How to Get a Marriage License in North Carolina

I've had a few interesting questions concerning a NC marriage license. First of all, you must have a license
to legally marry in North Carolina and I do not issue the license.

Here are some things you need to know:
You do not have to be a resident of North Carolina to apply for a marriage license.
The license is valid for 60 days.
There is no waiting period; the license is issued immediately.
Blood tests are not required.

Where to apply and requirements for a NC Marriage License
The Bride and Groom must apply together at the Register of Deeds office in any county in North Carolina. Most offices are open 8:30 - 4:30 Monday - Friday. A social security card is required. Some offices accept other proof of social security number (tax return, pay stub, etc ...). Check with the individual office for specifics. A picture ID is required. The license is $60 cash (some offices only accept cash) and you both will sign the license at the time you obtain it.

If you are under 21 years old, you will need your birth certificate.

Divorced applicants must provide the month and year of their divorce. If there has been a divorce within the last 60 days, the state requires a copy of the divorce decree signed by the judge. I have found that some counties always require written proof of divorce, regardless of how long it has been since the divorce. Contact the Register of Deeds office in the county you plan on getting your license to verify their requirements.

Certified copies:
Immediately following your ceremony, the officiant and two witnesses must sign your marriage license. It is the officiant’s responsibility to return the completed license (within 10 days) to the Register of Deeds office where it was issued.

You will not automatically get a certified copy. If possible, pre-order your certified copies when you apply for your license. Some offices will not allow you to pre-order. In this case, you will receive a request form to mail after the wedding. The certified copies should arrive in 10 – 14 days after the request is made. Once you receive the certified copy, the bride should contact the Social Security Administration about applying for a new card. (You may need to make an appointment so it’s best to call ahead.) You will also need your certified copies before health insurance,  banking  or other financial accounts can be changed.

Beautiful Fall Weddings in North Carolina

I can’t believe that it’s been almost two months since I’ve updated my blog. Where does time go??

It’s been crazy busy. And no wonder, the mountains are so beautiful and this year was especially so. I was in Hot Springs two weeks ago and I don’t think I have ever seen the trees so full of color…

Just a little piece of advice…if you’re planning a fall wedding next year in the mountains of North Carolina start making your reservations immediately. The venues and vendors book up well in advance and you don’t want to be scrambling around at the last minute trying to pull everything together.

During the last couple of months I’ve had the good fortune of meeting some great people from various states and even had a couple from Canada stop by RiverMist to get married on their way to Florida.

Here are some photos and kind words from a few of the couples who were married this fall.

Victoria, We just got back from Florida today (it was a long drive :-) ). We had a great time in Florida, playing golf, shopping, swimming and exploring. Now it's back to the ole grind.Just wanted to drop you a line to tell you that our ceremony was truly surreal. We loved every minute of it. I kept reliving the event in the days after as it felt like a dream. The pictures really do us justice lol (must be the photographer). Tell Guy that all our friends comment on the great shots. Please thank him for making it truly memorable. The setting was just beautiful. Thanks to you both!!! Donna and Jacques

Donna picked up some flowers on the way so we hand tied her bouquet before her wedding. I keep ribbon and pins handy  and often use flowers from my own garden.

Victoria, I wanted to drop you a note to tell you again how much John and I loved the ceremony. It could not have been more perfect. The words you choose could not have better suited or better defined our relationship and how we feel about each other. Thank you for opening you home to us and making our day so special as we begin our lives together as man and wife. Please extend our gratitude to your husband for taking the beautiful pictures and to Glen for witnessing our marriage. Again, we just cannot find the words to thank you enough and express how happy you have made us! Warmest regards, Tammy and John

This was a first, styling the bride's hair!

Rev. Victoria,
I wanted to thank you again for the beautiful ceremony. We were just looking at our pictures that your husband took. They are very good pictures that we will treasure forever. Our wedding day was all that we had hoped for, a customized ceremony that was stress free. The day was magical for us both. Mr. and Mrs.

