Find my recommended Maryland Wedding venues and information about obtaining marriage licenses in Maryland and Washington D.C.

Obtaining a Marriage License

In the State of Maryland, you must to go the Clerk of the Court for the county that the ceremony is to be performed in. For example: if you live in Montgomery County and will be having the ceremony in Carroll County, you must have the license issued by the Clerk of the Court for Carroll County.

Once the license is issued, it is valid for a period of six months. There is however, a TWO DAY waiting period from the time the license is issued. No valid ceremony can be performed within that two day waiting period. Once you receive the license, you will notice that there are three copies in the packet. The first copy is the one filled out by the Officiant and presented to the couple after the ceremony. The second copy (usually green) is completed by the Officiant and returned to the Clerk of the Court within 5 days of performing the ceremony. The third copy is for the Officiant’s records.

In Washington, DC, the couple must go to the Court House and obtain the Marriage License. When filling out the information, The District of Columbia requires that the name of the Officiant is supplied and the name is printed out on the license. Once this has been issued, no other clergy can perform the ceremony. If the couple resides in another state, they can fill out an online application for the Marriage License. The Officiant can then file that application and obtain the license for the couple. There is an extra charge of $150.00 for the filing fee.

Certified Copies

Once the ceremony has been performed and the license signed, the couple is “married” according to the laws of the State. However, many government agencies, such as Social Security and the MVA as well as insurance companies will not accept the signed copy of the Marriage License as proof of marriage. Once the green copy has been returned to the Clerk of the Court and has been filed, the couple must obtain a CERTIFIED COPY issued by the Clerk of the Court.

Recommended Maryland Wedding Venues

Baltimore, MD

•  Admiral Fell Inn, Baltimore, MD
• Baltimore Museum of Industry, Baltimore, MD 
• The Belvedere, Baltimore, MD
• Chase Court, Baltimore, MD
• George Peabody Library, Baltimore, MD
• Mt. Washington Mill Dye House, Baltimore, MD
• Herrington on the Bay, Baltimore, MD
• Westminster Hall, Baltimore, MD 

Maryland Eastern Shore

• Chesapeake Bay Beach Club, Kent Island, MD
• The Oaks, Easton, MD 
• Tidewater Inn, Easton, MD 
• Silver Swan Bayside, Stevensville, MD

Pasadena Waterfront Locations

• Celebrations at the Bay, Pasadena, Md
• Maryland Yacht Club, Pasadena, MD 
• Kurtz’s Beach, Pasadena, MD 

Frederick, MD

• Ceresville Mansion, Frederick, MD
• Strong Mansion at Sugarloaf Mountain, Frederick, MD

Westminster, Taneytown, MD

• Antrim 1844, Taneytown, MD 
• Carroll County Farm Museum, Westminster, MD
• Westminster Riding Club, Westminster, MD

Additional Maryland Wedding Locations

• Circle D Farm, Woodbine, MD
• The Cloisters, Lutherville, MD 
• Elkridge Furnace Inn, Elkridge, MD 
• The Gramercy Mansion, Stevenson, MD 
• Grey Rock Mansion, Pikesville, MD
• Historic London Town and Gardens, Edgewater, MD 
• Hunt Valley Country Club, Hunt Valley, MD 
• The Liriodendron, Bel Air, MD 
• The Mansion at Valley Country Club, Towson, MD 
• Ostertag Vistas, Myersville, MD 
• Overhills Mansion, Catonsville, MD 
• Rockfield Manor, Bel Air, MD 
• Savage Mill Manor, Savage Mill, MD 
• Swan Harbor Farm, Havre de Grace, MD 
• Turf Valley Resort, Ellicott City, MD 
• Vandiver Inn, Havre de Grace, MD
• Wisp Resort, McHenry, MD 
• Wye Branch Manor, Centreville, MD