Denver City Hall Wedding

At a Glance

What Makes a Denver Courthouse Wedding Special

Colorado is one of only two U.S. jurisdictions where couples can legally marry themselves. No officiant standing between you, no witnesses required, no courthouse ceremony needed. You and your partner sign the marriage license, exchange vows in whatever way feels right, and you’re legally married. That’s self-solemnization, and it makes Denver one of the most flexible places in the country to get a civil marriage.

A Denver courthouse wedding can cost as little as $30, which covers just the marriage license fee from the Denver County Clerk and Recorder. There’s no waiting period, so you can pick up your license and get married the same day. You don’t need to be a Colorado resident. And your marriage license works anywhere in the state, meaning you could complete your paperwork at the clerk’s office in the morning and exchange vows on a Rocky Mountain trail that afternoon.

For elopement couples flying in from out of state, the combination of no residency requirement, no waiting period, and self-solemnization means you can plan your entire Denver elopement in a single day.

Step by Step: How to Get Married in Denver

Getting legally married in Denver is a two-part process: get the marriage license, then hold your ceremony. With no waiting period in Colorado, both can happen on the same day.

1. Complete the online marriage license pre-application. Visit denvergov.org and fill out the application before your appointment. This saves time at the Denver County Clerk and Recorder’s office. The application is available in English and Spanish.

2. Book your appointment at the clerk’s office. Appointments are required. Book online at denvergov.org up to 7 days in advance. Slots fill quickly during peak wedding season (May through September), so don’t wait until the last minute.

3. Visit the Denver County Clerk’s office together. Both partners must appear in person at the same time. Bring your valid government-issued photo IDs and your pre-application confirmation. The office is at 200 W. 14th Ave., Denver, CO 80204. (This address changed in December 2025. The old Colfax Avenue location is no longer correct for marriage license services. Confirm the current address at denvergov.org before your visit.)

4. Pay the $30 marriage license fee. The Denver County Clerk’s office accepts cash, check, and credit card.

5. Receive your Denver County marriage license. Your license is valid immediately with no waiting period. It stays valid for 35 days, giving you just over a month to hold your ceremony.

6. Hold your wedding ceremony. Choose your ceremony option: self-solemnize (just the two of you, anywhere in Colorado), have an ordained friend or family member officiate, hire a professional wedding officiant, or arrange a civil ceremony with a judge at the courthouse. See the Ceremony Details section below for each option.

7. Sign the marriage license. After your ceremony, both spouses sign the license. Witnesses can also sign if present, but Colorado law does not require them.

8. Return the signed marriage license within 63 days. Drop it off at the clerk’s office during business hours, or use the drop box at the corner of 14th Ave. and Bannock St. (checked daily during business hours). Late returns may incur fees.

Marriage License Details

Documents You’ll Need for Your Denver Marriage License

Both partners need to bring:

• Valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, U.S. passport, state ID, or military ID)
• Social Security numbers (if available)
• If previously married: the exact date and location of your divorce or your former spouse’s death

No birth certificates, no blood tests, no proof of Colorado residency.

Denver Marriage License Fee

The Denver County marriage license costs $30, among the lowest marriage license fees in the country for a major city. (Verify the current fee at denvergov.org, as government fees can change.)

Payment accepted: cash, check, or credit card.

Where to Apply for a Denver Marriage License

Denver County Clerk and Recorder’s Office 200 W. 14th Ave., Denver, CO 80204

Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Closed on city holidays.

(The clerk’s office moved to this address in December 2025. If you see the old address at 201 W. Colfax Ave. listed elsewhere online, that location no longer handles marriage license services. Always check denvergov.org for the current address.)

Absentee Option for Out-of-State Couples

If one partner can’t travel to Denver, they may be absent from the appointment with a notarized absentee affidavit and a copy of their photo ID. The other partner must still appear in person at the Denver County Clerk’s office.

Marriage License Validity Period

Your Colorado marriage license is valid for 35 days from the date it’s issued. After your wedding ceremony, the signed license must be returned to the clerk’s office within 63 days of your marriage date, or late fees may apply.

Ordering Certified Marriage Certificate Copies

Certified copies of your marriage certificate cost $1.25 each from the Denver County Clerk. Order several: you’ll need them for legal name changes with the Social Security Administration, your bank, your employer, and the DMV.

Ceremony Details

Option 1: Self-Solemnization (Colorado’s Unique Advantage)

This is what sets a Denver courthouse wedding apart from nearly every other city in the country. Colorado law allows you and your partner to marry yourselves. No officiant needed. No witnesses required. No specific words or rituals mandated by law.

After you receive your marriage license from the Denver County Clerk, you and your partner exchange vows in whatever form you choose. You sign the license. You return it to the clerk’s office. You’re legally married.

Your self-solemnization ceremony can happen anywhere in Colorado. In your hotel room downtown. At Civic Center Park. On a hiking trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. At a restaurant over dinner in LoDo. There are no location restrictions, no time-of-day requirements, and no rules about what you say to each other.

Self-solemnized marriages are fully legally recognized across all 50 states. This isn’t symbolic; it’s a binding legal marriage with the same standing as any traditional ceremony.

For couples who want an intimate, private moment without an audience or a stranger reading from a script, self-solemnization is the reason to choose Denver.