Dearest Victoria,

Just wanted to tell you how much Carl and I appreciated you overseeing our marriage. You made it so relaxing and peaceful for us both. You are a blessed person and we would recommend you to anyone. Our life and memories are going to be wonderful and you are a part of that, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS. May God Bless You and your family for he has ours. Take care and maybe we can stop by and visit someday soon. Sincerely, Carl and Christy

And I have to brag a little... my husband, Guy, is doing a great job with photos....

Tamara and Phillip Marry at Smoky Mountain Mansion in Robbinsville

Weddings just aren’t what they used to be… And aren’t we all glad!

I knew when I arrived at Smoky Mountain Mansion in Robbinsonville it was going to be a special wedding. The smile (and twinkle in Phillip’s eyes) was a sure sign that he was quite a character. And he later proved me correct!

He and Tamara traveled from Florida to the North Carolina mountains to celebrate their marriage with family and friends. He had told me earlier that they loved coming to NC to ride their motorcycles. And yes, motorcycles. Tamara has her own!

After talking with Phillip for a while (and learning about his wedding surprise), I went inside and inquired about meeting with Tamara. I was told that she had been crying all day. No matter how prepared, it’s not unusual for brides to have a ‘little’ meltdown on their wedding day. Tamara was surrounded by loving family and friends and she was finally able to put the finishing touches on her makeup. No more crying once the eye makeup goes on.

Guests were in for a treat as Tamara walked down the long aisle (wearing a dress handmade by a friend) to her groom. Phillip immediately kissed her and told her how beautiful she looked. By now, the attendants and many quests joined in with tears of their own. What a touching moment!

The tension was eased later in the ceremony when Phillip asked me if he could kiss Tamara. We weren’t even halfway through the ceremony but I’m all for kissing so I said ‘sure’. After he kissed her I asked if he wanted to kiss her again. And he did!

Now we were ready for the ring exchange and Phillip’s surprise. When I asked for the rings, Phillip presented Tamara with a plastic Disney princess ring. Everyone laughed. When I asked for the ring again, he presented her with yet another Disney ring.

It took three tries before Tamara was finally able to see her ‘real’ wedding ring. And she was so funny. I heard her tell Phillip after the ceremony that she wanted the other two as well.

I needed to head home so I didn’t stay for the reception. However, I did see some photos and it was quite a celebration. There were probably some tired feet after all the dancing!

Wonderful wedding memories….

Waterfall weddings in North Carolina

North Carolina, particularly Transylvania County, is well known for its beautiful waterfalls. Here are just a few of the more popular waterfalls.

Quite often I receive requests for waterfall weddings. I always remind couples that there are many things to consider when planning a waterfall wedding. First of all, most are not easily accessible. This can be a problem if you’re expecting elderly guests or guests who have physical limitations.

Also, some waterfalls are not suited for a large number of guests. And sometimes couples contact me, wanting to elope to a waterfall. In North Carolina two witnesses must be present for the marriage to be valid. This can be accomplished if a popular waterfall is chosen and you allow extra time for other guests to serve as witnesses.

Most importantly, like many outdoor locations, there is no rain site available for a waterfall wedding. I don’t mean to sound discouraging, just trying to offer some things to consider when planning a waterfall wedding.

I’m always up for an adventure and enjoy helping couples find the perfect location for their wedding. I love traveling throughout our beautiful state and am always looking for great locations for weddings. I’ll be happy to answer any questions and offer suggestions.

Beautiful wedding at P.A.R.I

So what is PARI, you might ask. It is absolutely one of the best kept secrets in North Carolina...that is if you're interested in science, especially astronomy. PARI, is an acronym for Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute and is located at a former NASA tracking station in Rosman, North Carolina. PARI is a non-profit foundation dedicated to providing hand-on educational and research opportunities for a broad cross-section of users in science, technology, engineering and math disciplines.

So… what does this have to do with weddings?? A lot if you’re Margaret and Greg. They had attended several lectures at PARI and loved the long range mountain views. When they started planning their wedding, PARI was their location of choice. Although many events have taken place on the grounds, this was the first request for a wedding. After some consideration, their request was granted and the wedding was planned.

