Getting married in Michigan is not difficult, but you do need to know the correct steps to follow in order to get legally married in Michigan. 

Did you know that in order to make that marriage legal you must apply for and obtain a marriage license from you local county clerks office? Yep, that's right, you have to have a license to get married...seems crazy, but that's the way of it. Once you've got that marriage license it's only valid for 30 days, you must get married within that 30 day window or, that license expires and you have to apply for it all over again. 

Next step, find someone to sign that marriage license. You can search www.weddingwire.com or www.theknot.com for local Officiant's who are ordained and can perform a legal wedding ceremony. When you reach out to these professional Officiants and Ministers be sure to ask, (1) are they available for your service (2) what are their fee's, all of them including travel and any extra's (3) make an appointment for a phone call so you can hear their voice and get a feeling for their personality, this way you can make sure this is the person you want to stand with, do they fit your vibe and your feeling for your day. 

Now that you've hired your pro Officiant or Minister you can begin working with them to draft a wedding ceremony. That's right, it's their duty to write the ceremony with or for you, every Officiant does this a bit differently, myself I start with an initial questionnaire that you complete and then based on that questionnaire I can draft the ceremony and then email it to you for review and from there we work together to proof it and edit it until it's perfect for you. 

Steps to apply for your marriage  license: 

Your wedding ceremony will set the tone for your wedding celebration and wedding reception. It is important to make sure your wedding ceremony is well drafted to include details of your love, the moments that brought you to the decision to marry each other. It's great if your wedding ceremony can include moments of laughter and love and sweet sentimental moments all things that will draw your guests into your wedding ceremony. 

But...there is one thing, one big thing that will make your wedding ceremony truly magical, are you ready? I've got the secret ingredient to making your wedding ceremony truly one of a king...here it is...

YOU

Yep, you read that right. If you want a wedding ceremony that is truly magical then you are the secret. I can write a magnificent wedding ceremony that includes all of the right things but...if you the two of you are not truly in the moment then your guests won't be either. 

So here is my suggestion to you on how to make your wedding ceremony magical. 

1. Be yourself, don't try to hold anything in or anything back. Your guests are watching and they want to see YOU, they want to know you are feeling all the feels that this day is as important to you as they know it is.
2. Let the tears flow, honestly if you hold back that's when the ugly cry face comes, so let it go! Just bring a handkerchief and don't be afraid to use that sucker. 
3. Laugh and smile and enjoy the your wedding ceremony. I've seen happy giggles take over, I've seen pure out spontaneous laughter and snorts that set a crowd on fire. If you can relax and enjoy the moment your guests will also. 
4. Look at each other, really look at each other during your wedding ceremony. Don't shy away because if you look you might cry, honey, you do you! In a world telling you to be authentic there is no more of a right time than the day you stand in front of each other and declare you are ready to take on the world as a married couple. 
5. Finally, breathe, yes, sounds simple but really relax and breathe in the moment that is your wedding ceremony. Your wedding ceremony is typically 30 minutes or less so breathe and relax and enjoy this little bit of stillness on your wedding day. 

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Cheers to getting married in Michigan! So now that you have decided to get married in Michigan, you may be wondering just how do I do this? Have no fear, you are not alone in your questions and wondering how to get married in Michigan. 

It's actually not that difficult to marry in Michigan. The state of Michigan requires you to apply for and obtain a marriage certificate. If you reside in Michigan you will apply for your marriage license in the county that you live in. If you live out of state you will apply for your marriage license in the county you wish to get married in. Each Michigan County Clerk's office runs a little differently so it is best to visit their website or local office in person to ask what their requirements for applying for a marriage license are. Most of Michigan County Clerk's require each couple to complete an application and to supply them photo ID, social security card, original birth certificate or certified copy and proof of residency. Some Michigan County Clerk's office's have a 3 day waiting period, most in fact! So, once you apply for your marriage license you must return 3 days later to actually pick up the license. And perhaps most importantly, the license is only valid for 30 days so once you've got the license in hand you must get married in 30 days or it expires. 

Now that you have your marriage license you will want to hire a professional wedding Officiant or Minister to assist with the marriage. However you choose to marry you must have two witnesses over 18 years old present during your wedding ceremony as they must witness your I Do's and then sign the marriage license as well. 

You've got your license, you've got your Minister now get hitched! You can have any sort of ceremony you like, elopement, intimate or grandiose, it's really up to you, the possibilities are endless. 

Once you have had your marriage ceremony your Officiant or Wedding Minister will complete the marriage license and sign it, and then ask the two of you to sign and well as your witnesses. The Officiant or Wedding Minister is responsible for filing the marriage license for you. They have 10 days to return the license to the County Clerk's office on your behalf. 

And lastly, you will need to make one more trip back to your local County Clerk's office to request the legal copy of your marriage license. It does not come to you automatically, you must request the certified legal copy yourself. Some County Clerk's offices will allow you to request this online, thus saving you the trip in person. 

So let's review how to get married in Michigan: 

1 - Apply for and obtain your Michigan Marriage License from your local County Clerk's office. 

2- Hire a professional Wedding Officiant or Minister to perform your wedding ceremony. 

3- Get hitched!

4- Sign your marriage license. 

5- Request your legal copy of your marriage license. 

6- Live happily ever after.