{"id":16867,"name":"Fort Collins","state_id":10,"county_id":651,"created_at":"2019-08-20T10:36:38.695-07:00","updated_at":"2023-10-10T06:46:05.301-07:00","meta_description":"Learn how to officiate and plan wedding ceremonies in Fort Collins, Colorado. Learn about marriage license applications, officiant duties, wedding venues and more. ","head_tag":"A Wedding Planning Guide for Ministers and Couples!","tagline":"Choice City!","intro_section":"\u003cp\u003eWhat is there not to love about Fort Collins? With its big city cultural scene, small town vibe, and close proximity to some outstanding outdoor adventure spots, it\u0026rsquo;s the perfect place to live. And as it happens, it\u0026rsquo;s also a great place to get married! Whether you want a rustic, Colarodian celebration or a glamorous celebration in the middle of town, Choice City has you covered.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eWe\u0026rsquo;ll break down some of the area\u0026rsquo;s best spots to get hitched, but before we get there, let\u0026rsquo;s take care of all of the legal to-do\u0026rsquo;s -- from getting your officiant of choice ordained to obtaining and completing your marriage license correctly.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","officiant_section":"\u003ch3\u003eStep\u0026nbsp;1: Get ordained with American Marriage Ministries\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eLet\u0026rsquo;s start with the ordainment process. According to Colorado Revised Statute 14-2-109, a marriage may be solemnized by:\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cul style=\"margin-left: 40px;\"\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eA judge of a court\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eA court magistrate\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eA retired judge of the court\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eA public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages.\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eIndian tribe officials.\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eClergy\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eThe parties to the marriage\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIf you do not fall into any of these categories, no sweat. You can \u003ca href=\"/ordination-application\" target=\"_blank\"\u003esign up with us\u003c/a\u003e to become ordained through AMM. The process is free and takes just a few minutes.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eStep\u0026nbsp;2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Larimer County\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eNow that the easy part is out of the way, we can help you prepare for the wedding ceremony itself. Being asked to officiate a ceremony is an honor, but can feel like a lot of pressure. You will appreciate our wedding training pages, which are a library of information to help you prepare for your first ceremony and ensure that it goes smoothly.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eHere you can find everything from sample wedding ceremony scripts, to \u0026nbsp;brainstorming prompts, tips for preparation, and more.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nStep\u0026nbsp;3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe person solemnizing the marriage (that\u0026rsquo;s you, officiant!) needs to complete the marriage certificate. Be sure the certificate is filled out entirely, including county, date of ceremony, time of the ceremony, physical location of ceremony, the officiant signature, the officiant\u0026#39;s title, and the signature of both members of the couple.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIt is also your responsibility to return it to the county clerk\u0026rsquo;s office within 63 days of the ceremony. If you fail to return the civil union or the marriage certificate on time, you\u0026rsquo;ll be required to pay a $20 late fee and an additional $5 late fee may be assessed for each additional day of failure to comply up to a maximum of $50.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","couple_section":"\u003ch3\u003eFile for the Marriage License from the Larimer County Clerk\u0026#39;s Office.\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eNow let\u0026rsquo;s turn our attention to the couple\u0026rsquo;s responsibilities. First things first! Before you go into the county clerk\u0026rsquo;s office to pick up your marriage license, fill out the application online \u003ca href=\"https://records.larimer.org/landmarkweb/marriagekiosk?title=Marriage%20Kiosk\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere\u003c/a\u003e. Then, book an appointment by calling 970-498-7860 and choosing option 1.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhen your appointment day comes, both members of the couple will have to visit the county clerk\u0026rsquo;s office at 200 West Oak St. on the first floor. (There are also locations in Loveland and Estes Park, if you prefer.)\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen you go, just remember to bring:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cul style=\"margin-left: 40px;\"\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eValid IDs (driver\u0026rsquo;s license or passport)\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003ePayment of $30 for marriage license fee\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eTransaction number given upon completion of application (not required, but helpful)\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThat\u0026rsquo;s it! Once you complete your appointment, you and your partner are free to get married anytime within the next 35 days, which is when the marriage license expires for use. After the wedding, your officiant will be responsible for returning the license to the county clerk\u0026rsquo;s office so that it can be recorded.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIf you haven\u0026#39;t received your original license via mail within 14 days after it has been recorded, you can call the office at 970-498-7860 to inquire.