When do you sign the marriage license?

I think most people sign it after the ceremony, during cocktail hour. This depends on your state though as not all states require that the couple sign the license.

Our officiant actually had us sign ours ahead of time and then he signed and our witnesses signed it after the ceremony.

After the “big kiss” before you take photos you sign the marriage license

For our wedding, only our officiant had to sign it so he signed it immediately following the ceremony. For my brother's wedding, my dad and I were the witnesses so we signed it right before we left the church to go to the reception location.

When I was married before, we signed it when it was issued to us at the office. Then the officiant signed it and filed. Our signatures were only needed once.


It varies by state and country - a friend was married in Scotland and the signing was part of the ceremony.

View Quoted Comment Same, we signed it when we got it. We didn’t look at it after that. I’m not sure when the officiant and witnesses signed it. I don’t even know what witnesses signed it.

It all depends. I’ve seen it signed as part of the ceremony a couple times though that is common outside of the US. Most couples sign it after the ceremony. It isn’t valid if signed before the ceremony in most jurisdictions.

We signed it the day we applied for it, the minister signed it after our ceremony, and then he submitted it (we didn't need witnesses in Alabama). For my BFF (who got married in NC) they, their officiant, and the witnesses signed after the recessional, and before photos.

It depends on your state. When we applied for our marriage license we signed it at the state office. Our officiant filled out her part during cocktail hour and we sent off the next day.

My sister and her husband signed there's a couple days ahead of time. I worked at a law firm at the time so they stopped by, had one of the paralegals notarize it, and had me be the witness. That way on the day of they just handed it to the officiant and he took care of getting it signed and mailed it.

We did the ceremony, recessional, then while we were catching our breath "behind the scenes" while our guests went to the cocktail hour, the officiant brought the license and grabbed my parents as the witnesses and we all signed.

It depends on your state and county regulations. My husband and I only had to sign at the county clerk's office when we picked up the license. Our officiant and witnesses (maid of honor and best man for us) signed during the cocktail hour and reception. We didn't have to sign it again that day.

We signed at the reception. We have some pictures of the signing, so that is cool!

You sign if after the ceremony thats what we did in NJ right before photos taken