Colorado wedding location

West Marriage Guide

Colorado Marriage Laws

General wedding officiant guidance for marriage licenses, ceremony requirements, witnesses, and returning the signed license.

Quick answer: online ordination can help someone prepare to officiate a wedding, but marriage license, minister registration, witness, and filing rules vary by state and sometimes by county.

Rocky Mountain National Park, an iconic place in Colorado

Image source: Rocky Mountain National Park via Wikimedia Commons

License Office

Clerk and Recorder’s Office

License Validity

35 Days

Waiting Period

None

Return Deadline

Within 65 Days

Need to officiate in Colorado?

Get a digital ordination certificate before reviewing county filing details.

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Detailed Colorado Wedding Law Notes

These notes summarize state marriage-license, ceremony, witness, and officiant guidance for the new map experience.

Requirements for the Couple

  • Minimum Age: 18 years (16+ with guardian consent)
  • Residency: Not Required
  • Minimum Kin Distance: First Cousins
  • Marriage Equality: Yes

Couples must be 18+ to marry or 16+ with guardian consent. Residency is not required, and first cousins may marry.

Marriage License Requirements

  • License Pickup: By Couple, In Person
  • Validity: Any County in Colorado
  • Cost: $30
  • Accepted ID: Photo ID or Birth Certificate
  • Proof of Divorce: Not Required
  • Blood Test: Not Required

Only one member of the couple must apply in person at the Clerk and Recorder’s office with valid ID. Licenses are valid statewide, and the fee is $30.

Marriage License Facts

  • Ceremony Type: Religious
  • Waiting Period: None
  • License Validity: 35 Days
  • Submission Deadline: Within 65 Days

Couples should obtain a “religious” license for Ministries of Love ceremonies. There is no waiting period, and licenses can be used immediately.

Requirements for the Minister

  • Minimum Age: 18 years
  • Residency: Not Required
  • Documents Required: None
  • Online Ordination Recognized: Yes
  • Registration Office: Clerk and Recorder’s Office
  • Submission Deadline: After Ceremony

Ministers must be 18+ and can be ordained through Ministries of Love. No residency or pre-registration is required.

Wedding Ceremony Requirements

  • Marriage By Proxy: Allowed (Military Only)
  • Minister Presence: Required
  • Number of Witnesses: None
  • Witness Age: Not Applicable
  • Consent Required: Yes
  • Pronouncement Required: Yes

Proxy marriages are allowed only for active military members under specific conditions. No witnesses are required.

Final Steps

  • Officiant Title: Minister
  • Ordaining Body: Ministries of Love
  • Address: Minister’s Home Address
  • Minimum Age: 18 years (16+ with guardian consent)
  • Residency: Not Required
  • Minimum Kin Distance: First Cousins
  • Marriage Equality: Yes
  • License Pickup: By Couple, In Person
  • Validity: Any County in Colorado
  • Cost: $30
  • Accepted ID: Photo ID or Birth Certificate
  • Proof of Divorce: Not Required
  • Blood Test: Not Required
  • Ceremony Type: Religious
  • Waiting Period: None
  • License Validity: 35 Days
  • Submission Deadline: Within 65 Days
  • Documents Required: None
  • Online Ordination Recognized: Yes
  • Registration Office: Clerk and Recorder’s Office
  • Marriage By Proxy: Allowed (Military Only)
  • Minister Presence: Required
  • Number of Witnesses: None
  • Witness Age: Not Applicable
  • Consent Required: Yes
  • Pronouncement Required: Yes

Ensure the marriage license is completed accurately and signed by all parties. Submit it to the Clerk and Recorder’s office within 65 days.

Wedding Ceremony Requirements

Witnesses

Witness requirements vary by state

Ceremony

The couple and officiant should be present unless the state specifically allows another process

Requirements for the Officiant

Ordained ministers should verify any local registration rules before the ceremony

OrdainedPro recommends that every officiant confirm local requirements before the ceremony date, especially if the wedding is in a county or state where the officiant has not performed before.

Colorado Wedding Officiant FAQs

How do I become ordained to officiate a wedding in Colorado?

You can start with a digital ordination certificate, then confirm any Colorado or local registration steps before performing the ceremony.

Can online ministers officiate weddings in Colorado?

Colorado officiant requirements should be verified with the issuing clerk, recorder, probate court, or local marriage office. OrdainedPro provides general guidance, not legal advice.

Where do couples get a marriage license in Colorado?

Couples should contact the proper Colorado marriage license office or local county office. On this page, the license office summary is listed as: County clerk or local marriage license office.

When should the signed Colorado marriage license be returned?

Return deadlines can vary by state or county. This guide lists the current summary as: Return deadline varies by state or county. Always verify the final deadline with the issuing office.

This page is general information and not legal advice. Marriage laws and county filing processes can change. Always verify requirements with the issuing clerk, recorder, probate court, or local marriage office before performing a ceremony.