Help! Same sex to wed in new york or cali

[pinayanne27 8]

Hello! We are both girls and my fiance lives in Florida. Same sex marriage is not legal there so we are still looking for the right place to get married. We just want to have a simple wedding ceremony first due to lack of time if ever we pass my k1.

1. Where is the most convenient state for us to get married?

2. What is the process? Do we need to reserve it now or once i'm already in the US?

[Jon and Krissy 452]

Hello! We are both girls and my fiance lives in Florida. Same sex marriage is not legal there so we are still looking for the right place to get married. We just want to have a simple wedding ceremony first due to lack of time if ever we pass my k1.

1. Where is the most convenient state for us to get married?

2. What is the process? Do we need to reserve it now or once i'm already in the US?

Hi,

I don't have a complete answer for you. I'm sure someone will chime in with a definitive answer shortly. In the meantime, as starting point, here are the states that currently allow same-sex marriage:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_the_United_States#States_that_license_same-sex_marriage_.28table.29

I *believe* most of those states allow out of state folks to marry. Your best bet would be to pick a couple of states from that list where you'd like to marry, then give a county clerk in that state a call and pose your question.

You would not need to reserve anything now.

By the time you are here, it is entirely possible this will be moot - I expect the Supreme Court to hear a case within the next two sessions that will ultimately make same-sex marriage uniformly legal in all 50 states. They are going to have to reconcile contradictory Circuit Court decisions pretty quickly, it's just a matter of whether that will be this year or next year, IMO.

Best of luck, and congratulations.

[sharky-rex 76]

You might want to look into wait times for each state. We're getting married in New York and we'll have to go a day early to apply for the license.

[Ryan H 3,819]

Moved from K1 Process & Procedures to Off Topic; topic is about wedding planning and not about the K1 process itself.

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

I can't speak to other states, but I just got married in Massachusetts, and neither myself nor my wife were residents of the state. It had a three day waiting period--we signed up on the tenth and got married on the thirteenth. We had no major problems and the marriage license is identical to the one used by mixed sex couples.

[pinayanne27 8]

We are choosing between New York and California. But if there are other states that are more convenient then it would be best for us.

Does all state require witnesses for same sex marriages?

You might want to look into wait times for each state. We're getting married in New York and we'll have to go a day early to apply for the license.

How long will you be staying in the New york? And did you make an appointment/schedule online?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Many states require a witness for any marriage. Most states also have a waiting period between license application and marriage, to prevent getting married when they are drunk or otherwise confused or incapacitated. But there is no need to book anything months in advance.

In NY you can get married in their renovated City Hall and it is beautiful in there. You don't make an appointment, as I recall, you just show up and take a number, for both license and the marriage itself.

You could also arrange a ceremony outside of City hall with an officiant, in a park or wherever you like. That would require some additional coordination.

Edited March 30, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[sharky-rex 76]

How long will you be staying in the New york? And did you make an appointment/schedule online?

Two or three days, I think. We haven't made any preparations except looking up the documents needed so I know what to bring.

Thanks for the info, Harpa. We'll check out the City Hall

[Erica & L 52]

My wife and I drove up to Hagerstown , Maryland all the way from Alabama to get married (closest, cheapest and fasted option) compared to some of the other counties and states I looked at. We got the license and there was a 48 hour waiting period before it was activated. $60 dollars in total. Married. No issues.

Best to weigh out your options, look at prices and waiting times. I know in DC, for example, there's a 5 day waiting period.

[C-S 0]

we live in Philly and we're planning to go Delaware in 2 weeks to get married I think it might be smoother in Dealware compares to NY or Cali

[Darnell 8,479]

when yer planning this stuff (back at post #1) make certain about the state residency requirements (or lack thereof) when studying the state websites, remembering it's the state law that's governing this bit and your ability to marry there.