Couples themselves may solemnize their own marriage (C.R.S 14-2-109). They didn’t have anyone present at their elopement (aside from myself!). The quick fix would be to make up your own religion like Henry VIII did, become a Universal Life minister for twenty-five dollars, and carry on. Share And Recap Your Love Story With Each Other During Your Colorado Self Solemnization Ceremony. Supporters of the practice argue that it affirms one's own value and leads to a happier life. You can reach Harkess & Salter LLC at (303) 531-5380 or [email protected] Stephen Harkess is an attorney licensed in the state and federal courts of Colorado. Your Colorado self solemnization ceremony doesn’t need to be a short 5 minutes if you don’t want it to be. Basically, it’s complicated! So can a couple marry themselves in Colorado? We’ve asked fellow hikers, strangers at trailheads, front desk hosts at hotels, and even a floatplane pilot to sign as witnesses for our couples – every time they did so with excitement and many congratulations to the newlyweds! What I am understanding from the law is that, the states like Colorado where self-solemnization is recognized, you obtain the regular marriage certificate afterwards. Your US marriage license will often also be recognized by other countries, which is a question that can come up if you travel. And we were right….once we got to the top of that mountain we just felt so free! Don’t let yourself be limited by what weddings should be, and instead focus on what your elopement can be! There’s a deep historical tradition to getting a third-party to convene and facilitate marriages. A: All of us at Adventure Instead are certified officiants, ordained through an online church that is recognized in most states. These traditions you create on this day are traditions you can even do for years to come. I’ve included a few ideas below to get you started! Officiating your own wedding doesn’t make it any less legitimate. Self solemnization simply means that you two are your own witnesses and that you don’t need an officiant. Because the State of Colorado does not require any specific legal wording within your wedding ceremony, your ceremony can be exactly the way you want it and your performer can be anyone you choose. There is no waiting period before you can get married. Your elopement day is yours to spend your time in whatever way is most important to you – there’s no ‘right’ length time to use language to communicate your commitment. I want to be a resource to you during the whole adventure elopement process, whether you’re looking for details on how to solemnize your own marriage in Colorado or if you’re trying to figure out whether or not to hike in your wedding attire. We’ve done this many times and strangers are often stoked to help out! Please know that ministers ordained through the Universal Life Church have performed thousands of legal marriages in the Beaver State. This webpage is intended to convey general information only and not to provide legal advice or opinions. You can still say your vows to each other. We’re not so naive to think there aren’t benefits to community support, but we firmly believe YOU should get to choose the importance of other’s opinions on your relationship. They must apply for paperwork from the County Courthouse in order to do this. utah . Your marriage license is valid and ready to be used for your Colorado self solemnization as soon as you get it (unlike some states that require a waiting period before use)! If you want to have a totally private and just-us ceremony on the day you get married – you deserve that. You can pick up your marriage license for your Colorado self solemnization elopement at any county Clerk and Recorder office in Colorado, as long as it’s on a weekday during their office hours. They had one family member come up and say a few words and help with the ring exchange, but other than that, Sophie and David pronounced themselves for the first time and essentially acted as their own officiants. Yes, and while self solemnization might seem confusing at first, self solemnized elopements are honestly such an easy and empowering way to get married. Although non-denominational, this method of getting married is sometimes referred to as a "Quaker marriage", after the marriage practice of the Religious Society of Friends, for which see Quaker wedding. Put those ideas to memory. Similar to Karie and Jared, they also opted to not have any witnesses present at their self uniting marriage ceremony. They must apply for paperwork from the County Courthouse in order to do this. In the first place, we are very safe in questioning Mr. Williamson’s right to solemnize a marriage. Can you officiate your own wedding in Colorado? The above information is for guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice. There are many we’ve worked with who have adapted to modern times and modern relationships, but we totally understand how a lot of couples just don’t see the necessity of a separate entity to validate their commitment. STATES