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","wedding_tips":"\u003ch3\u003eThe Basics\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIf you\u0026rsquo;re looking to take advantage of the beautiful views and wilderness of Rocky Mountain National Park, \u003ca href=\"https://www.dellaterramountainchateau.com/weddings\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eThe Della Terra Mountain Chateau\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https://www.thelandingestespark.com/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eThe Landing at Estes Park\u003c/a\u003e, and the \u003ca href=\"https://taharaa.com/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eTaharaa Mountain Lodge\u003c/a\u003e are all beautiful mountain resorts -- each just about an hour outside of Fort Collins.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, if you prefer to keep your wedding central to Fort Collins, there are plenty of great venues located right in town. One of the most elegant spots in Fort Collins is\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\"https://edwardshouse.com/inn-gallery\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEdwards House\u003c/a\u003e, a beautiful historic mansion with lavish decorations.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eBefore committing to a venue, just make sure you have checked some local events calendars to make sure that your wedding date is not overlapping with any of the major local events around town, like university games or festivals. You don\u0026rsquo;t want to be stuck in the middle of a traffic jam on the big day.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eTransportation\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eGetting around Fort Collins is a breeze. Their public \u0026nbsp;transportation, \u003ca href=\"http://www.ridetransfort.com/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eTransport\u003c/a\u003e, is pretty trustworthy and reliable. You can even take the refurbished Birney streetcar, which operates in the summer. You can also navigate the town by bike, which is what many locals choose to do. However, if you\u0026rsquo;re planning a wedding, you might want to take advantage of one of the many limousine services offered in town for your transportation on the big day.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eWeather\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eAny season you choose will make for a perfect wedding, depending on what your priorities are -- weather in Fort Collins is pretty ideal. It\u0026rsquo;s quite mild in the spring and fall, stays in the 70s and 80s in the summer, and usually doesn\u0026rsquo;t go below the 30s in the winter. December through February, there is the possibility of snow, but it rarely sticks on the ground and usually doesn\u0026rsquo;t stay for more than a week.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eSummers are a good time for a wedding because the town is empty of college students, so there is a more relaxed vibe and less traffic, but spring and fall are arguably the most pleasant times of year, temperature wise. However, if you are dreaming of a white wedding, then an early winter wedding at one of the Rocky Mountain lodges may be just the ticket.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","faq":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAre Internet ministers accepted in Colorado?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Officiants ordained through online ministries can solemnize marriages in the state of Colorado.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo ministers need to register their credentials with a state office?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eNo, the Colorado state government does not license or register ministers. As long as you are ordained, you can legally perform a marriage for a couple.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo both members of the couple need to come in person to apply for the marriage license in Larimer County?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eYes. But if one of the parties cannot appear in person, he or she must complete a civil union absentee affidavit or a marriage license absentee affidavit, sign it before a notary public and include a copy of their ID.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat are the acceptable forms of IDs to bring to the county clerk\u0026rsquo;s office?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhen you apply for your marriage license, you\u0026rsquo;ll need a valid driver\u0026rsquo;s license, passport, state ID card, military ID card or alien registration card (green card). Birth certificates, social security cards, matricula consular cards and voter registrations are NOT acceptable.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan we use our Larimer-issued marriage license outside of Larimer County?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eYes, you can use it to get married anywhere in the state of Colorado.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","content_live":true,"marriage_licensing_info":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIssuance Office:\u003c/strong\u003e 200 West Oak St.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eFee:\u003c/strong\u003e $30\u0026nbsp;\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eWaiting Period:\u003c/strong\u003e None\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eExpiration:\u003c/strong\u003e 35 days\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eReturn:\u003c/strong\u003e By officiant within 63 days\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","meta_description_esp":null,"head_tag_esp":null,"tagline_esp":null,"intro_section_esp":"","officiant_section_esp":"","couple_section_esp":"","wedding_tips_esp":"","faq_esp":"","content_live_esp":false,"marriage_licensing_info_esp":""}