Option 2: Ordained Friend or Family Member

Any ordained minister, judge, magistrate, or person ordained online can legally officiate your Colorado wedding. If you have a friend or family member who’s comfortable leading the ceremony, they can get ordained through an online ministry and perform your marriage at no additional cost beyond the $30 license fee.

Option 3: Professional Wedding Officiant

Denver has a strong market for professional wedding officiants and micro-wedding packages. Packages that include an officiant and wedding photography start around $1,300. If you want someone experienced to lead your ceremony but don’t need a full wedding production, this is a solid middle ground.

Option 4: Civil Ceremony with a Judge

A judge-performed civil ceremony at the Denver courthouse is available, though scheduling varies. (The estimated cost is $80 to $200 in addition to the marriage license fee, but this figure comes from a single source and is unverified. Contact the Denver County Clerk’s office directly for current judge ceremony pricing and availability.)

Photography and Guest Tips for Your Denver Wedding

Do You Need Witnesses for a Denver Courthouse Wedding?

No. Colorado law does not require witnesses for any type of marriage ceremony, including self-solemnized marriages. If you want witnesses to attend and sign your marriage certificate, up to 2 people can join you at the clerk’s office appointment.

Best Wedding Photo Locations Near the Denver Clerk’s Office

After your appointment or self-solemnization ceremony, these Denver spots work well for wedding photos:

• Civic Center Park sits directly adjacent to the clerk’s office at 200 W. 14th Ave. Greek-style colonnades, open lawns, and a clear view of the Colorado State Capitol building. Walking distance from your appointment.
• Colorado State Capitol on East Colfax Avenue. The gold dome and sweeping granite steps create a classic setting for courthouse wedding portraits. A short walk from the clerk’s office.
• Any scenic Colorado location. If you’re self-solemnizing, your ceremony and photos can happen at any location in the state. Popular choices include Rocky Mountain National Park, Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and trails along the South Platte River.

Photography Inside the Denver Clerk’s Office

There is no publicly available information about whether professional photographers are permitted inside the clerk’s office during marriage license appointments. If ceremony-day photography during your appointment matters to you, call the Denver County Clerk’s office ahead of time to ask about their current policy.

Practical Tips for Your Denver Courthouse Wedding

Confirm the clerk’s office address before you go. The Denver County Clerk and Recorder’s office relocated in December 2025. The current address is 200 W. 14th Ave., Denver, CO 80204. The old Colfax Avenue location no longer processes marriage licenses. Check denvergov.org for the most current address and directions.

Book your appointment early. Slots fill fast during peak wedding season, especially May through September and around popular dates like Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve. Appointments open up to 7 days in advance, so set a reminder to book as soon as new slots become available.

Complete the online pre-application. Fill out the marriage license application at denvergov.org before your appointment day. This step is required for a smooth, efficient visit.

Consider self-solemnization for maximum flexibility. You don’t need to coordinate schedules with an officiant, find willing witnesses, or hold your ceremony on the same day you get your license. You have 35 days to get married, and you can do it anywhere in Colorado.

If Denver appointments are fully booked, try a neighboring county. Your marriage license doesn’t have to come from Denver County. Jefferson County, Adams County, Douglas County, and Arapahoe County all issue Colorado marriage licenses, and every license is valid statewide. If you can’t get a Denver appointment on your preferred date, check surrounding counties for availability.

Order extra certified copies of your marriage certificate. At $1.25 each, certified copies are inexpensive. Order at least three or four. You’ll need them for the Social Security Administration, your bank, your employer, and other institutions that require proof of marriage for name changes or benefit updates.

Return your signed marriage license promptly. You have 63 days from your marriage date to return the signed license to the Denver County Clerk’s office. If you can’t make it during business hours, use the drop box at 14th Ave. and Bannock St., which is checked daily.

Plan extra time for parking. The clerk’s office moved recently, and detailed parking and public transit directions for the new 200 W. 14th Ave. location are not widely available yet. Budget extra time on your appointment day. Check denvergov.org or call the clerk’s office for visitor parking information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get married the same day you get your marriage license in Denver?

Yes. Colorado has no waiting period for marriage. Your marriage license is valid the moment the Denver County Clerk issues it. You can pick up your license and get married immediately afterward, whether through self-solemnization, with an ordained officiant, or via a civil ceremony with a judge. Same-day marriage is one of the biggest advantages of getting married in Denver.

Do you need witnesses for a Denver courthouse wedding?

No. Colorado is one of the few states that does not require witnesses for any form of marriage, including self-solemnized marriages. You can optionally have up to 2 witnesses attend your clerk’s office appointment and sign the marriage certificate, but witnesses are not a legal requirement in Colorado.

How much does a Denver courthouse wedding cost in total?

The Denver County marriage license fee is $30. If you self-solemnize your marriage (no officiant, no witnesses), $30 is your total cost, making it one of the most affordable courthouse weddings in the country. If you hire a professional officiant or arrange a judge ceremony, add $80 to $1,300+ depending on the option you choose. Certified copies of your marriage certificate cost $1.25 each from the Denver County Clerk.

Can you get married anywhere in Colorado with a Denver marriage license?

Yes. Your Denver County marriage license is valid anywhere in the state of Colorado. You can hold your wedding ceremony at a city park, a restaurant, a mountain summit, a lakeside trail, or any other Colorado location. The license is not restricted to Denver County. This statewide validity is especially useful for couples who want to self-solemnize at a scenic Colorado destination after picking up their license in Denver.