North Carolina Covid Wedding Regulations

ONLINE WEDDING CEREMONIES

Online weddings are not allowed in North Carolina.

COVID RESTRICTIONS FOR COUPLES & MINISTERS

North Carolina has fully reopened. Mask mandates in public and private facilities excluding the household are in effect in the city of Raleigh and Cary, Knightdale, Mecklenburg, and Charlotte counties for individuals ages 2 and older. Double-check with your local government on the most recent updates concerning COVID as circumstances are rapidly changing.

MARRIAGE LICENSES & THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE

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

Couples can apply for a marriage license online in some counties, but many Clerks require in-person signatures or ID verification. Wake County has created an entirely online application process and will mail marriage licenses to couples anywhere in the state. Contact your local County Clerk's Office for more information, as scheduling an appointment may be necessary.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For more information, contact your local County Clerk's Office.

Wake County Marriage License Application

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, North Carolina 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 North Carolina to celebrate a COVID safe wedding.

Virtual Weddings vs. Livestream Ceremonies in North Carolina

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 North Carolina

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