How to Legally Elope in NYC: The 5 Essentials Every Couple Needs to Know
Planning to elope in New York City? Here are the 5 legal requirements to make it official.
If you’re planning to elope in New York City — first of all, great choice! This city was practically made for epic, non-traditional, wildly-you weddings. But before you take on the city in a fabulous outfit and say “I do” in front of the skyline, there are a few legal boxes you have to check.
Don’t worry. It’s not that complicated. We’re breaking it down here with zero boring legal jargon.
1. Get Your Marriage License
Before anything else, you’ll need to get a marriage license from the New York City Clerk’s Office. You can apply online first to save time, but you’ll still need to show up in person with valid photo ID (passport or driver’s license) to finalize it.
What it costs: $35
How long it’s valid: 60 days
This license is the legal document that gives you permission to marry. Without it, your ceremony (no matter how magical) won’t be recognized by the state.
Pro tip: Appointments at the City Clerk’s Office open up 3 weeks in advance on Project Cupid. We always recommend scheduling your license pickup a day or two before your planned ceremony.
2. You Have to Wait 24 Hours
New York has a 24-hour waiting period after your license is issued before you can get married. That means you can’t just walk in, get your license, and get married later that day (unless you manage to score a judicial waiver, which is rare and kind of a headache).
But if your travel plans don’t line up, don’t stress about a judicial waiver. We’ve got ways around that. You’re hiring us to be problem-solvers and solution finders—and trust me, we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeve.
3. Book a LEGALLY Registered Officiant (That’s Us!)
To make your marriage official, your ceremony must be conducted by an officiant registered with the City of New York. That means even if your best friend is ordained online, they still can’t sign your marriage license unless they’ve filed with the city.
But don’t fret! We’ve got registered officiants on our team who can keep your ceremony legal and heartfelt. You can still have your friend or family member lead a symbolic ceremony if that feels right, just let us handle the legal stuff in the background.
4. Bring a Witness (Just One!)
To make it legal, you’ll need one witness who’s over 18. That’s it.
It can be your best friend, your photographer, a cousin, or even a stranger you meet in the park who seems cool and has good handwriting. Heck, NYC even lets your dog be your witness. (We’ve done it. It’s adorable. We’ll bring the ink pad for the paw print. 🥰)
5. Get Your Marriage Certificate
After your ceremony, your signed license gets mailed back to the City Clerk’s Office, and 4–6 weeks later, you’ll receive your official marriage certificate by mail.
This is the document that proves you’re legally married, and the one you’ll need for things like changing your name, taxes, or immigration paperwork.
Worried that your wedding certificate might get lost in the mail? You’re not alone. If your certificate doesn’t show up, we’ll personally go to City Hall to request a new one on your behalf. You’re in good hands!
Bonus: Let Us Handle the Legal Stuff So You Can Focus on the Fun
Whether you’re flying in from Europe or you live across the bridge in Brooklyn, we’ll walk you through every single step of eloping in NYC — from your marriage license appointment to the moment you get that shiny certificate in the mail.
Our team knows NYC’s marriage process inside and out. We’ve helped more than 1,000 couples elope here, and we’re here to make it seamless, joyful, and low-stress.
If you’re ready to skip the overwhelm and start planning a wedding day you’ll actually enjoy, fill out our simple contact form and we’ll schedule no-obligation consultation.
