LEGAL question about Marriage License

No - that is illegal. Besides, your officiant will fill out the license with the date, and they can get in trouble if they lie. Unless you can find an officiant to preside on the 7th, and that would become your legal anniversary.

You should probably directly contact the registry/place that issues the marriage licenses and ask them directly. It's kind of important. Do you want to really trust random people on the internet on something like this? No.

No that's illegal... That's the whole point of having to be there 3 days before hand. If you could just post date it and get married whenever you want, there would be no point in having a 3 day waiting period.

No officiant/pastor/celebrant/whatever would do something like that.

The only way you could do this would be to have your ceremony and reception on Saturday. But then on Monday have another legal ceremony. The Saturday ceremony wouldn't be an actually legal ceremony, the Monday one would be.

I don't think that would work. It is valid for 60 days, though...can you get it maybe over the Thanksgiving holiday?

Are you sure the 3 days waiting period isn't just for PA residents? Florida has that rule too, unless you are a resident of another state. If you're from out of state, the waiting period is waived

I would check that you aren't missing an open period on your marriage license, example i think that MA they need 3 days to process it but you have up to 60 days if i am not mistaken. could he go earlier than the 3 days before and do it so he doesn't miss so much work? say mis work Thursday/ friday two weeks before? you would have to check the states laws/ call the clerks office

I am not even entirely sure that you could get the license the same day but i don't know that states laws

No. no officiant is going to do that.

I'm not the authority on all states, but in NJ, where we also have a 3 day wait period, one person and their witness can start the license process and waiting period, then the two of them go back with the witness and everyone signs it. Or get married in Texas before you come here, and celebrate here.

You should call widows and orphans (the offices that do wedding licenses in PA) and find out what your options are.

Thanks, everyone. It was my impression that the waiting period was to ensure people don't get married too hastily, and we most certainly are not.

Doing another short ceremony on the 7th is not an option, as the honeymoon is already booked.

We do not have plans to visit Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving. We could go up there for this express purpose, but the courthouse is only open M-F, requring a $300 plane ticket and more time off work. Either way, we are out at least $500 (going early in the 60 day period or him coming up early on the 2nd).

I will call again to ask if the period can be waived for non-residents. I have already spoken with them once, but the employee was not very helpful, which is why I've polled the forum here. It is certainly NOT my intention to get our officiant into trouble.

Another option is to get legally married in Texas the week before or after your ceremony - at the courthouse or with a JOP or whatever. Your PA ceremony will be symbolic, not legal.

We got our license in Montgomery County and their staff was very helpful, if you want to try calling someone else.

Sometimes you can get the license much earlier. For instance, in Maryland, you can apply for it 6 months out. That way you can possibly have more time.

Call the county you are getting married in. Each county has variations is what they do. There is a emergency waiver of the 3 days, but honestly. the request has to be ion 2 working days before the wedding. I'm not sure how helpful that is.

I don't think PA has a different set of rules for nonresidents. (Again, you have to check.) Is it possible that you are traveling here a month or so before to finalize everything? I think we have a 60 day period to use the license. If you are coming here, the could be helpful.

Hi Shannon ok once you both go to apply for the marriage license application. You have to put the date that you are getting married on. Now the date you will pick up your marriage certificate will be date different date that you have gotten your legal marriage certificate in hand. Because we did our application for marriage license in 2 weeks before we gotten married on the date that we told them they asked us twice before begging scorned in. AMD yes you have 3 days to submit your application in that city that you have gotten married on. So it can be legal dont miss the date it seems that PA has the same rules as nj. Congratulations on your wedding up coming day