WHERE YOU CAN OFFICIATE YOUR OWN MARRIAGE . Whatever you do, know there’s no script you need to follow. Colorado is one of just a few states, including Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, that has legalized the act of self-uniting a marriage without the presence of a third-party officiant. How can you officiate your own wedding? Your ceremony can be whatever you want – whether it looks traditionally like a couple standing before a physical altar, or holding hands jumping out of an airplane, or sitting next to each other in a canoe, or signing to each other without any spoken words. For instance, if you want to get married on a mountaintop that takes hours to hike to – it might be difficult to find an officiant who’s abilities and schedules align with yours. But even common legal matters can become complex and stressful. However, many states, such as Michigan allow ordained ministers to perform marriages as long as they are registered in their own states. Delaware. Although the couple may solemnize their own marriage, that does not mean a friend or relative can sign as an officiant on a marriage certificate. Keep reading to learn more about what it means to self-solemnize on your wedding day, what other states allow these kinds of ceremonies, what you should think about as you plan your ceremony, and how to have a private ceremony even in states that don’t allow self-solemnizing! No one says you have to make a big deal out of this. It doesn’t get more empowering or exciting than that. You don’t have to write novels for vows, but you can if you want to! (Albanian proverb) "The monkey in his mother's eye is a gazelle." Write them down. Can We Still Have a Self Solemnization Elopement. Officiants are traditionally government officials, religious leaders, or others who play a role in governing the actions of a group of people. SOLEMN. They read the notes to each other before sharing their own personal vows. If you have small children, they can sign the paperwork. Solemnizing a Marriage: Couples themselves may solemnize their own marriage (perform one's own marriage ceremony). The ease of getting to marry your best friend, your way, in one of the most beautiful places in the world – that is the kind of authentic marriage WE ARE HERE FOR! wyoming, Empowering You To Have Your Adventure Wedding, Your Way. ‘ve even had couples spend their self solemnization ceremonies just whispering privately to each other while they admire the view…no pre-written vows or anything. So, if you’ve got kids or family members whose signature you’d love to have on the marriage license, they can sign! Experts: Can you marriage your where solemnize own states. This is truly getting married without an officiant as you and your significant other are all that is needed to perform this marriage. Procedure. ... "If you do not sow, you can't reap." When you solemnize your own wedding, you must return the marriage certificate no later than sixty days from the date the license was issued. And Amanda and Peter themselves actually decided not to read their private vows during the ceremony but save them for later. A: To be legally married through self solemnization, you still need to apply for and file a marriage license. (Arabic proverb) "Theory dominates practice." We are firm advocates for all discriminating marriage laws to be done away with. There are so many ways to personalize a ceremony that isn’t following the structure of a traditional wedding – you can basically do anything you want! You can still share your first kiss. Basically, Colorado is PERFECT for elopements because of how easy it is to get married here. Your ceremony can be as long, or as short, as you want. But with a Colorado self solemnization and self uniting marriage ceremonies you don’t have an officiant. SOLEMNITY OF MARY. But how does self solemnization work? solemnize definition: 1. to perform the official marriage ceremony, especially as part of a religious ceremony in a…. If you self-solemnize, you won’t have to find an officiant willing and able to participate in whatever activities you want to on your wedding day! To do this, a couple need only indicate such on the marriage certificate form on the third line, indicating “themselves.” The couple must both sign below where the clergy or judicial officer would otherwise sign, and then sign again as “bride” and “groom.” Neither witnesses nor officiant are required … Colorado and Washington D.C. allow self-solemnizing marriages without any separate application or conditions. Self-solemnizing couples often write their own vows. We don’t like to get government red tape or obstacles get in the way of you planning the wedding of your dreams – a self-solemnizing marriage is basically the most low-maintenance government form you’ll ever sign! However, friends or relatives cannot solemnize their marriage." This is called self-solemnization. Self-Uniting Marriage Colorado is the one state to use the term self-solemnization to allow a couple to marry themselves. It’s really a dignified way of