BareVows is a marriage license guide and wedding officiant directory. Launching in Wisconsin with verified requirements across all 72 counties.
Verified against Wisconsin state statute and official county websites.
BareVows is launching state by state, building verified county-level data before expanding. Start in Wisconsin today.
Tell me where you are and I'll let you know when it launches.
One email when your state is ready. No spam, no sharing.
Thanks. You're on the list. Check your inbox for a confirmation.
Three steps from engaged to legally married, in any state BareVows covers.
Marriage license rules are set at the state level, and fees and procedures vary by county. Start by selecting where you will apply for your license.
Each county page lists the license fee, required documents, waiting period, clerk contact info, and appointment rules. Sourced from state statute and official county websites.
Connect with a wedding officiant licensed to solemnize marriages in your state. View profiles, services, and pricing, then reach out directly.
I've officiated 300+ ceremonies in Milwaukee since 2015, and I built BareVows because couples kept asking me the same questions about licenses, counties, and finding the right officiant. There was no single place to send them.
BareVows is that place. Verified legal requirements, county-specific details, and a directory of officiants I would trust with my own wedding.
See my officiant profileTo legally get married in the United States, you need a marriage license from the county where you apply, a valid photo ID, and an officiant authorized by the state to perform the ceremony. Requirements vary by state: some require a waiting period between applying and the ceremony, some require witnesses, and fees range from about $25 to $150. After the ceremony, the signed license is returned to the county to be recorded.
Yes. Every state in the US requires a legally authorized officiant to perform a marriage ceremony and sign the marriage license. Authorized officiants typically include ordained ministers, judges, justices of the peace, and in some states, notaries. A few states, including Colorado and Pennsylvania, allow self-solemnization where the couple marries themselves without an officiant.
Most states issue a marriage license on the same day you apply, but many require a waiting period of 1 to 6 days before the license can be used for a ceremony. Wisconsin, for example, has a 3-day waiting period, and the application day does not count toward the wait. License validity also varies: most states give you 30 to 90 days to use the license before it expires.
Yes. Most US states do not require residency to get a marriage license. You can apply in any county of the state where you plan to have your ceremony. Some states require the license to be obtained in the same county where the ceremony takes place. Once the marriage is performed, it is legally recognized in all 50 states regardless of where you live.
A wedding officiant performs the marriage ceremony and legally marries the couple by signing the marriage license. A professional officiant also writes or adapts the ceremony script, meets with the couple beforehand to personalize the ceremony, coordinates the rehearsal if requested, and handles filing the signed license with the county after the ceremony.
The cost of getting legally married has two parts: the marriage license fee paid to the county (typically $25 to $150 depending on the state) and the officiant fee (typically $250 to $1,000 for a professional officiant, though courthouse packages can be lower). Additional costs may include witness fees, a certified copy of the marriage certificate, and travel if the officiant is not local.