The marriage license is the one administrative step that turns your ceremony into a legal marriage. Each state has different rules — waiting periods, costs, witness requirements, and how long the license stays valid. This guide covers everything you need for the four states we operate in: Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and Arizona. You'll get the license in the state where you're eloping, not where you live — your residency doesn't matter.
Tennessee (Nashville & Gatlinburg)
- Cost: $100 standard, reduced to $40 with a premarital preparation certificate (most couples pay the standard fee)
- Waiting period: None — apply and marry the same day
- Valid for: 30 days from issue
- Witnesses required at ceremony: None
- Where to apply for Nashville: Davidson County Clerk's Office
- Where to apply for Gatlinburg: Sevier County Clerk's Office in Sevierville
Both partners must appear in person with valid government ID and Social Security numbers. Tennessee is one of the easiest states to elope in — no waiting period and the application takes about 20 minutes.
Georgia (Savannah)
- Cost: $86 standard, reduced to $66 with a qualifying premarital education certificate
- Waiting period: None
- Valid for: 6 months from issue
- Witnesses required at ceremony: 2 witnesses must sign
- Where to apply: Chatham County Probate Court in Savannah
Georgia's big advantage is the 6-month validity — apply months in advance if you want to remove the day-of paperwork from your timeline. Both partners must appear with valid ID. Witnesses can be your photographer or any adult; they sign the certificate after the ceremony.
South Carolina (Charleston)
- Cost: $95, paid online to the Charleston County Probate Court
- Waiting period: 24 hours from application — you must wait one full day before the ceremony
- Valid for: No expiration — once issued, valid until used
- Witnesses required at ceremony: None, but officiant must sign
- Where to apply: Charleston County Probate Court's online portal — 100% online, no in-person appearance
South Carolina is the one state in our network with a real waiting period. Plan to apply at least one full business day before your ceremony — Friday afternoon applications can't marry on Saturday morning. Many of our Charleston couples arrive Thursday, apply Friday, and elope Saturday.
Arizona (Sedona)
- Cost: $83
- Waiting period: None
- Valid for: 12 months from issue — the longest in our network
- Witnesses required at ceremony: 2 witnesses, must be 18+
- Where to apply for Sedona: Yavapai County Superior Court (Cottonwood or Camp Verde) or Coconino County (Flagstaff) if your ceremony is in the northern part of Sedona
Arizona's 12-month validity is the most flexible of the four states — you could apply for the license a year in advance. Two witnesses must be physically present at the ceremony and sign; your photographer and officiant count.
The 5 Things Every State Requires
Regardless of state, you'll always need:
- Both partners on the application. No state in our network allows one-partner-only applications. Tennessee, Georgia, and Arizona require both partners at the clerk's office in person; Charleston County, South Carolina takes the whole application online.
- Valid government photo ID — driver's license, passport, or state ID for each partner.
- Social Security numbers for both partners (you state them; documents not usually required).
- Cash, debit, or money order for the fee — most clerks don't accept credit cards.
- Documentation of any prior marriage ending — divorce decree, death certificate, or annulment paperwork if applicable.
Out-of-State Couples — Does Residency Matter?
No. You can elope in any of these four states regardless of where you live, and the resulting marriage is fully recognized in all 50 states. You don't need to update your driver's license, voter registration, or anything else just because the wedding happened in a different state.
Day-Of Timeline
A typical elopement timeline with license application looks like:
- Arrive in the state 1–2 days before the ceremony
- Apply for the license the morning before (or same day in TN, GA, AZ)
- Get the license printed at the clerk's office (15–45 minutes)
- Show up to the ceremony, hand the license to your officiant
- Officiant signs after the ceremony; some states require witness signatures
- Officiant returns the signed license to the county within 30 days; certified copies arrive by mail 2–6 weeks later
Your Elopements Inc. coordinator walks you through every step of the license process during planning — you'll know exactly which office, which hours, and what to bring before you ever leave home.
What If You Already Have a License From Another State?
A marriage license is only valid in the state that issued it. If you already applied in your home state but decided to elope elsewhere, you have two options: let the existing license expire and apply in the elopement state, or hold the existing license unused for a possible later wedding ceremony in your home state. You cannot mix states — a Tennessee officiant cannot sign a Georgia license, and vice versa.
Name Changes — When and How
Changing your name is a completely separate process from getting married, and it happens after the marriage. The steps are the same across all four states:
- Wait for your certified marriage certificate to arrive in the mail (2–6 weeks after the ceremony).
- Apply for a new Social Security card with your married name — this is the first stop, and it's free at any SSA office.
- Update your driver's license at the DMV in your home state, using the new SSN card.
- Update your passport (if you have one), bank accounts, and employer.
Most couples complete the whole name change within 4–8 weeks of the ceremony. You're also not required to change your name at all — that decision is entirely separate from the marriage itself.
What If You're Marrying a Non-U.S. Citizen?
You can still elope in any of these four states. The marriage license requirements don't change based on citizenship — both partners need valid government photo ID, which can be a foreign passport. The marriage will be legally recognized in the U.S. and in most other countries. Immigration consequences (visa changes, green card applications) are a separate process handled later through USCIS, not at the courthouse.
Start Planning
Pick a destination first, then we'll handle the license logistics. Browse our five elopement destinations or read our complete planning guide.