How to Get Married in Washington State
To get legally married in Washington, you need four things: a valid Washington marriage license, an authorized officiant, two witnesses, and a spoken declaration that you take each other as spouses.
At Elope 253, every wedding package includes an ordained officiant, a meaningful ceremony, marriage-license signing and filing, and a cheerful downtown Tacoma chapel that is ready when you are.
What Do You Need to Get Married in Washington State?
Washington marriage requirements are simple. For a legal wedding ceremony, you need:
A Washington Marriage License
Apply through any Washington county. The license cannot be used until three days after you apply and expires 60 days after it is issued.
An Authorized Officiant
Your ceremony must be conducted by someone authorized to solemnize marriages under Washington law.
Two Witnesses
At least two witnesses must attend your ceremony and sign your marriage certificate.
Your Declaration
Each of you must declare, in front of your officiant and witnesses, that you take the other person as your spouse.
And of course, you will need your favorite person.
How to Get Married in Washington: Step by Step
Get Your Washington Marriage License
Before your ceremony, you and your partner must apply for a marriage license through a Washington county auditor. You do not have to live in Washington to get married here, and a license issued by one Washington county may be used for a ceremony anywhere within the state.
Washington has a mandatory three-day waiting period. For example, if you apply on Monday, Thursday is the earliest day you may legally marry. Once issued, your license is valid for 60 days, so apply early enough for the waiting period but not so early that it expires before your wedding.
Washington’s three-day waiting period and 60-day marriage-license window are established in RCW 26.04.180.
Helpful Official Resource
Pierce County Auditor’s Office has a great informational video on how to obtain your marriage license.
2. Choose an Authorized Wedding Officiant
An authorized officiant must conduct your wedding ceremony. Washington allows certain judges and judicial officers, licensed or ordained ministers, and similar religious officials to solemnize marriages.
At Elope 253, you do not have to find your own officiant or create a ceremony from scratch. Every package includes an ordained officiant and a warm, meaningful ceremony. Your wedding does not have to be long, formal, or religious to be both legal and memorable.
The full list of authorized officiants appears in RCW 26.04.050.
3. Bring Two Witnesses
Washington requires at least two witnesses to attend your ceremony and sign the legal marriage certificate. Because counties provide differing guidance about witness ages, Elope 253 requires both legal witnesses to be 18 or older. Your witnesses may be friends or family members, or you can ask us about professional witness options.
Want to include a younger family member? A child or teenager may sign a separate commemorative marriage certificate as a special keepsake.
Washington’s ceremony, declaration and witness requirements appear in RCW 26.04.070.
Secret elopement?
Planning a private elopement without guests? You may be new to the area, visiting the Pacific Northwest, or keeping your wedding a surprise. Elope 253 can provide professional witnesses—our resident love geeks—to help make your marriage official.
4. Make a Declaration
Washington does not require a particular ceremony format or a set of traditional wedding vows. The one required moment is the declaration: each of you must indicate, in front of your officiant and two witnesses, that you take the other person as your spouse.
That declaration can be a simple “I do” in response to your officiant or part of personal vows. Rings, readings, prayers, music, stories, and other traditions are optional. The rest of the ceremony is yours to make meaningful.
Get the Marriage License. We’ll Take It From There.
Your part is simple: obtain a valid Washington marriage license, choose your Elope 253 package, and show up with your person and your favorite people.
We’ll provide the decorated downtown Tacoma chapel, ordained officiant and ceremony. We’ll also guide everyone through signing the paperwork and return your completed marriage certificate to the county that issued it.
You bring the license. We’ll help you make it a wedding.
-
No. Washington requires a three-day waiting period before a marriage license may be used, and the waiting period cannot be skipped. If your license is already valid and Elope 253 has an opening, however, a same-day ceremony may be possible.
-
No. Washington residency is not required. Your ceremony must take place within Washington State when you use a Washington marriage license.
-
No. A marriage license issued by any Washington county may be used for a ceremony anywhere in Washington. You may get your license from King, Thurston, Snohomish, Pierce, or another Washington county and use it at Elope 253 in Tacoma.
-
Washington does not require a particular ceremony format or set of traditional vows. However, each partner must declare in front of the officiant and at least two witnesses that they take the other person as their spouse.
Your declaration can be brief and straightforward or included within personal vows. Your ceremony does not have to be long, formal, or religious to be legally valid and meaningful.
Washington Wedding Questions
-
A Washington marriage license is valid for 60 days after it is issued. Your ceremony must take place after the three-day waiting period and before the license expires.
-
Washington State requires at least two witnesses to attend the wedding ceremony. After the ceremony, both witnesses sign the marriage certificate along with the couple and the officiant.
For ceremonies at Elope 253, both witnesses signing the legal marriage certificate must be at least 18 years old.
-
Authorized officiants include certain judges and judicial officers, licensed or ordained ministers, priests, imams, rabbis, and similar officials of religious organizations. Every Elope 253 package includes an ordained officiant.
-
Yes. After your ceremony, we complete the officiant section and return the signed marriage certificate to the Washington county that issued it. Marriage-license signing and filing are included in every current Elope 253 wedding package.
Washington law gives the officiant responsibility for returning the completed marriage certificate. See RCW 26.04.090.
-
Washington law requires at least two witnesses but does not specify a minimum witness age. Because guidance can vary by county, Elope 253 requires the two witnesses signing the legal marriage certificate to be at least 18 years old.
If you would like a child or teenager to participate for sentimental reasons, they may sign a separate commemorative marriage certificate. That certificate is a keepsake and is not part of your legal marriage paperwork.
Marriage information last reviewed July 2026. Reviewed by Rochelle Bergstrom, owner and wedding officiant at Elope 253. Since 2018, Elope 253 has helped more than 1,300 couples get married in Washington State.
Laws, fees, and county application procedures can change. Confirm current application details with the Washington county issuing your marriage license. This page provides general information and is not legal advice.