Florida Marriage License Information

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A valid Florida marriage license is required to be legally married in Florida. The marriage license can be issued at any County Clerk’s office in Florida; it doesn’t have to be the county where you are getting married. A Florida marriage license can be issued as early as 60 days before the wedding. For Florida residents there is a three-day waiting period after getting the license before you can be married. If a premarital on-line counseling course is completed, you can get married on the same day you get your license. Out-of-state residents can be married the same day that they get the Florida marriage license. When applying for your marriage license both parties must be present.

We do offer a convenient Florida mail away license service where you can “Show up and Get Married.” No going to the Courthouse!!! This is extremely popular for families and couples that travel to Clearwater or St George Island Florida to get marriage and don’t want to spend their time going to a courthouse.

Witnesses are not required. There is an optional spot for 2 witnesses to sign the marriage license but this is not required. If you truly want to elope with just you and your fiancé- you can 🙂

The Florida marriage license must be presented on the day of the wedding for notary or minister to complete. Whoever performs your ceremony would send the license back to the county where the license was issued. The county will then record your marriage and send you a certified copy of your marriage license. The certified copy of the marriage license is what you would need to change your name.

Game day Wedding Tallahassee Elopement Ceremony

Game day Wedding Tallahassee Elopement Ceremony

News

Elena and Ben traveled to Tallahassee for the Louisville vs FSU football game….and to get married.

Elena graduated from FSU and Ben graduated from Louisville. Being that both of their alma matters were playing they thought it would be the perfect time to get married. Elena contacted me to help setup and organize their perfect Game Day Wedding Tallahassee Elopement Ceremony.

We had fun working together to organize details and come up with a game plan for their Tallahassee elopement ceremony. Home game weekends in Tallahassee have a lot going on so I want to make sure we had a plan in place and everyone was on the same page. Elena asked me for suggestions on hotels and restaurants…and I happily offered my Tallahassee favorites.

The football game was schedule for 12pm so to make plans less crazy and keep the ceremony sweet simple and intimate, we decided to have their wedding ceremony the day before the football game. To keep with the Tallahassee elopement theme we planned the ceremony at the Observatory on the top of the State Capitol building!! I arranged for a photographer to meet us at the Capitol and capture their special moment.

Love knows no heights...so might as well get married at the highest point in the state capitol.

Love knows no heights…so might as well get married at the highest point in the state capitol.

That Friday I met Ben and Elena outside the State Capitol building downtown and we went up to the top of the Capitol, 22 floors….we took the elevator 😉

22nd stories up to the Observatory and ready to get married!

22nd stories up to the Observatory and ready to get married!

The Observatory is the highest point in Tallahassee and you can see everything. We had the place to ourselves so it was perfect for their intimate elopement ceremony. I officiate a sweet civil ceremony and pronounced them husband and wife. We had fun! After the ceremony Ben and Elena were heading off to a celebratory dinner.

Officiating Ben and Elena's wedding ceremony in the Observatory at the top of the State Capitol.

Officiating Ben and Elena’s wedding ceremony in the Observatory at the top of the State Capitol.

On Saturday before the game the photographer met Ben and Elena to take some fun shots of them together outside the stadium.

Game day wedding shirts

Check out their sweet game day wedding shirts!

FSU won the game, but Ben won the love of his life so I’d say that’s a pretty great game day weekend!

Newly wed

The newly weds getting ready for the FSU vs Louisville game 

Ben wrote me and said, “Thanks you Amanda, and thank you very much for all your help this past weekend! You made the whole thing more fun via less stress!”

Makes me so happy to work with nice couples like Ben and Elena to create a ceremony that is perfect for them. All weddings don’t need to be the same and I’m always excited to create Tallahassee elopement wedding plans– if you have an elopement idea contact me and to put it together!

Tallahassee Wedding Ceremony at Lichgate on High Rd

Tallahassee Wedding Ceremony at Lichgate on High Rd

News

I recently officiated a wonderful Tallahassee Wedding Ceremony at Lichgate on High Rd.

Everything about this wedding was tailored to fit Will and Michelle’s personalities. Michelle and Will have been together for 13 years and were excited to take the next set in their relationship. They asked me for a personalized ceremony that told their unique love story, had some humor, and was meaningful. I worked with Michelle to put together the perfect ceremony and was excited to perform it for them on their wedding day.

