How to Get Your Marriage License in Colorado
No one loves paperwork! When getting married, it’s typically not what you may think of first for your big day! But it is a vital step to officially tying the knot with the love of your life so, alas, paperwork. Don’t fret though- it’s a process that doesn’t take long or too much energy! You may be wondering: how do you actually get a marriage license in Colorado? What do we need? Is it complicated?
Here’s the truth: Colorado makes getting married remarkably easy! It seems like the state totally gets that no one loves focusing on the legality side of getting married and rather focus on the day itself and jumping into a new, exciting stage of life! Some super cool perks of getting married in Colorado also include not needing an officiant and witnesses not being required! You can simply show up as yourselves, sign a piece of paper, and legally begin your marriage in a place that feels right to you.
This short guide walks you through everything you need to know about how to get a Colorado marriage license, especially if you’re dreaming of an intentional elopement wedding day. No fluff. No legal jargon. Just the essentials, explained clearly so you can get back to focusing on the other details for your day!
Why Getting a Marriage License in Colorado Feels So Simple
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Colorado allows something called self-solemnization, which means you can stand together, speak your vows, and sign your marriage license without anyone officiating. Just the two of you, deciding your lives with intention. For a lot of our couples, this is the moment they remember most!
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Even though a few county forms still have witness lines, they’re totally optional. If you’re planning an elopement with just the two of you, there’s nothing to worry about! Your signatures are all you need :-)
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You can walk into a county office, get your license, and head straight into the mountains to get married if you want to! You could also schedule a short Zoom call with someone from a county office in Colorado and they can mail you the license before the day itself. Yay for straightforward processes!
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If you apply for your license in Denver, you can still get married in Breckenridge, Crested Butte, the Indian Peaks Wilderness, or anywhere else that calls you! Just make sure you return it back at the same office and you’re good to go!
Applying for a Marriage License in Colorado
You can apply for your marriage license at any County Clerk and Recorder’s Office in Colorado. There’s one in every county, and you’re able to pick whichever fits your travel plans. Couples coming from out of state that are flying in and out of the Denver Airport, grab their license there, and then head to their destination for their elopement then drop it off on their way back to the airport or send it to the office in the mail. If you live locally in Colorado, we recommend contacting your local county office for ease! Check out the City of Denver’s website for more information on the steps to getting your marriage license either in person or online!
You’ll need the following for your appointment:
A government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport, military ID, etc.)
Your Social Security number (if you have one)
Payment for the license
Common Questions About Colorado Marriage Licenses
How much does a marriage license cost?
The fee in Colorado is $30 statewide. You make this payment at you initial appointment to get the license! Quick and easy.
Can I start the application online?
Many counties let you fill out the form online ahead of time so you spend less time at the counter. Sometimes, you’ll still need to appear in person with your ID to finalize it, or, you are able to make a virtual meeting appointment with a County Official to verify IDs and the answers you provided online!
When should I get my marriage license?
Your marriage license in Colorado is valid for 35 days.
This means that the license must be used within 35 days! There’s no waiting period, so you can use it immediately if you’d like. Most couples pick it up sometime within a week or so of their elopement, but you have plenty of flexibility. If you’re traveling, give yourself a little breathing room in case weather or flights shift around (Colorado tends to do its own thing weather-wise!). Once signed, you have 63 days to return it to the office to verify and legalize your marriage :-)
How does this work if I don’t live in Colorado?
Colorado, of course, welcomes you to get married here! You don’t need to be a resident here to get a marriage license in Colorado, but you do typically need to be physically present to pick it up from the county office. See what Breckenridge area says about marriage licenses for folks that don’t reside in Colorado on the Summit County website here! Once you have the license, your ceremony must happen within state lines, but that’s pretty much it! After that, your marriage is legally recognized everywhere in the U.S. Woohoo!
Is a Colorado self-solemnized marriage recognized everywhere?
For sure! Once you complete the license correctly, it’s valid in all 50 states. Shoutout being legally married!
Do we need a formal ceremony?
Legally, no. Your ceremony can be ten words to one another under the stars or a full planned moment with family. It’s yours to shape and the state recognizes that! Ready to jump into stress-free elopement planning? Let us help you curate the day!
How long does the process take at the clerk’s office?
Usually 15–20 minutes. It’s a short meeting!
What happens if we forget to mail the license back?
There may be a late fee, but your marriage is still valid as long as the license was signed properly. We set an alarm on our phones as reminders until we returned ours, it was super helpful!
How the Legal Part Works on Your Wedding Day
Once you’ve picked up your license, there are no required steps beyond one simple thing: signing it together!
Self-solemnizing your marriage
This is where Colorado feels different than other states. You don’t have to perform any specific ceremony, follow a script, or stand in front of a group to recognize the marriage as official. You’re allowed to legally marry yourselves (ahhh, the power!)! The two of you simply sign the license and fill out the other necessary info, and you’re all set! They even include a paper guide with your license on exactly where to sign and what info you need to put and where. Truly simple as it gets.
If you want a friend or family member to lead things for you, that’s always an option! But you don’t need to give anyone the role of “officiant” unless you want to! Remember too that witnesses are also optional and are valid with or without them on the license :-)
Returning Your Marriage License
Don’t forget to send it back, y’all!! After your ceremony, just sign the license and return it to the clerk’s office. You can mail it in or drop it off, whichever is easiest and you’re more likely to do. Some couples have even dropped it off at the court house at the end of their elopements, if it fits the vibe!
You have 63 days to return it, though most people do it right after the ceremony so it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle of travel and celebration. You can also have an envelope all ready to go so all you have to do is drop it off at a mailbox.
Once it’s processed, you can order certified copies for name changes or other legal documents. Welcome to married life!
Have Your Dog Sign Your Marriage License (here’s the tea)
This is one of the most talked-about Colorado wedding traditions, rightfully so!
Because witnesses aren’t required, couples are able to have their dog sign their marriage license with their paw (there’s special ink pads just for this!). It’s such a fun symbol of including your pup in your big day! But a heads up! Some counties no longer allow this tradition due to it sometimes interfering with archiving the document. Counties that no longer allow paw prints include: Arapahoe or Denver counties!
Marriage Licenses and Public Lands: What’s the Difference?
Your marriage license allows you to legally get married. It does not give you permission to hold a ceremony anywhere you want though!
If you’re eloping on:
National Park land
State Park land
National Forest land
BLM land
…you may still need a permit depending on the location and group size.
For example, Rocky Mountain National Park requires a Special Use Permit for any wedding or elopement, even with just two people. Other areas are more flexible. We help all our couples navigate these details so you never have to guess! There’s also A TON of spots in Colorado that are permit free and incredible for those looking to dodge even more logistics and keep it super simple! Either way- we got you!
Final Thoughts:
Keep your elopement wedding day simple, including the legal part!
Colorado’s marriage laws give couples the freedom to slow down, breathe, and choose a wedding day that reflects who they are without adding stress of the logistics of obtaining the license. Getting a marriage license in Colorado is easy, intentional, and refreshingly human. Phew!
Your wedding doesn’t have to be a performance! It doesn’t need an audience or a script. It can be quiet, joyful. It can be truly anything you want it to be. It can be two people deciding they want to walk through life together, somewhere that feels meaningful to them!
Once you understand the handful of marriage license steps — apply, sign, return — the rest of your elopement follows suit with no stress and good times only! You get to plan a day filled with unforgettable memories!
Colorado keeps the rules simple so you can keep the focus where it belongs: on the two of you, choosing this life together.
Let’s plan an elopement wedding day that feels like you together! Fill out our contact form below to get started!