{"id":33342,"name":"Columbia","state_id":52,"county_id":2480,"created_at":"2019-08-20T10:41:37.077-07:00","updated_at":"2023-11-06T07:57:54.120-08:00","meta_description":null,"head_tag":null,"tagline":null,"intro_section":"\u003cp\u003eIf you\u0026rsquo;re from River City, then you already know what a hidden gem South Carolina\u0026rsquo;s state capital is. It may have some city aspects, but it truly feels like a small town with all its southern charm and old fashioned hospitality.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eSo, whether you\u0026rsquo;re planning a simple down-home wedding or a glamorous night-on-the-town extravaganza, Columbia\u0026rsquo;s got you covered. But before you get too wrapped up in the wedding planning process, there are some important to-do\u0026rsquo;s to check off your list first, such as getting your officiant-of-choice ordained and squaring away your marriage license.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eBut don\u0026rsquo;t get a burr in your saddle! We have all the need-to-know info about the legalities of getting married in Richland County right here in our guide. Let\u0026rsquo;s get to it.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","officiant_section":"\u003ch3\u003eSTEP 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 South Carolina state law, \u0026ldquo;ministers of the Gospel, Jewish rabbis, officers authorized to administer oaths in this State\u0026rdquo; are authorized to administer a marriage ceremony in the state.\u003c/p\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 get \u003ca href=\"/ordination-application\"\u003eordained with AMM\u003c/a\u003e to fall within the minister category. 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\u003cp\u003eThe South Carolina state government does not license, register, or certify ministers or wedding officiants, so once you\u0026rsquo;re signed up with us, you\u0026rsquo;re ready to start performing wedding ceremonies!\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eSTEP 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Richland 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 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\u003eWhen it comes to the marriage license, it\u0026rsquo;s the couple\u0026rsquo;s responsibility to obtain it from the probate court\u0026rsquo;s office, but just be sure to double check that they have a valid marriage license before you perform the ceremony. After the ceremony, be sure to help them complete it and notarize it correctly.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn Columbia, once you have performed the ceremony and notarized the marriage license, you have successfully performed all of your functions as the wedding officiant. The couple will take care of the rest.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","couple_section":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nNow let\u0026rsquo;s turn our attention to the couple\u0026rsquo;s responsibilities.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe process of obtaining a marriage license has changed since COVID-19. Now, you must apply for your marriage license online via Richland County\u0026rsquo;s website.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhen you apply, you\u0026rsquo;ll need to have the following handy:\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, state-issued photo IDs (driver\u0026rsquo;s license, military ID or passport)\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eDebit/credit card to pay the $45.24 marriage license fee\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eDocument showing your social security number (social security card, W2, or tax return)\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eAfter 48 hours of processing time, the office will send you a copy of your marriage license, provided that you have sent them all required documentation for both applicants.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eOn the day of the wedding, your officiant will help you fill it out and notarize it correctly. Then, you will need to mail it back to the probate court\u0026rsquo;s office so that your marriage can be recorded.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eMail your marriage license to: Richland County Probate Court, Attention Marriage License Division, PO Box 192, Columbia, SC 29202.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\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\u003eAs you are trying to choose your wedding date, be sure to watch out for major events and festivals in town. It\u0026rsquo;s best to steer clear of these dates if you want to avoid traffic and parking problems on the big day. To be safe, check the local events calendar\u0026nbsp;before committing to a date at a venue. And speaking of venues, let\u0026rsquo;s talk about some of the hottest spots in town.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThere is no shortage of wedding venue options available in Columbia. Downtown, you have the modern \u003ca href=\"https://701whaley.com/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e701 Whaley\u003c/a\u003e, the classic \u003ca href=\"http://www.1208washingtonplace.com/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1208 Washington Place\u003c/a\u003e and the sophisticated \u003ca href=\"https://www.clubcorp.com/Clubs/Capital-City-Club-Columbia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCapital City Club\u003c/a\u003e, which you\u0026rsquo;re probably familiar with from friends\u0026rsquo; weddings.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eBut don\u0026rsquo;t be afraid to explore options outside of the city. There are some other great properties to be discovered outside of town, for instance, the \u003ca href=\"http://www.medicinewind.net/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMedicine Wind Farm\u003c/a\u003e in Berkeley County, or the \u003ca href=\"https://edistoriverlodge.com/wedding-venue\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSanctuary at Edisto River Lodge\u003c/a\u003e -- both less than a two hour drive from Columbia.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIf you really want a change of scenery, Charleston is host to an array of other options. Remember, your marriage license is valid throughout the state, so all of South Carolina is your oyster!\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\u003eIf you\u0026rsquo;re coming in from out of town and trying to get around Columbia on the cheap, you can utilize the city\u0026rsquo;s public transit system COMET. Columbia\u0026rsquo;s buses are unmissable thanks to their neon colors. You can find route maps and live bus tracking on COMET\u0026rsquo;s website, \u003ca href=\"http://catchthecometsc.gov/?contact=tracker366gmail-com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere\u003c/a\u003e. But if you don\u0026rsquo;t want to rely on the public transit system, Lyft and Uber are available in town.\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\u003eWhen choosing your wedding date and venue, be sure to keep South Carolina\u0026rsquo;s seasons in mind. The Palmetto State has lovely spring and fall seasons -- which are perfect for outdoor weddings -- fairly mild winters, and hot and humid summers. By June, things really start to heat up and temperatures can climb into the 90s and sometimes the low 100s.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","faq":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAre Internet ministers legal in South Carolina?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nYes, ministers from online ministries are accepted in South Carolina.\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the minister have to register his or her credentials with the state?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nNo, the South Carolina government does not register ministers. Once you\u0026rsquo;re ordained with us, you\u0026rsquo;re free to start officiating weddings.\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo you have to be a resident of South Carolina to get married in South Carolina?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nNo.\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs there a waiting period from the time you apply for your license to the time that you can get married?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nThere is a 24-hour waiting period from the time of application for the license to the time the marriage license can be issued.\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho should return the marriage license after the wedding?\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nThe couple should mail the marriage license to the Probate Court\u0026rsquo;s office after the ceremony.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n","content_live":true,"marriage_licensing_info":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIssuance Office:\u003c/strong\u003e Richland County Probate Court\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFee:\u003c/strong\u003e $45.24\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWaiting Period: \u003c/strong\u003e24 hours\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExpiration:\u003c/strong\u003e 6 months\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReturn:\u003c/strong\u003e By the couple\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":""}