saying you witnessed someone agree to marry. Yes, even though the majority of states in the U.S. don’t allow self solemnization to occur in their state, your self uniting marriage is just as legitimate and legal as anyone else’s. A self-uniting marriage is one in which the couple are married without the presence of a third-party officiant. That's the part you have to be careful about. Learn more. And then every year, reflect back on the goals you two set during your self-solemnization ceremony. In a traditional wedding, an officiant will share a couple’s story with their guests. It’s a unique experience that you can’t really get in many other places, and definitely one of the reasons so many of my couples love getting married out here in Colorado. A few caveats to note? SOLELY . Do Not Plagiarize. Colorado law allows couples to self solemnize, or perform their own marriage (C.R.S. If you want to get married in a state or country where self solemnization isn’t allowed, but you want to have a private ceremony, it’s still possible. Q: Can we self-solemnize and have guests? I think this is a huge opportunity to really dig in and reflect on your relationship. First Published: April 2019Updated on December 6, 2020. Officiants, while often amazing humans, don’t have a pivotal role to play outside the ceremony itself. Fort Collins Adventure Session In The Rocky Mountains, Our Top 3 Tips For Choosing Your Engagement Photo Outfits. to the action. Connecticut. Even though you’re self-solemnizing, you don’t need to do this 100% on your own – you can further personalize the experience to include loved ones without having to bring along a government-approved official. Sologamy is marriage by a person to themselves. You and your partner can really think about all of your hopes and dreams for your marriage. It's easy to forget that a marriage is also a matter of state, and there are laws and regulations to be followed. That mountaintop, and marrying ourselves without an officiant or witnesses, felt like the freest, dopest, Blackest, most revolutionary thing that we could do. So, we can legally sign as officiants, and anyone you see on your elopement can sign as witnesses – fellow hikers, rental hosts, or strangers you pass on the street can all sign if you’re okay with us asking. My husband Ed joins me as we discuss all sorts of elopement topics, from the perspective of a couple who has eloped too. Flower dog. The point is that you enjoy yourself, celebrate your way, and don’t get caught up in any theatrics you don’t enjoy. Pennsylvania and Wisconsin also allow you to self-solemnize your marriage, they just call it something else. If you’re traveling to Colorado for your self solemnization elopement, make sure you arrive on a weekday to pick up your marriage license before your self solemnization. As a Colorado elopement photographer, I pride myself on not just documenting your Colorado self solemnization elopement, but helping you navigate the little details as well — like helping you figure out the perfect time of year for your mountain elopement ceremony or whether or not preparing some sort of elopement wedding ceremony script would be a good idea. If a civil wedding still sounds too formal for you, there are a few states in which you can have a self-uniting marriage. Take the first step now and contact an attorney in your area from our directory to discuss your specific legal situation. Just remember that you and your partner will each need to bring a valid photo ID and you’ll pay a $30 fee. Create Your Own Unique Wedding Traditions During Your Self Uniting Marriage Ceremony. And honestly? Until there is equal recognition of the validity of relationships between consenting adults – regardless of sex, gender, race, or any other factor – there will always be unequal effects gained by a legal marriage. Please consult your local County Clerk and Recorder for additional information on self solemnization laws and procedures.***. It’s called self solemnization, and Colorado is one of a small number of states that allows this type of self uniting marriage ceremony. "Couples themselves may solemnize their own marriage (C.R.S 14-2-109) in Colorado. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. It is also important that you verify all information with your local marriage license office or county clerk before making any wedding or travel plans. Unlike the previous two elopements we just talked about, Sophie and David did have their family present at their self solemnization elopement. Their ceremony was on the longer end, lasting about 30 minutes. This is taken from a website on Colorado marriage law. In Tennessee, there are laws in place that govern who can perform, or solemnize, a wedding ceremony. This is taken from a website on Colorado marriage law. The intention and heart behind self uniting marriage ceremonies is one of the biggest reasons I love them. There are a few other states (Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, California, Illinois, Nevada, Kansas, and Maine) that have