It's a question I hear time and time again, Nichole I don't even know where to begin! 

Well let's start at the beginning of how to get married legally in the state of Michigan. Hi, I'm Nichole, owner of A Simple I Do Wedding Officiants and were a group of legally ordained wedding officiants/ministers who serve all couples in southeast Michigan. We concentrate on small intimate weddings - we'll meet you at a local cafe to sign your license and make it legal or at a park or venue - the key is keeping it simple, stress free and all about your love. 

To get legally married in the state of Michigan, you need to follow these steps:

Apply for a marriage license: The first step to getting legally married in Michigan is to apply for a marriage license at a County Clerk's office. You and your partner must appear in person to complete the application, and you'll need to bring your government-issued photo identification (e.g., driver's license, passport, or state ID) and your social security numbers. The fee for a marriage license varies by county.

Wait for the waiting period: In Michigan, there is a three-day waiting period after you apply for a marriage license. This means that you cannot get married until at least three days after you apply for the license. However, some counties may waive the waiting period for an additional fee.
Have a ceremony: You and your partner must have a ceremony to get legally married. The ceremony can be performed by a judge, a magistrate, a county clerk, a mayor, or a member of the clergy. You'll need to have two witnesses present during the ceremony.

File the marriage license: After the ceremony, the person who performed the ceremony will sign your marriage license. You must then return the signed license to the County Clerk's office within 10 days of the ceremony.

Get a marriage certificate: After your signed marriage license has been received and processed by the County Clerk's office, you can obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate. You'll need this certificate to change your name and for other legal purposes.
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It's important to note that the above steps are for a standard civil marriage in Michigan. If you're planning a religious ceremony, you may need to meet additional requirements. Additionally, Michigan does not recognize common law marriage, so you must have a ceremony to be legally married.

If you are planning a wedding in Detroit, Michigan, there are many things to consider and plan for to make your special day a success. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Determine your budget: Knowing how much you can afford to spend on your wedding will help you make decisions about the venue, vendors, and other details.
   
2. Choose a venue: Detroit has a variety of wedding venues to choose from, including hotels, banquet halls, and outdoor spaces. Consider the size of your wedding, the style you want, and the location when choosing a venue.
   
3. Choose a wedding date: Consider the time of year, the weather, and any events or holidays that might affect your wedding when selecting a date.
   
4. Choose your vendors: You will need to find vendors for your wedding, such as a photographer, DJ, florist, and catering company. Research and compare different vendors to find the best fit for your needs and budget.
   
5. Plan the details: There are many details to consider when planning a wedding, including the ceremony, reception, music, flowers, decorations, and more. Make a list of the things you want to include in your wedding and start planning each aspect.
   
6. Send out invitations: Once you have all the details planned, it's time to let your guests know about your wedding. Send out invitations several months in advance to give your guests plenty of time to make travel arrangements and RSVP.
   
7. Get a marriage license: In Michigan, you must obtain a marriage license from the county clerk's office before your wedding. Be sure to check the requirements and bring the necessary documents with you when you apply for your license.
   

I hope these tips are helpful as you plan your wedding in Detroit, Michigan! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Lot's of couples dream of a cute little courthouse wedding in Michigan only to learn a lot of courthouses no longer offer them or if they do it's one specific day a week and there is a long waiting list. 

Lot's of couples choose to get married in a court house for many reasons. The simplicity of it is lovely, set a date, grab a few folks and meet up at the courthouse to get legally married. 

But what do you do when the courthouse no longer provides wedding ceremony services? You hire us at A Simple I Do Wedding Officiants. We specialize in intimate weddings right down to the simplest of wedding days to grand events. We love meeting with couples to keep it simple and get them legally married. 

We have a few services that may suit your needs just well - and none of them take place in a stuffy courtroom!

• Simple Marriage License Signing  - for this service we meet with the two of you and at least two witnesses. Often times it's at a cute little coffee shop or over dinner at a lovely restaurant. We will meet with you, complete your marriage license and then direct your witnesses where to sign. We'll offer a brief exchange of vows and then pronounce you married. 
• Elopement/Intimate Wedding Ceremony - for gatherings of around 20 folks, we can help you find the perfect location, a local park, hello free venue! or a restaurant or even a private studio for a small rental fee. We will draft a custom ceremony to include bits of your love story and then on your wedding day we will organize your guests, perform the ceremony and sign the license. 
• Full Ceremony  - More than 20 guests - this service is usually for folks who have booked a venue and caterer and band, or the like. We will write a custom ceremony, see to a rehearsal and then of course signing your license. 

It's a common question, who the heck can legally perform wedding ceremonies in the state of Michigan? Let's site the actual Michigan law first; 

Required State License(s): None

To perform marriage ceremonies a person should be an ordained minister, magistrate (a civil officer with power to administer and enforce law -- Justice of the Peace), mayor of a Michigan city or a judge.

An ordained minister of the gospel recognized by a church may perform marriages whether or not the church has filed a charter with the State of Michigan, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporation Division or an elected government official. To determine if a church has filed a charter, telephone: 517-241-6470.

Marriage licenses are obtained at the county clerk's office.

Now that that's out of the way, let's break it down - who can legally perform weddings or marriage ceremonies in the state of Michigan? People who have been legally ordained, hey that's me! 

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The holidays are not coming, they are here folks and there is no better time than when all the family is gathered in town to host a simple and sweet ceremony. 

Here's the plan, rent the studio space in downtown Holly - let's pick a Tuesday night or Thursday morning, you know an off day where the town is still a little sleepy. We will invite around 20 ish of your friends and family and there in the cutest little downtown of Holly we will host your simple and beautiful intimate or elopement wedding. You'll get married, take a walk around town to capture some photos and then back home to celebrate over drinks and food with the family and friends. 

The key when planning a small wedding is not to over think things. Planning a wedding can get stressful, so let's keep it simple and say I do in downtown Holly this holiday season. 

The team at A Simple I Do is on hand to assist you in finding the perfect location and day and time, we'll set up the chairs and write the loveliest of ceremonies. All you have to do is show up! 

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Did you know you need a license to get legally married in the state of Michigan? You do! In order to legally get married in the state of Michigan you are required to apply for a marriage license. Allow me to explain how to do apply for your marriage license. 

You will begin at your local county clerk's office. What county do you reside in and is represented on your drivers license or residency; this is the county clerk's office you will apply for your marriage license with.

​If you live out of state and are coming to Michigan to get married than you will apply with the county clerk's office in which your ceremony will take place. 

1. Visit your county clerk's website for their specific instructions on how to apply for your Marriage license. With covid each county altered the way they issue marriage license's. Some are requiring you to complete your marriage license application online and then make an appointment to pick it up. Some counties are allowing you to simply walk in and apply. Once you have determined your counties marriage license application process you will need to gather your information to go with the license.
2. Most county clerk's offices require you to show picture ID, drivers license and your original birth certificate or certified copy of the original and/or a passport for each person applying. 

Couple things to keep in mind: 

• YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE IS VALID FOR 33 DAYS FROM DATE OF APPLICATION
  
• You will receive multiple copies of your marriage license - all of these need to be signed
  
• You need an Officiant to sign your marriage license. This person is ordained and able to perform your ceremony and make your marriage legal. 
  
• Once your marriage license is signed it must be returned to the clerk's office within 10 days for filing by your Officiant. 
  
• You must request a certified legal copy of your marriage license after your marriage. It does not come automatically to you. You can request this by visiting the same clerk's office that issued the license to you. Please wait 2 weeks after your wedding to request this certified legal copy.