California Remote Marriage Ceremony Requirements

ONLINE WEDDING CEREMONIES

While online weddings were temporarily allowed during the beginning of the pandemic, most counties will no longer allow them. Both the minister and the couple must appear together in person for the ceremony. Certain counties (such as LA County) will allow virtual civil ceremonies between the couple and the court, but will not allow traditional ceremonies to be performed virtually. These policy changes may still be in flux as the Covid-19 pandemic changes circumstances, so research is essential before participating in an online or in-person wedding.

COVID RESTRICTIONS FOR COUPLES & MINISTERS

From the ceremony to the paperwork, Covid-19 has had a dramatic impact on weddings - getting married is just different right now. Many places require proof of vaccination and masks to be worn indoors. There are several county clerk's offices that will not allow in-person visits. These regulations are changing quickly, so make sure to check your local laws and the website of the county clerk's office before your wedding date.

MARRIAGE LICENSES & THE COUNTY CLERK-RECORDER'S OFFICE

At the moment, many California County Clerk-Recorder's Offices are only open by appointment. Please plan accordingly. Some offices will not accept in-person visitors and require all applications to be done virtually.

 

Couples can apply for a marriage license online or in-person in California. However, licensing requirements have not changed, and online applicants must show physical copies of ID over videoconference, for visual verification. Couples should contact a County Clerk-Recorder's Office to schedule an appointment, whether they plan to apply online or in-person.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

These policy changes are temporary and tied to the Covid-19 pandemic, and at the moment we can not predict how long they will remain in effect.

 

For more information, contact your County Clerk-Recorder's Office. You can review California's policy orders here:

 

California Executive Order N-58-20

 

 

California Executive Order N-71-20Z

 

Online weddings, livestream weddings, and small in-person guest lists have become a normal part of life, but it wasn't always this way! During the COVID-19 pandemic, the technology was new and evolved quickly, because the only way for many guests to attend a wedding to join remotely using a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

 

If you're considering an online wedding, a tiny elopement with just you and your officiant, or even a 'just us' elopement, remember that California marriage laws regulate who must be in attendance at your ceremony, and how the ceremony is conducted. Here are some options to help adapt your wedding plans in California to celebrate.

 

Virtual Wedding vs. Livestream Wedding Ceremony in California

 

For the sake of clarity, we differentiate between a virtual wedding and a livestream wedding by who is in attendance and how they are conducted: 

If the wedding officiant and couple are in separate physical locations, and the officiant performs the ceremony over video-conference technology (like Zoom, Google Meet, etc), then we call that a "virtual wedding." You might also hear it called a "Zoom wedding," "online wedding," or "remote marriage ceremony." Guests may or may not attend these ceremonies (either seated around the couple or joining remotely as well), depending on the couple's preferences.

 

If the couple and the wedding officiant are in the same physical location during the ceremony, but some or all of the guests are watching the wedding remotely (online), we call that a livestream wedding. You may also hear this referred to as a "hybrid wedding." In this case, the marriage ceremony itself is happening in one physical place, and it's being livestreamed out to guests.

 

You can read more about what distinguishes each option here.

(Keep in mind that metaverse weddings and getting married in a video game are a separate category of tech-wedding altogether, and are strictly symbolic. They must be combined with a traditional ceremony to meet legal requirements.)

 

How to livestream your wedding in California

 

You can livestream any activity or event, and it doesn't matter where you are in California, what you're doing or how many people are physically present with you. Some of the most popular platforms include Zoom, Google Meet, Facebook Live, and Instagram Live.

 

If you want to host your own livestream, all you really need is a tripod and a phone with a good camera on it; your guests will be able to participate remotely and enjoy every part of your ceremony. Most platforms allow guests to comment, chat, react, and interact in a number of ways. 

Many wedding professionals have also expanded their offerings in recent years to include wedding livestreaming services. For some couples, having a professional videographer or wedding content creator running things is well worth the extra money. 

 

Both virtual weddings and livestream weddings are a creative way to have friends and family join the ceremony at no cost from anywhere in the world. For many couples, this technology has completely changed the way they celebrate love! 

 

Ready for more online wedding inspiration? Check out: 
A Virtual Wedding Ceremony Script with Special Readings