I got marriage license in ga. Do I have to have my ceremony in ga or can I do in tn

Your marriage license is valid only in the State where it is issued.

I am pretty sure you can have your ceremony where ever you like. Not sure on the validity from state to state, but as far as ceremony's go, I am pretty sure it's where ever you choose to hold it.

You cannot have a valid marriage ceremony without a valid marriage license in the US.

That even extends outside the US - want to get married in the Bahamas? That's where you get your license.

Different States have different requirements.

Interesting! So if she got married in one state, but wanted to have the church service in another she couldn't because her license isn't valid? What do people have to do when they move states? Do they have to apply for a new marriage license each time for their marriage to be legal?

If you GET MARRIED, in one state, a church service in another state is just a blessing of the marriage they already had.

The question here, from the way I read it, is that if they got a marriage license in one state, you can not take it to another state and have the actual marriage service there. You can have as many blessings anywhere you want.

Also in Georgia it is actually even stricter. If you are not a resident ( both people) if you get a Georgia marriage license, you have to even have the actual service in the same county you get the license.

But if one of the people is a resident of Georgia, the license is valid anywhere in the state.

Interesting! So if she got married in one state, but wanted to have the church service in another she couldn't because her license isn't valid? What do people have to do when they move states? Do they have to apply for a new marriage license each time for their marriage to be legal?


I don't know what you mean. Do you mean a civil ceremony in one State followed by a religious service in another? The couple would already be married so the religious service would be religious only, a re-affirmation, something along those lines. You don't need a marriage license for that. You are already married. If you decide to repeat your vows after X years you don't get a new license because you're already married.

States recognize marriages performed in other States and countries. You don't get married again every time you travel to another State.

The question is whether you get a license in one State and get married in another. You appear to be confusing a license which "allows" people to marry with recognition of that marriage.

A marriage license allows you to be married in the eyes of the Government. It's a license to marry, the same way you get a license to drive a car.

Are you saying that you could get a marriage license in Nova Scotia but then get married in Ontario using that same license? Is there one Canada-wide marriage license or are they also issued by Province?

I am prety sure it's one Country wide license. Meaning if I got married in NS and I moved to Ontario, I would still be married and my license is valid. I was confused because you said
Your marriage license is valid only in the State where it is issued. I thought that meant if I was married in Georgia and moved to New York, my license wouldn't be valid, or I wouldn't legally be married.

What I took from the OP's post was she was legally married whether it was by the Justice of the Peace in one state but wanted to have a ceremony, be it in a church or out doors in another state. That's why I originally said she could have the ceremony where ever she wanted.

I am prety sure it's one Country wide license. Meaning if I got married in NS and I moved to Ontario, I would still be married and my license is valid. I was confused because you said I thought that meant if I was married in Georgia and moved to New York, my license wouldn't be valid, or I wouldn't legally be married.

What I took from the OP's post was she was legally married whether it was by the Justice of the Peace in one state but wanted to have a ceremony, be it in a church or out doors in another state. That's why I originally said she could have the ceremony where ever she wanted.


Let's start over.

For lack of a better explanation the LICENSE is the State's permission to marry legally in a particular State. I am in NY. I go to the local Town Clerk, present my ID, proof of my late husband's death (which proves I am legally free to marry), she issues a Marriage License to me (and, of course, my husband to be who must present the same ID). If I cannot prove my identity or don't have proof of the dissolution of a previous marriage I cannot get a Marriage LICENSE.

Once issued the LICENSE is good for (I believe) 60 days. When I get married within that time I hand the LICENSE to the person performing the CIVILLY RECOGNIZED CEREMONY (and, of course, a religious ceremony is recognized), he enters the marriage date and time and that LICENSE is filed with the State of NY.

The requirements to marry in NY may not be the same as in another State. Another State may or may not be able to access info on my previous marriages. Therefore, a NY LICENSE is good only in NY.

I want to get married again, I have to present proof that this marriage is no longer legal - divorce, death.

The LICENSE is just that. It's a LICENSE to marry. That marriage is then recognized all over the World (pretty much).

I am surprised that you can get a Marriage LICENSE in one Province and get married in another.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

I understand now. Yea I was confused with the whole license thing. Not having been married myself, didn't get that. But thank you for explaining it.

To the OP disregard anything I had to say! :o

A marriage license is a permit to marry. After the 'ceremony', the license is signed by the officiant and witnesses then sent into the Registrar to be filed. Once it is officially filed, you get back a Certificate of Marriage (Marriage Certificate.) The Certificate as proof of a marriage between the two people is what is valid across state and international lines.

Part of the confusion with this question is the title says something different than the post. The post seems to have the correct question and it has been well answered by both Fr_Chuck and JudyKayTee.