and signs the marriage license, making things legal.
A friend or relative can perform your wedding ceremony if they’ve been ordained.
If you want to hire a professional, the state has many qualified officiants to choose from. The following people are authorized to solemnize marriage in Oklahoma:
A. All marriages must be contracted by a formal ceremony performed or solemnized in the presence of at least two adult, competent persons as witnesses, by a judge or retired judge of any court in this state, or an ordained or authorized preacher or minister of the Gospel, priest or other ecclesiastical dignitary of any denomination who has been duly ordained or authorized by the church to which he or she belongs to preach the Gospel, or a rabbi and who is at least eighteen (18) years of age. (Continues) (§ 43-7)
(Find more Oklahoma marriage laws here.)
Photo: Justin Prine / Unsplash
To purchase a marriage license in Oklahoma City, book an appointment and head down to the Oklahoma County Court Clerk's office!
3. Choose a date and a venue...
Oklahoma is home to fertile farmland, world-class museums and gardens, wildlife preserves, historic sites, luxury resorts, and all the class and comfort that major metropolitan cities can offer – making it a great choice for a destination wedding.
Whether you’re dreaming of a big to-do or a romantic elopement for two, there’s something for everyone!
Popular dates, venues, and officiants book up fast, so start early. And remember you’ll need permission (and probably a permit) to use a public space, such as a city park or recreational area. Permits can take weeks to process, so factor this into your timeline, too.
Oklahoma Marriage License Quick Facts
♡ No Waiting Period*
♡ 30 Day Expiration Period
♡ Return Before Expiration
*There is no waiting period to marry if both parties are 18 years of age or older. There is a 72 hour waiting period to marry if either party is under the age of 18.
Did you know? Every state has different laws governing when the marriage license is issued, can be completed, and must be returned. There are called a state's marriage license Waiting Period, Expiration Period, and Return Deadline. Learn more here.
Photo: Omar Lopez / Unsplash
4. The marriage license.
Alright, time to make sure your wedding’s legal! We’ll break down each part of the marriage license process, one step at a time:
Apply for your Oklahoma marriage license
You’ll apply for your marriage license through the Court Clerk’s office. You don’t need to be an Oklahoma resident to marry there.
Requirements to Apply:
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old or meet the requirements for minors
- Applicants must provide proof of age and identity, such as a valid government issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport)
- There is a 6 month waiting period to remarry after a divorce decree is filed
If you’re planning a wedding anywhere in Oklahoma, we recommend contacting the county clerk closest to your venue to learn more.
Cost
Your license will cost $50, or $5 if you complete a premarital counseling program. Couples who attend a premarital counseling program will need to present their certificate of completion to the court clerk to receive the discounted rate. Some offices will only accept cash or credit as payment, so plan ahead! There’s no fee to register your marriage after the ceremony.
Waiting period
If you and your partner are both at least 18 years old, there’s no waiting period between the time your license is issued and when your ceremony can take place. If either of you are under the age of 18, there is a 72 hour waiting period to marry after filing your application.
Use and return your Oklahoma marriage license
An Oklahoma marriage license can be used in any county in the state, and expires 30 days after it’s issued. Directions on how to return the license will be given to you when it's issued.
The license must be signed by each party to the marriage, two adult witnesses, and the marriage officiant following the ceremony, and returned to the Court Clerk’s office where it was issued.
After the ceremony, the license must be used and returned before the end of the 30-day expiration period (within 30 days of the date of issuance).
Photo: Hannah Busing / Unsplash
Indoors or outdoors, Oklahoma has a variety of romantic wedding venues to choose from.
5. Meet with your wedding officiant...
Once you’ve chosen a date, a venue, and have your marriage license details worked out, you’ll be ready to meet with your wedding officiant to plan the ceremony!
This is when things start to come into focus. You’ll talk about the tone of your ceremony, the ‘vibe’ you want to create for your guests, and any special elements and unity rituals you want to include. You and your officiant might meet a few more times to exchange more ideas, fine-tune a script, or rehearse the ceremony leading up to the wedding day.
AMM’s website is full of resources to help you decide what kind of ceremony you want, tips on working well with your officiant, and advice on keeping your ceremony authentic and on budget.
Visit Articles for Couples on our American Weddings blog, or browse general articles by category or keyword.
6. The wedding day!
Aside from yourselves, the most important thing you’ll bring with you on the wedding day is your marriage license -- because no license means no marriage. Your officiant won’t be able to perform the wedding without having a license present (even if you have it at home), so make sure it’s with you.
After the ceremony, you and your officiant will sign the license.
After it’s signed, you must record it with the local county before the end of the 30 day expiration period. Check with your local Court Clerk's office for details.
Once it’s been recorded, you’re officially married!
Photo: Maahid Mohamed / PEXELS
Congratulations on your marriage!
Asked to perform a wedding in Oklahoma?
Visit Weddings by State: Oklahoma
We’ve got everything you need to understand the state’s licensing and registration requirements, any ministry credentials and paperwork you might need, and helpful tips for several cities in the state, including Broken Arrow, Norman, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa.
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