Getting married in Miami does not have to be complicated. Whether you live in Florida, are traveling from another state, or are planning a destination wedding, the legal process is relatively straightforward once you know what to expect.
Here is a simple step-by-step guide to getting legally married in Miami and preparing for your wedding day.
1. Make Sure You’re Eligible to Apply for a Florida Marriage License
A Florida marriage license allows you to get married anywhere in the State of Florida, including Miami-Dade County. There is no Florida residency or U.S. citizenship requirement to apply. In most cases, applicants must be at least 18 years old; Florida law provides limited circumstances for certain 17-year-old applicants.
If you are coming to Miami from another state or country specifically to get married, you can still obtain your marriage license in Florida.
2. Complete the Miami-Dade Marriage License Pre-Application
Miami-Dade County allows couples to begin the process online by completing a marriage license pre-application.
After completing the pre-application, you can schedule an appointment with the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller to finish the process in person. Walk-ins may also be accepted, although the Clerk recommends appointments to reduce waiting time.
Both partners must be present when the marriage license is issued.
3. Bring the Required Identification
Each person must bring valid government-issued identification showing their legal name, date of birth, photograph, and signature.
Accepted identification can include a driver’s license, passport, U.S. military identification, state identification card, alien registration card, or an original naturalization certificate.
U.S. citizens and residents must also provide their Social Security number. If an applicant has not been issued a Social Security number, other identifying information may be accepted.
If either person has previously been married, be prepared to provide the exact date the previous marriage ended through divorce, death, or annulment.
4. Decide Whether You Need to Complete a Premarital Course
This is especially important for Florida residents.
Florida residents are generally subject to a three-day waiting period before their marriage license becomes effective. However, couples can have that waiting period waived by completing a qualifying four-hour premarital preparation course through a registered provider and presenting the required completion certificate when applying for the license.
Completing an approved premarital course also reduces the Miami-Dade marriage license fee from $86 to $61.
Non-Florida residents are exempt from Florida’s three-day waiting period.
This means that depending on your residency and whether you complete a qualifying premarital course, it may be possible for your marriage license to become effective without waiting three days.
5. Obtain Your Florida Marriage License
Once the Clerk verifies your application and identification, your marriage license will be issued.
The license identifies its effective date and expiration date. Your ceremony must take place on or after the effective date and within 60 days of issuance.
That gives couples considerable flexibility when scheduling their wedding.
For couples using Married in Miami, it is important to have the marriage license completed and legally effective before arriving for the ceremony.
6. Choose Your Wedding Ceremony and Officiant
Florida law requires the marriage ceremony to be performed by an authorized officiant.
Authorized individuals include ordained ministers and other ordained clergy, Florida judges, clerks and deputy clerks acting within their duties, and Florida notaries public.
At Married in Miami, the goal is to make the ceremony simple, meaningful, and memorable without requiring couples to plan a large traditional wedding.
Depending on the experience you choose, your ceremony can remain intimate or include family and friends while still keeping the process streamlined.
7. Bring Your Marriage License to the Ceremony
Your officiant must review the valid marriage license before legally performing the ceremony. Florida law does not allow a marriage to be solemnized without a properly issued license.
On your wedding day, bring the original marriage license with you unless you have been specifically instructed otherwise.
Your officiant will complete and sign the appropriate portion following the ceremony.
8. Make Sure the Completed License Is Returned to the Clerk
After the ceremony, the completed marriage license must be returned to the issuing Clerk’s office.
Florida law requires the officiant to transmit the completed license back to the issuing clerk within 10 days after the marriage ceremony.
Once the marriage has been recorded, certified copies of the marriage record can be requested from the Miami-Dade Clerk.
Can You Get Married Quickly in Miami?
In many cases, yes.
Miami can be a convenient place for couples who want a wedding without months of complicated planning. Non-Florida residents do not have Florida’s three-day waiting period, and Florida residents who complete a qualifying premarital course can have the waiting period waived.
The key is completing the legal marriage-license requirements before your scheduled ceremony.
Getting Married Does Not Have to Be Complicated
A wedding can be meaningful without becoming overwhelming.
At Married in Miami, we believe couples should be able to focus on what matters most: the commitment they are making to one another.
Our wedding experience is designed for couples looking for a beautiful, personal, and memorable way to say “I Do” without the stress and expense often associated with a traditional large wedding.
Once your marriage license requirements are taken care of, all that remains is choosing your wedding experience, reserving your date, and showing up ready to begin the next chapter together.
Ready to get married in Miami? Explore our Wedding Packages or visit our How It Works page to learn more.
Marriage laws, fees, procedures, and Clerk requirements can change. Couples should verify current requirements directly with the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller before applying for a marriage license.
