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How to Get Married in Nevada: Plan a Wedding in The Silver State

Published Friday, Jul. 28th, 2023

A step-by-step guide to help you plan a wedding and get married in Nevada - including how to find a wedding officiant, choose the best wedding venue, plan your ceremony, and how to apply for and return your Nevada marriage license.

Planning a Nevada wedding? This short guide will help -- from how to find a Nevada wedding officiant to how to apply for and complete your marriage license.

Nevada is home to the ‘Marriage Capital of the World’ – Las Vegas! – but that’s not the only reason to get hitched in this unique Western state. From the dazzling splendor of Lake Tahoe, to spooky sightings above Area 51, and luxury resorts with five-star dining and views of Red Rock and Sloan Canyons – there’s something for every couple, and every wedding budget!

Applying for a marriage license in Nevada 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 Nevada?

Read How to Become a Wedding Officiant in Nevada

Stunning view of Red Rock Canyon in Nevada, with reddish orange rock formations against a blue sky with light cloud cover in the distance

Photo: Daniel Halseth / Unsplash

Get married in Nevada! Red Rock Scenic Loop offers an out-of-this-world setting for wedding photos, and is only a short drive away from your marriage license at the Clark County Clerk's Office!

How to get married in Nevada 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 Nevada.

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 and have registered with the County Clerk’s office.

If you want to hire a professional, the state has many qualified independent officiants to choose from. The following people are authorized to solemnize marriage in Nevada, including AMM Ministers:

Licensed, ordained or appointed ministers, other church or religious officials authorized to solemnize a marriage, certain notaries public, marriage officiants and chaplains serving on an Armed Forces base if they have authorization from a county clerk; temporary replacements (Summarized from §122.062)

(Find the complete list of officiants and more Nevada marriage laws here.)

groom and bride embrace during their first dance in the evening on their wedding day

Photo: Jonathan Borba / Pexels

3. Choose a date and a venue...

Nevada is home to more tourist attractions than we can list. There’s other-worldly natural beauty, unbeatable arts and culture, great weather, five-star casinos and resorts, friendly venues, and of course the thrill of elopement hotspots like Vegas and Reno – making this one-of-a-kind state a favorite for destination weddings.

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 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.

Nevada Marriage License Quick Facts

No Waiting Period
1 Year Expiration Period
10 Day Return Period

Stylized graphic of a bride and groom getting married, and a wedding officiant signing an oversized marriage license with an oversized pen on the wedding day

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.

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 NV marriage license

You’ll apply for your marriage license through the County Clerk’s Office. You don’t need to be a Nevada state resident or U.S. citizen to marry there.

Requirements to Apply:

Both applicants must appear in person and provide proof of age and identity, such as a valid government-issued photo ID
Both parties must be at least 18 years old or meet the requirements for minors
If either applicant was previously married, you must provide the exact date and location of your divorce or death of former spouse; if the divorce was within 30 days of applying, a copy of the decree must be provided

If you’re planning a wedding anywhere in Nevada, we recommend contacting the county clerk closest to your venue to learn more.

Cost

Your license will cost about $100. Some offices will only accept certain forms of payment, so plan ahead! There’s no fee to register your marriage after the ceremony.

Waiting period

There is no waiting period between the time you receive your license and when your ceremony can take place. Same day weddings are allowed!

Use and return your NV marriage license

A Nevada marriage license can be used in any county in the state, and expires 1 year after it’s issued.

How To Fill Out a Marriage License

The license must be signed by each party to the marriage, one adult witness, and the marriage officiant following the ceremony, and returned by the Officiant within 10 days of the ceremony. Directions on how to return the license will be given to you when it's issued.

Your Nevada marriage license must be returned by the Officiant within 10 days of the wedding ceremony.

Colorful lobby of Las Vegas Casino

Photo: Lorin Lindell / Unsplash

Colorful wedding venues abound in Nevada!

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!

Couples: How to Work Best With Your Wedding Officiant

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 you can’t get married without a marriage license. 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, along with one adult witness, will sign the license.

For tips on how to complete the license, head here.

After it’s signed, your completed license must be returned by the officiant within 10 days of the wedding. Check with your county for details.

Once it’s been recorded, you’re officially married!

Bride and groom kiss outside a casino in Las Vegas in their wedding clothes

Photo: Wesley Tingey / Unsplash

Congratulations, Newlyweds!

Asked to perform a wedding in Nevada?

Visit Weddings by State: Nevada

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 Carson City, Henderson, Las Vegas, and Reno.