Saturday was a beautiful day as we headed up to the ridge. Margaret and Greg were accompanied by their family and close friends. Well, almost all of their family. We were ready to start the ceremony when Margaret realized her brother-in-law was missing. Seems like he was having fun exploring the facility and no one could find him. Margaret was determined that he was going to share in their wedding day so off she went to search for him. She returned quickly, with her brother-in-law. Everyone was now present (including the wild turkeys) and the ceremony began.

You may be like Margaret and Greg and want a wedding that is a reflection of your personalities and interests.

If so, don’t settle for a traditional wedding. North Carolina provides many, many opportunities for unique weddings. Do the research. You will not be disappointed!

The Swag - A beautiful place to get married in North Carolina

Nichole and Timothy are looking toward the future together after a beautiful wedding at The Swag in Waynesville, NC.

Nichole and Timothy traveled from Michigan to marry in in North Carolina. Although they already had a cabin reserved in Bryson City they decided to have their wedding at The Swag after seeing photos on the internet. Sometimes photos can be a little misleading. This was not the case with The Swag and it is much more beautiful in person.
Nichole and Timothy wanted a ceremony that suited their personalities. They included the reading, 'These are the Hands' and wrote their own weddings vows, using selections from the samples that I provided.

They also included a special ring blessing. As the rings are passed over each element they are blessed with earth, wind, fire and air. I love this blessing and have some very special things that I use. The vessel I use for water was made in Poland and was a gift from a dear friend. When she gave it to me she said that she didn't know what I would do with it but it had a special purpose. And indeed it does!

During the wedding some of the guests from the inn were hiking nearby. They stood at a distance during the ceremony. Afterwards they came over to congratulate the newlyweds. One of the couples proudly told us they were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. I asked if they had any words of advice. He said something about always saying 'yes, dear'.... Everyone laughed!

It was very obvious that Timothy and Nichole are very much in love and I wish them 50+ years of hapiness together!

RiverMist Wedding

I just have to post about a recent wedding at RiverMist! This is way overdue but between weddings and summer family outings it has been a very busy end of the summer.

Racheal contacted me several months ago about having a small wedding. She told me that we offered exactly what she was looking for. She also shared a little about her relationship with Neal. They had been dating four years. Which isn’t too unusual but…. the entire time has been long distance. She has been completing her college degree while Neal, stationed at Fort Bragg, has been traveling around the world (yes, including Iraq).

Their wedding day was the hottest of the year and the temperature had cooled off to a mere 105 degrees at the time of their wedding.

Rachael drove from Georgia & Neal drove from Fayetteville. And what a delight to meet them! She arrived carrying a vase of two dozen roses (a surprise from Neal, who is quite the romantic). I pulled out my florist supplies and went to work. We decided on five roses for her bouquet. One for each year they had been together and one for their wedding day!

Just look at this fun couple. After their wedding they headed to Asheville to enjoy their honeymoon which included sky diving, gem mining and white water rafting. I’m sure their goodbyes came way too soon. However, the separation won’t be long. In December Rachael will complete her second degree and will join Neal, hopefully in North Carolina.

I truly want everyone to have a wonderful wedding experience and it made me so very happy to receive this email from Rachael:

Hi Victoria,
I received the written ceremony, so thank you for sending it. I read it a couple days after the ceremony, and am so happy with all of the beautiful words you said, the prayers, and our vows! I feel like ours was unique and special compared to the "average" wedding ceremony.

I also just want to thank you in general for making our ceremony possible (and keeping the most special day of my life OUT of the courthouse!!). I wouldn't have had it any other way. The pictures your husband took were beautiful -- they looked professional!! -- and everyone loves them. Tell him thank you for us! And the basket you prepared couldn't have been more perfect.

I hope more couples, especially those like us who don't have the resources for a big wedding, are able to find you and have as great of an experience as we did!

God bless you and your family! We will certainly keep in touch!
Racheal & Neal