weddingWhat you need to legally marry in New York: a $35 fee, 24 hours waiting period, 1 witness and a license that is valid 60 days. You apply at the City or Town Clerk.
The eight things the City or Town Clerk will ask about or check. County rules can add small extras, so confirm with your local office before you go.
Put one QR code on the tables. Guests scan it and upload their photos and videos to one shared album, no app or account.
Live gallery
Reception, example
A marriage license in New York costs $35 (NYC, via City Clerk) to $40 (rest of state, via town or city clerk). You pay it at the City or Town Clerk when you apply. Extra certified copies of the marriage certificate, which you will want for a name change, a passport or insurance updates, often cost more.
That puts New York inside the roughly $30 to $100 range most states charge. Accepted payment methods differ from office to office, so check before the visit.
Both partners need a valid government photo ID. If either of you was married before, bring the final divorce decree or the former spouse's death certificate. New York does not require proof of residency.
In most counties both of you go in person, and some offices ask you to fill in the form online or book an appointment first. Check which offices can issue your license before you drive anywhere.
Fill in the application and pay the $35 (NYC, via City Clerk) to $40 (rest of state, via town or city clerk) fee. Have both Social Security numbers ready (non-citizens can usually give a passport or visa number), plus your parents' full names and your places of birth.
New York's waiting period: 24 hours. Apply at least a week before the ceremony so the wait never squeezes your date.
The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. New York allows self-uniting marriage, so an officiant is optional. See who can officiate below.
The signed license goes back to the City or Town Clerk within the time New York law allows. Because New York allows self-uniting marriage, the couple usually files it instead of an officiant. The county then records your marriage.
A short walkthrough of the documents and the clerk visit. Fees and offices differ by state, so match the details to the New York facts above.
Forever Newlywed on YouTube
First dance
You guys!!
Guests scan one QR code and upload from their phone browser, no app or account. Start free with 20 guest uploads, one-time plans from $49.
From Mom
Scan to join the album
No app, no account
UPLOADING
THE ALBUM
Example album
647 photos · 95 guests
SCAN TO TRY
pix.wedding/
your-wedding
At 18 or older you can marry without anyone's permission.
No one under 18 can marry in New York, even with parental consent or court approval. The ban has been in place since 2021.
Bring the final divorce decree or the former spouse's death certificate to the first visit. Ask the City or Town Clerk whether it needs a certified copy.
New York has no residency requirement, so couples from other states can apply at the City or Town Clerk with valid ID. The license only works for a ceremony inside New York.
Same-sex marriage is legal in New York, as in every state, since Obergefell v. Hodges (2015). The requirements are the same for every couple.
Foreign nationals can marry in New York with a valid passport as photo ID. Marrying does not change immigration status by itself, and documents in another language may need certified translations.
New York allows self-uniting marriage, so the two of you can solemnize the marriage without an officiant. The officiant card below has the details.
Start with 20 guest uploads free, no card. Paid plans run from $49 to $89 once, with unlimited guests.
For collecting every original
Most couples pick this
One-time payment, no subscription
For big guest lists
One payment. Yours to keep. No subscription. No renewals. No surprise charges.
Secure checkout. Polar, Apple Pay, Google Pay.
Money-back guarantee: if your guests never upload a single photo, you get 100% back. See how it works
Ordained ministers, priests, rabbis, and other clergy. Judges, justices, and magistrates of any court. Mayors and the governor. Written authorization from the city clerk can also be granted for specific ceremonies.
Officiant rules in every stateNew York requires a 24-hour waiting period after the license is issued, though a judge can waive it for applicants 17 or older, or for active-military deployment. At least one witness must be present at the ceremony. State law sets no minimum witness age, but ceremonies at the NYC City Clerk require a witness who is 18 or older with ID. New York banned marriage under 18 with no exceptions via Senate Bill S3086, signed July 22, 2021. New York Domestic Relations Law section 12 also carves out an explicit exception for Quakers/Friends and similarly self-solemnizing denominations to marry according to their own customs without a designated officiant.
Everything you need to make your wedding day stress-free and unforgettable.
Plan your reception seating visually.
Track RSVPs and dietary needs.
Turn your total into a category-by-category plan.
Plan your entire wedding day.
Count down the days to your big day.
Month-by-month planning checklist.
15+ games with rules, supplies, and timing.
15 creative alternatives guests enjoy.
Fees, waiting period, validity, ID, witnesses and residency for New York.
A New York marriage license costs $35 (NYC, via City Clerk) to $40 (rest of state, via town or city clerk). You pay it at the City or Town Clerk. Certified copies of the marriage certificate, which you need for a name change, can cost extra. Payment methods differ by office, so call ahead to check whether it takes cash, card or check.
Yes. New York's waiting period: 24 hours. Plan to apply at least one to two weeks before your ceremony.
A New York marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. The ceremony has to happen inside this window, or you reapply and pay the fee again.
Each partner needs a valid government photo ID, such as a US passport, a driver's license or state ID card, a US military ID, a permanent resident card or a foreign passport. Bring it to the City or Town Clerk, and check the office's own list before you go.
Yes. New York's rule: 1 witness. Witnesses usually need to be adults who can sign the license. Most couples ask the maid of honor and the best man.
No. New York does not require residency. Out-of-state couples can apply at the City or Town Clerk with the required ID, and the license works for a ceremony anywhere in New York.