Their wedding ceremony was held under the beautiful iconic oak tree at Lichgate on High Rd. Will and Michelle and the bridesmaids and groomsmen stood on opposite sides than you would “typically” see; it was cool. The ceremony included Michelle and Will reading a poem by E.E. Cummings that is very special to them. They feel that the poem honors their journey of falling in love from afar and being inspired to do crazy things for the sake of love – like moving across the country or asking one’s parents to let a stranger from online move in. They read alternating stanzas of the poem. It was like nothing I had ever seen before- very special, heartfelt, and perfect for their relationship.

Officiating Michelle and Will's Picture by Polished Arrow Photography.

Officiating Michelle and Will’s Tallahassee Wedding Ceremony at Lichgate on High Rd. This beautiful picture was taken by Polished Arrow Photography.

After the ceremony guests were invited to enjoy an ice cream hour. The Lofty Pursuits ice cream truck was there serving delicious homemade ice cream while Michelle and Will took pictures.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Ice cream hour at Michelle and Will's Tallahassee Wedding Ceremony at Lichgate on High Rd.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Ice cream hour at Michelle and Will’s Tallahassee Wedding Ceremony at Lichgate on High Rd.

Got some ice cream after the ceremony- yum yum!

Got some ice cream after the ceremony- yum yum!

Polished Arrow Photographer did an amazing job capturing Michelle and Will’s special day– check out more of their wedding pictures here.

Right after the ceremony it rained for about 10 minutes! This is me with the newly married Michelle and Will taking cover from the quick rain.

Right after the ceremony it rained for about 10 minutes! This is me with the newly married Michelle and Will taking cover from the quick rain.

Will and Michelle, may you cherish each other in the journey ahead as you go through life together. Thank you for allowing me to be your Tallahassee wedding ceremony officiant!

What a romantic picture by Polished Arrow Photography.

What a romantic picture by Polished Arrow Photography.

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Rainy Day Tallahassee Elopement at Lafayette Heritage Trail Park

Rainy Day Tallahassee Elopement at Lafayette Heritage Trail Park

News

Josh and Brinnae decided to ditch their big South Florida wedding plans and elope in Tallahassee.  Josh called me asking if this was something I could help them with and I, of course, said YES!

We came up with the perfect Tallahassee elopement plan. They wanted to have the ceremony someplace pretty but also on the way to the airport so I suggested Lafayette Heritage Trail Park. Our plan was to meet on June 26th at the beautiful Lafayette Heritage Tail park in Tallahassee. We’d walk out onto one of the fingers and have a short and sweet ceremony. Then they’d take some pictures; I arranged to have a photographer, Lance Oliver, there to capture their Tallahassee Elopement at Lafayette Heritage Trail Park. This was going to take about 30-40 minutes then they’d jump in their car and head to the airport for a celebratory weekend getaway! Great plan, right?!

When June 26th arrive it was RAINING and RAINING!!! The photographer even called me asking, “Are they still up for this?” I called Brinnae to confirm and she said, “Yes! Rain or no rain this is happening!” So the plan went on! I told everyone to bring umbrellas and cross their fingers for a quick break in the rain.

We met in the parking lot and it stopped raining!!! We quickly walked out on to the nearest finger to have the ceremony. Because of the rain their was only 1 other fisherman out on the finger. It was really a perfect moment and spot for a Tallahassee Elopement at Lafayette Heritage Trail Park.

Officiating Josh and Brinnae's ceremony.

Officiating Josh and Brinnae’s ceremony.

Josh was so sweet and had surprised Brinnae with a pretty bridal bouquet of flowers, a small wedding cake, and champagne. We had the ceremony and they loved it. Sweet, simple, and stress-free! They took lots of pictures then we went back to the picnic area for their cake and champagne toast. After that they got in their car and head to the airport for their getaway.

Cake cutting

Cutting their tiny beautiful cake.

Josh and Brinnae are a wonderful couple and I loved helping them with their Tallahassee Elopement at Lafayette Heritage Trail Park. I often remind couples that your weddings is your day! Try not to get too wrapped up in all the craziness and remember to enjoy it. For Josh and Brinnae this Tallahassee Elopement at Lafayette Heritage Trail Park was exactly that.  Josh and Brinnae, cheers to MANY years of happiness.

Me with the newlyweds!

