New Jersey Covid Wedding Regulations

ONLINE WEDDING CEREMONIES

Although online weddings were temporarily allowed due to the pandemic, Executive Order 135 has been recently lifted and online weddings are currently no longer permitted in New Jersey.

We recommend that you still contact your Local Registrar's Office for the latest information as circumstances are constantly changing.

COVID RESTRICTIONS FOR COUPLES & MINISTERS

New Jersey has fully reopened. Masks or proof of vaccination may be required at private facilities so make sure you are aware of those possibilities when planning your wedding.

MARRIAGE LICENSES & THE LOCAL REGISTRAR

At the moment, Town Clerk's Offices in New Jersey could be operating with modified schedules. Please plan accordingly, as hours may have changed.

Couples must apply for a marriage license in person, but many Town Clerks provide a way to begin the application process online. Contact your local Town Clerk's Office for more information, as scheduling an appointment may be necessary.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For more information, contact your Local Registrar.

COVID-19, social distancing, travel bans, lockdowns… Many couples are being forced to downsize their wedding plans and for many guests, the only way to attend is with their computers and mobile phones.

If your guest list is shrinking to just the couple and officiant, or maybe just the couple, New Jersey marriage laws regulate who must be in attendance, and how the ceremony is conducted. Here are some options to help adapt your wedding plans in New Jersey to celebrate a COVID safe wedding.

Virtual Weddings vs. Livestream Ceremonies in New Jersey

For the sake of clarity, we differentiate virtual wedding ceremonies (or Zoom/Skype ceremonies) from livestream ceremonies by who is in attendance. If the officiant is officiating the vows from another place via video, then we call that a virtual or Zoom ceremony, since the people involved in the ceremony are interacting over whatever video platform is chosen.

However, if the couple and the officiant are present, but guests are watching remotely, we call that a livestream wedding since the ceremony itself is happening in one physical place. You can read more about what distinguishes each option here.

How can we celebrate a legally valid live streamed ceremony in New Jersey

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

As long as you have a tripod and a phone with a good camera on it, your guests will be able to participate remotely. Many of these platforms even allow guests to comment, chat, and interact in other ways.

We realize that this is not always ideal, but ultimately, if couples choose to move forward with scaled down weddings and smaller guests lists, these communications platforms let friends and family around the world know that they are still being thought of.

For folks planning on livestreaming their nuptials, Here's How to Livestream Your Wedding.