a form ofself-uniting marriage, but there are caveats. Self-solemnizing marriage ceremonies give eloping couples the freedom to truly do things exactly the way they want, using the words and language that mean the most to them, surrounded by only the people they feel most supported by in these choices. I don't know if she missed something when she married or if she is right. The minister must adhere to their laws to perform the marriage in that state. Once you’ve submitted the application, you can go into the office and pick up your marriage license. You have two options in that situation. Call yourselves husband, wife, partner, lover, or whatever else feels right! "Couples themselves may solemnize their own marriage (C.R.S 14-2-109) in Colorado. Pennsylvania allows self solemnization with two witnesses to sign in place of an officiant. For example, the religious rites that correspond to the marriage. Or, you can have a private ceremony on the day of your elopement and your Adventure Instead photographer can sign as an officiant. One of the benefits of self-solemnizing is that by not requiring an officiant or witness’s signature – you can have anyone sign! A: That’s a great question! Nevada, Kansas and Maine allow self-solemnizing for people who identify as ‘Friends’ or ‘Quakers’ and get married through the avenues typical of those organizations. SOLEMNIZATION. THE KIND YOU DO YOURSELF: Colorado and Pennsylvania are currently the only two states in the US where a couple can self-solemnize their marriage, and you can also do it in DC (but those marriages are recognized in all fifty states). There really is nothing more “Colorado” than self solemnizing in the mountains. Honestly, there’s a bit of excitement and novelty to the idea of self solemnization. When you have an officiant, they often sign and send in your completed marriage license following the ceremony. Visit the Utah City and County page on the state's website for links to local government pages, and look for a link that says something like County Clerk. The philosophy behind the Quaker marriage celebration is that the right for joining in marriage belongs to God and the betrothed, rather than any member of clergy. We wanted to start our lives together elevated from all the noise with the understanding that we only wanted to go higher in our lives from that point. They must apply for paper work from the County Courthouse in order to do this. Besides the couple themselves, others who can solemnize their marriage are judges, retired judges, magistrates, public officials, Indian tribe officials, and clergy. They must apply for paper work from the County Courthouse in order to do this. Although the couple may solemnize their own marriage, that does not mean a friend or relative can sign as an officiant on a marriage certificate. (Corsican proverb) SOLELESS. There is no waiting period before using the license; you may get married the same day. Chat With Us About Photographing Your Self Uniting Marriage. But, as you can see, it’s possible to get legally married through a self-solemnizing ceremony in a small handful of states. These traditions you create on this day are traditions you can even do for years to come. The above information is for guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice. How to Know if an Adventure Elopement is Right for You, The Ultimate Elopement Planning Checklist, The Modern Elopement Definition: How Elopements Have Changed. Adventure is for everyone. You can speak to your commitment through action and spend your elopement day doing whatever you both love! The best thing about self solemnizations and self uniting marriages? In other cases, as in Maine, only those of certain faiths can be exempt from needing an officiant. Government officials began officiating marriages as a way of maintaining an understanding of their citizens and crafting a paper trail to maintain order amongst the population. Please Note: State and county marriage license Law requirements often change. State law prescribes who can perform marriage ceremonies. Essentially, the role of an officiant or celebrant is steeped in the idea that marriage is about ‘more’ than just the two – that their choice involves powers greater than themselves, and will affect the community they live in. Out-of-state Clergy need not be registered in Colorado. For example, Tennessee is one of only four states that does not recognize marriages solemnized by people who are ordained only for the purpose of performing a ceremony. §14-2-109(1)). You can also self-solemnize if both you and your partner sign the officiant's space with your pre-marriage names and write “self-solemnized” on your certificate. Wagner, instead of having their marriage solemnized by a minister or judge, the parties had a self-uniting marriage ceremony in which they simply exchanged rings and vows before a gathering of family and friends. Q: If we get married in a state that allows self solemnization, can we still have an officiant? 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