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I believe eloping in another country has to be one of the most romantic ways to say I Do’s. If you and your love have decided to travel to New York City for this very reason, here are a few things you should know to make sure that your elopement is legal in your home country.

The office of the New York City Clerk Marriage Bureau (City Hall) is located at 141 Worth Street New York New York 10013 in Manhattan. Operating hours are from Monday to Friday from 8:30AM to 3:45PM. Please note that the office is closed on all major US holidays. Make sure you check the official website for more information

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BEFORE GETTING MARRIED

To obtain your New York State Marriage License you must apply via Project Cupid. The cost of the marriage license is USD$35 payable by credit card. The Marriage License is valid for 60 days. There is a 24 hour wait period after the Marriage License is issued before you can officially marry. You will also make an appointment for a ceremony online. You will need to show your email confirmation for the ceremony to the security guard on duty to be able to enter City Hall on your chosen ceremony date. You are currently allowed to enter City Hall as a party of 5, this includes the couple getting married. If you have a larger party, they can wait at the exit to celebrate your newlywed status.

When entering City Hall, there is airport like security. Be prepared to have your belongings run through a scanner and you having to walk through a metal detector. You will also need to empty all your pockets and remove any metal items, including your belt.

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GETTING MARRIED

Once the 24 hours are up, it's time to get married! You can have the ceremony at City Hall or you can have the ceremony anywhere in NYC you’d like with a registered Officiant. If you choose to get married at City Hall you will need to have the email confirmation of your appointment to show the security guard to enter, passports and one witness. If it's just the two of you, as your photographer, I can be your witness! So no need to stress if you don’t have a witness. If you have someone to be your witness please make sure that they bring their passport or IDs accepted.

Once you get past the security line, you will come to the first counter where you will be required to check in and they will give you a number. You wait for your number to be called to sign paperwork and pay a fee of USD$25 for the ceremony, payable by credit card. Once you do that you will have to wait again for your number to be called to get access to the chapel waiting room where you will be married in one of the two chapels available. The waiting game continues at the chapel waiting room for the officiant to call you into the chapel. The ceremony is short and sweet and just like that you are pronounced married by the Laws of the State of New York and given your Certificate of Marriage!

AFTER GETTING MARRIED

Some countries require you to procure a Certificate of Authentication also known as an Apostille, to ensure your marriage is legal and valid in your home country. This is a document to prove that you are legally married in New York City when you register your marriage in your hometown/country. You do not have to do this right after your elopement. Go celebrate being newlyweds and take care of this the next day. To obtain an Apostille you will first be required to fill out the Extended Certificate form and pay a fee of USD$3 at the New York City County Clerk at the New York County Supreme Court, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007. A list of countries that participate in the Apostille Convention can be found here.

Once that is done you are ready for the last step of this process, the Certificate of Authentication Request (Apostille) and bring it to this filled out form as well as your Extended Certificate and head over to the New York Department of State Division of Licensing Services, 123 William Street, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10038. Office hours are from 9:00 AM to 3:30PM. The fee is USD$10 and payment must be in the form of a money order that can be obtained at any US Post Office. Wait for your document to be prepared and you are all set. Technically you can request your Marriage Record by mail but I personally feel that it would be safer and faster to do so in person. Further information can be found on their website.