Me with the newlyweds at their Tallahassee elopement at Lafayette Heritage Trail Park

University Center Club Wedding Ceremony Tallahassee

University Center Club Wedding Ceremony Tallahassee

Music

I love all things wedding; especially wedding ceremonies. I also love Florida State University. So when Ryan and Danielle asked me to officiate their University Center Club Wedding Ceremony Tallahassee overlooking the Florida State University stadium, I was SUPER excited!!!

Ryan and Danielle are a great couple and were so much fun to work with. We decided to incorporate their fun young loving personalities into their wedding ceremony.  Danielle and Ryan both graduated from FSU so they were really excited to have a University Center Club Wedding Ceremony Tallahassee.

Legally married and SO excited!

Legally married and SO excited!

The reception was held inside the University Center Club and the ceremony was outside on the patio. The ceremony chairs were placed so guests looked out onto the Tallahassee skyline and behind them was the football field. It was a really neat way to incorporate their love for FSU and Tallahassee into the wedding and ceremony.

View of the FSU football field

View of the FSU football field

Guests view during Ryan and Danielle's University Center Club Wedding Ceremony Tallahassee

Guests view during Ryan and Danielle’s University Center Club Wedding Ceremony Tallahassee

Danielle’s Dad walked her down the aisle. Being that their wedding was Mother’s Day, May 10, I started the ceremony started off with a welcome then a surprise thank you to their Mom’s. They presented them each with a rose and both Mom’s were so surprised and touched! The ceremony continued on with a little story about Danielle and Ryan’s love and adventure in life which I segwayed into a unity beer ceremony. I had seen the unity beer ceremony online but had never had a couple want to do so I was really excited that Ryan and Danielle wanted to incorporate this into their ceremony. While backpacking through Europe they had a drink where with half Sprite and half beer so this is what we did for their unity beer ceremony.

Unity beer ceremony

Unity beer ceremony

Danielle's bridesmaids wore black dress with shoes that match the flowers they held.

Danielle’s bridesmaids wore black dress with shoes that match the flowers they held.

After the ceremony, guests went inside UCC to get out of the heat and family and bridal party went to take pictures outside the stadium.

Me with the newly weds!

Me getting an FSU picture with the newly weds!

I always encourage couples to have fun with their wedding ceremony and it makes me so happy when a couple like Danielle and Ryan truly do have fun and enjoy the ceremony.

Go Seminoles!!

Go Seminoles!!

 

Tallahassee Wedding Ceremony at the Big Bend Girl Scout Camp

Tallahassee Wedding Ceremony at the Big Bend Girl Scout Camp

News

On March 7, 2015 I officiated Brittany and Will’s Tallahassee wedding ceremony at the Big Bend Girl Scout Camp. It was one for the books! It is probably one of the most fun weddings I’ve ever witnessed. They had everything from corn hole to ping pong to a live band!

When Brittany contacted me about officiating their wedding at the Girl Scout Camp I was a bit confused. She explained that they had rented the entire camp ground and everyone was going to stay overnight. FUN!!!

This is the sign you see when entering the Girl Scout Camp.

This is the sign you see when entering the Girl Scout Camp.

On the day of their wedding the weather was PERFECT for their outdoor Tallahassee wedding ceremony and wedding camping extravaganza. Brittany and her bridesmaids arrived in a mega RV. She was then brought down to the ceremony spot in a golf cart. It was so cute.

Bride and bridesmaids arrived in this RV

Bride and bridesmaids arrived in this RV.

Bringing Brittany down to the wedding ceremony

Bringing Brittany down to the wedding ceremony

The camp ground was cover with games for guests to enjoy: ping pong, ring toss, corn hole, and more. There was a fire pit, a band, monogrammed beer cups, just to name a few.

Games and fun at Brittany and Wills Tallahassee Wedding Ceremony

Games and fun at Brittany and Wills Tallahassee Wedding Ceremony

The ceremony spot was decorated with a white isle runner, chairs, and white clothe drapes. It was beautiful. Being that Brittany and Will are a fun couple their ceremony vows were fun and humorous. Everyone laughed and enjoyed the ceremony.

A beautiful, yet, fun and humorous wedding ceremony

A beautiful, yet, fun and humorous wedding ceremony.

After the ceremony family and friends were ready to enjoy drinks, food, dancing, games, fire pit, and camping! It was wonderfully planned idea for a wedding ceremony and I am grateful to have been a part of it.

My friend, Brett Svenson, was their photographer so you can see more pictures here: http://www.svensonimages.com/brittanyandwill