Delaware Remote Marriage Ceremony Requirements

ONLINE WEDDING CEREMONIES

Online weddings are not allowed in Delaware.

COVID RESTRICTIONS FOR COUPLES & MINISTERS

Delaware has fully reopened since COVID-19, however, face coverings are still required in state facilities and may also be required at some wedding venues.

MARRIAGE LICENSES & THE TOWN CLERK

At the moment, many Town Clerk's Offices in Delaware operating with modified schedules. Please plan accordingly, as hours may have changed or an appointment may be necessary. The Twelfth Modification of the Delaware State of Emergency Declaration authorized Town Clerks to accept online marriage license applications.

 

Couples can temporarily apply for a marriage license online or in-person in Delaware. However, licensing requirements have not changed, and online applicants must present physical copies of ID for visual verification. Couples should contact a Town Clerk'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 will remain in effect until the public health crisis is over.

 

Contact your Town Clerk's Office for more information. You can review Delaware's policy order here:

 

 

Twelfth Modification: State of Emergency Declaration

 

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 Delaware 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 Delaware to celebrate.

 

Virtual Wedding vs. Livestream Wedding Ceremony in Delaware

 

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 Delaware

 

You can livestream any activity or event, and it doesn't matter where you are in Delaware, 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