How to Get a Marriage License for an Elopement in Florida

The paperwork is the least romantic part of eloping. Let’s just say that out loud and move on. Because once you know how it works, it takes maybe an hour of your life and then you never think about it again.

Florida actually makes this pretty painless. Here’s everything you need to know so you can stop Googling at midnight and start actually planning the day.

First Things First: The Marriage License

You can get your marriage license from any Clerk of Court in Florida. Doesn’t matter which county. Once you have it, you can get married anywhere in the state. There’s no residency requirement either. If you’re flying in from another country just to elope on a Florida beach at sunrise, you can still obtain a Florida marriage license without being a resident.

What to bring:

• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport, U.S. military ID, or state ID)
• Your Social Security number (you don’t need the card. Just know the number.)
• A form of payment (most counties take cash, card, and money orders)
• If either of you has been married before: the exact date of your last divorce, annulment, or the death of your former spouse

The cost: Around $80 to $93.50 depending on which county you apply in.

Once issued, your license is valid for 60 days. Use it within that window or you start over.

The Waiting Period (and How to Skip It)

Here’s where it gets slightly different depending on where you live.

Florida residents: have a mandatory 3-day waiting period from the date you apply before the license becomes effective. So if you pick it up on a Monday, you can’t legally get married until Thursday. If that doesn’t work for your timeline, you can take a 4-hour state-approved premarital course online, bring the certificate with you when you apply, and the waiting period is completely waived. Your license fee also drops to around $61. Not a bad deal.

Non-Florida residents: After applying at any county clerk’s office, non-residents must wait 3 days before the license is issued. The license is then valid statewide for 60 days. Both partners are required to appear in person and bring a valid photo ID.

One thing to note: completing the online pre-application some counties offer does NOT start the waiting period. The clock starts when you show up in person.

Step-by-Step: How to Actually Do This

1. Nail down your elopement location first. That determines which county Clerk of Court is most convenient to apply at. If you’re still figuring out where to go, start here: The Best Places to Elope in Florida in 2026 (Way More Than Just a Beach).
2. Check if that county offers online pre-applications. Filling this out ahead of time makes your in-person visit faster.
3. Schedule an appointment if the option is available. Walk-ins are usually accepted, but you might wait longer.
4. Show up together with your IDs, Social Security numbers, payment, and any previous marriage information.
5. Walk out with your license in hand.
6. Get married anywhere in Florida within 60 days.
7. Return the signed license to the same Clerk of Court within 10 days of your ceremony date.
8. Once it’s processed, request a certified copy for any name changes or legal documents you’ll need to update.

That’s it. That’s the whole thing.

Who Can Actually Marry You?

In Florida, your ceremony can be performed by an ordained minister or clergy, a judge, a notary public, or a Clerk of Court. You’ve got options.

You can hire a standalone officiant, have a family member get ordained online, or go back to the courthouse and have the clerk do a quick civil ceremony for a small fee.

Here’s something worth knowing. You can find an elopement photographer who is also an ordained officiant (Like me!). That’s one less vendor to book, one less person to coordinate, and one less thing on your list. I’m ordained and I officiate ceremonies from behind the camera for my couples regularly. It’s one of my favorite parts of the whole day.

Do You Need Witnesses?

No. Florida does not require witnesses for a legal marriage. Your license has two spots for them, but you can leave them blank, have two friends sign, or even have your dog leave a paw print. Entirely up to you.

One Last Thing: When to Plan Around the Weather

This part isn’t legal logistics. But it matters for your actual day.

Florida is beautiful year-round, but summer (June through August) is brutally hot, humid, and afternoon storms roll in like clockwork. Hurricane season runs June through November. If you want the easiest outdoor experience with the most flexibility, late November through early April is the sweet spot. Cooler temps, fewer bugs, lower rain chances, and less chaos overall.

If you’re locked into a summer date, plan your ceremony around sunrise. The light is stunning and the rain hasn’t started yet.

Ready to Make This Happen?

The license part? You’ve got it handled now. The rest of it. Finding the location, pulling the permits, building the timeline, having a backup plan before the weather even thinks about turning. That’s what I do.

As a Florida elopement photographer and ordained officiant, I’ve planned and shot elopements across the state. The springs, the coastline, the state parks, the spots nobody else knows about yet. I know what works at each one, what to avoid, and how to build a day that actually feels like yours from start to finish.

If you want the full planning picture first, I broke it all down in Your Ultimate Guide To Planning A Dream Florida Elopement. Start there.

And when you’re ready to stop planning in your head and start making it real, reach out directly. Let’s make your dreams a reality.