Who Can Officiate My Washington Elopement?
A list of approved Washington Officiants.
Once you've applied for and received your marriage license, your ceremony must take place within 60 days after the date your license was issued. The license is not valid until three days after it was issued. This waiting period cannot be waived under any circumstances, including court order. If your ceremony does not take place within this time period, the license becomes void and you will need to apply again.
Your ceremony can be performed by:
Licensed and ordained clergy members or similar officials of any religious organization
Washington State Supreme Court justices
Court of Appeals judges
Superior Court judges
Superior Court commissioners
Judges of courts of limited jurisdiction
Judges and judicial officers of federal courts
Judges of tribal courts from a federally recognized tribe
Clergy from any state may perform marriage ceremonies in Washington State, provided they are permitted by their religious organization to perform ceremonies outside of their state. However, the ceremony itself must be performed in the state of Washington. Neither person getting married may perform the ceremony.
(A judge performing your ceremony can be active or retired. Washington state law specifies who can perform a marriage ceremony. To have a judge perform your ceremony, contact them directly. A fee may apply.)
Immediately following the ceremony, the couple, the officiant, and two witnesses must sign the Certificate of Marriage. It is the officiant's responsibility to complete and return the certificate to King County within 30 days after the ceremony.
WITNESSES
Anyone can be your 2 witnesses. A park ranger, friends or even me- your elopement photographer.