Burning Man Wedding: Can You Get Married at Burning Man?

Plan a playa wedding: A quick guide to getting married at Burning Man in Black Rock City, Nevada! 

 

 

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Can you get married at Burning Man? Yes absolutely, as long as you plan ahead. And lots of couples do! 

 

Getting married at Burning Man is the perfect choice for couples who love the festival and attend together, or who met in BRC. And if you’re already married, it’s even easier to have a symbolic vow renewal while you’re there.

 

Below are a few legal & logistical details to help you get started as you plan a Burning Man wedding. 

 

 

If you love to attend the Burning Man festival together every year, or met while attending, why not celebrate your love and future in this special place too? Lots of couples do! (Photo: 4FR / iStock)

 

 

Considerations for a Burning Man Wedding

5 Things to plan for when getting married in Nevada at Burning Man 

1. You need a wedding license (aka a Nevada marriage license)

 

You’ll need to apply for a marriage license if you want your wedding to be legally valid. 

 

Your marriage license must be issued in Nevada – your wedding is in Nevada so your wedding license has to be too, regardless of where you live the other 356 days of the year. Out-of-state couples and international couples can apply for a Nevada marriage license.

 

You will apply for your marriage license through the County Clerk’s Office. You can apply at any clerk’s office in the state, and your marriage license can be used for up to a year before it expires. 

 

The closest clerk’s office on your way to Burning Man will probably be in Lovelock, Nevada, at the Pershing County Clerk’s Office. But again, you can apply for your marriage license anywhere in the State of Nevada. The Washoe County Clerk's Office in Reno, Nevada, is also a nearby option. 

 

After your ceremony, your marriage license must be returned to the clerk’s office so that it can be filed. 

 

Related: How to Get Married in Nevada

 

 

2. You need an authorized wedding officiant to marry you

 

Nevada weddings must be performed by an authorized wedding officiant, and the state has strict rules on who can officiate a wedding there. 

 

If you want a friend to officiate your wedding at Burning Man, you can do this! Your friend will need to become an ordained minister online, and then register as an officiant with the local clerk’s office, which is the Pershing County Clerk’s Office. 

 

Your friend can get ordained online free with American Marriage Ministries, which is legally recognized in Nevada: 

 

• Get ordained online free with AMM
• Officiant Registration Requirements Nevada

 

Out-of-state wedding officiants must register locally with the Pershing County Clerk’s Office. Their website states: 

 

“BURNING MAN ceremonies - If you are planning to get married at the Burning Man event by an out-of-state Minister you may obtain your Marriage License anywhere in the State; however, the Minister must apply with this office for permission to perform your ceremony.  (Temporary Certificate of Authority to Perform Marriages)” 

 

You can also choose to hire a professional Nevada wedding officiant to perform your ceremony, and there are many qualified wedding officiants who specialize in playa weddings in Black Rock City! You may even find an officiant at a chapel on the playa if one is available, but this should be arranged in advance. 

 

 

3. The Nevada wedding witness requirement is one adult witness

 

Nevada marriage laws require one wedding witness. This means that you’ll need one adult witness to sign your marriage license along with your wedding officiant.

 

Your wedding witness can be anyone, as long as they’re over the age of 18 – so you’ll have no trouble finding a witness to celebrate your marriage at Burning Man! 

 

Ask a campmate, friend, or close relative to sign as a witness for a special memory. Or if you want everyone at your wedding party to sign a nonlegal commemorative marriage certificate, even better! 

 

 

4. Required wedding ceremony wording in Nevada: Declaration of Intent

 

In general, wedding ceremonies don't need to include specific wording to be legal. HOWEVER, a Nevada wedding ceremony must include a ‘Declaration of Intent.’ 

 

What is a Declaration of Intent, you ask? 

 

A Declaration of Intent is the part of a wedding ceremony when a wedding officiant asks you if you really want to get married. Traditionally, this sounds like, ‘Do you, (name), take (name) to be your lawfully wedded spouse?’, followed by an enthusiastic ‘I do!’ from each person getting married.

 

Nevada marriage laws require a wedding to include a declaration of intent, but you can word the declaration’s question-and-answer anyway you want to, as long as it includes verbal confirmation that both spouses understand they are getting legally married and are willingly getting married. 

 

 

5. Plan any kind of wedding you want! 

Other than that, your wedding can include anything you want it to! Dancing, music, readings, rituals – you name it. 

 

 

Dream of getting married at Burning Man? You can! With just a little planning in advance. (Photo: RAWFILE REDUX 2 / iStock)

 

 

So, are weddings at Burning Man considered valid?

 

Yes! As described above, your Burning Man wedding is considered valid and legal if you apply for a Nevada marriage license, have your ceremony officiated by an authorized wedding officiant, and complete and file your marriage license.

 

What if we forgot the marriage license?

 

If you forget your marriage license, don't apply for a marriage license, or your wedding officiant can't register with the county clerk's office in time -- don't stress! You can hold a symbolic commitment ceremony on the playa (not a legal wedding), and then hold a legal wedding ceremony at the courthouse or your home after you return. Your commitment ceremony shouldn't use the words 'married' or 'spouse' or anything that implies you're married however; it can't pose as a legal wedding. 

 

If you have more questions about getting married at Burning Man, here’s a great resource for burners from BurningMan.org: Playa Weddings

 

You can even contact organizers directly by email with specific questions! 

 

We also strongly recommend you contact the Nevada Pershing County Clerk’s office with any questions about your marriage license or wedding officiant requirements. 

 

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Read Next: 

 

• How to Elope: The Complete Elopement Checklist

 

• Planning a Secret Wedding (Is Easier Than You Think)

 

• A Road Trip Wedding is a Destination Wedding on the GO!

 

 

Pack that camper van, it's time to get hitched! Road trip weddings are the adventure elopement of your dreams. Click the article linked above to read more! (Photo: LuckyBusiness / iStock)

 

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