How to Get Married in Tennessee
One of the most common questions we hear from couples is “How do we get married?” Whether you’re planning a destination wedding here in Nashville or a local getting married for the first time, the process can be a little confusing. Don’t stress; below, we explain everything from what a marriage license is to where to get one on a Saturday.
What Is a Marriage License?
Your union may have spiritual, emotional, and social significance to you and your partner but, if you want the legal protections and privileges of marriage, you’re going to need a marriage license. A marriage license is a document issued by the state that affirms that you are legally able to be married.
Obtaining a marriage license doesn’t make you legally married, it just means you’re able to get married. You’ll need to have your license officiated to make your union official. In Nashville, there are no ‘courthouse’ weddings easily available. After you’ve had your wedding or elopement, you’ll return the completed license to the official who issued it (in Tennessee that will be the county clerk) in order to receive a Certificate of Marriage. Once you have your marriage certificate, it’s official: you’re married!
How many marriage certificates are issued in Nashville each year?
There are a lot of lovers tying the knot in Nashville. Davidson County issued over 6,400 marriage licenses in 2023. That’s over 24 marriage licenses per workday and over 123 each week.
Davidson County has issuing Nashville marriage licenses down to a fine art, making it super simple to get your marriage license. Nashville Wedding Officiant Zelda and her team have officiated over 1,000 weddings and can help make your wedding of any size and type a joyful experience.
What Do I need to be legally married in Tennessee?
To get legally married in Tennessee, couples need to have a current, valid marriage license issued in the state of Tennessee. Any Tennessee county clerk can issue the marriage license and certificate. Once the couple receives their license from the county clerk, it must then be officiated within 30 days. Licenses that aren’t officiated within 30 days are no longer valid.
Remember, if you’re getting married in Tennessee, you must have a Tennessee marriage license. If you’re traveling from out of state for your wedding or elopement, you cannot use a marriage license issued by your home state. As long as your marriage license is issued by the state of Tennessee, you can have it officiated in any county in the state. For example, you can get married in Nashville-Davidson County with a license issued in Sumner County.
What happens if the marriage license is not officiated within 30 days?
Life can get hectic and there have been a few occasions where busy couples unknowingly missed the 30-day deadline, only to discover their license is no longer valid when they take it to an officiant. If your marriage license expires before you can get it officiated, you’ll have to return to the county clerk and pay to have a new license issued. Ouch!
We recommend that you book your officiant as soon as you get your marriage license to make sure it’s officiated while it’s still valid. Text Zelda today to set up a time and date for your officiation ceremony.
What is the process for obtaining a marriage license in Nashville?
Before you show up to a county clerk’s office, make sure you’ve completed and submitted a Marriage License Application online. If you’re getting married in Nashville, the closest county clerk is the Davidson County clerk’s office, located in the Howard Office Building (700 President Ronald Regan Way). Like most county clerk’s offices in Tennessee, Nashville’s clerk is available Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm except for state and federal holidays.
Marriage licenses cost $99.50 if you pay cash and $101.49 if you pay with a credit card, but savvy couples can get a $60 discount by presenting a notarized premarital counseling Certificate of Completion when they apply for their license.
You and your partner must both be present at the clerk’s office when applying for a marriage license and you must each provide 1) a valid government-issued photo ID like a driver’s license or passport, 2) proof of your Social Security number like your Social Security card or W-2 that includes your full social security number, and 3) the license application fee.
If a physical disability prevents you or your partner from appearing in person at the clerk’s office, you can still get a marriage license. You’ll need to submit a notarized affidavit and a notarized consent letter from you or your partner’s attending physician on their letterhead essentially stating that the disabled individual understands that they’re applying for a marriage license. Incarcerated persons can go through a similar process to obtain a license, obtaining a notarized letter from a warden or chaplain rather than a physician. You can find more detailed information on obtaining a marriage license when unable to appear in person on the Davidson County Clerk’s website.
Once you have your marriage license, it’s time to get it officiated. The Davidson County Clerk’s Office will not perform a civil ceremony to officiate your license; you’ll need to book a ceremony with an officiant within 30 days of receiving your license. To make your marriage official, you’ll need to return the completed license to the county clerk within three business days.
For an extra fee I can personally drop the documents off for you like I do for my travelling couples.
Are there other county clerks’ offices near Nashville?
Your marriage license can be issued by any Tennessee county clerk. If the Davidson County Clerk’s Office is inconvenient, there are eight other clerks’ offices within a 90-minute drive of downtown Nashville. Below, we’ve listed their locations, fees, and phone numbers. Please note that many if not most will charge slightly more if you pay with a credit card. The information below was accurate at the time of publication but may have changed since. Always contact the clerk’s office directly (we suggest calling them) to confirm their hours and requirements.
Marriage License Fee: $100
Open Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
1320 W Main Street, Suite 135, Franklin, TN 37064
Phone: (615) 790-5712
Marriage License Fee: $107.50
Open Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM; or Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
319 N Maple Street, Suite 121, Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Phone: (615) 898-7800
Marriage License Fee: $93.50
Open Monday to Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm
129 South College Street, Lebanon, TN 37087
Phone: (615) 965-6709
Marriage License Fee: $95
Open Monday to Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm
355 N. Belvedere Drive, Room 111, Gallatin, TN 37066
Phone: (615) 452-4063
Getting to a county clerk’s office during business hours without missing work can be challenging if not impossible when you have a traditional nine-to-five job. Luckily, the following four county clerks’ offices are open on Saturday mornings. Some of them require additional information above and beyond what is required to obtain a license in Davidson County. We’ve made a note of what extra materials you might need but always doublecheck requirements with the county clerk directly before arriving in person.
Marriage License Fee: $99.50
Open Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm; Saturday 8:30 am to 12 noon, except holiday weekends
328 Broadway, Room 2, Hartsville, TN 37074
Phone: (615) 374-2906
Marriage License Fee: Call the Macon County Clerk for more information
Open Monday to Wednesday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Saturday 8:00 am to 12:30 pm
Additional requirements: Couples seeking a marriage license on a Saturday must arrive by 12:10 pm. Call the Macon County Clerk directly to confirm their requirements.
104 County Courthouse, Public Square, Lafayette, TN 37083
Phone: (615) 666-2333
Marriage License Fee: $107.50
Open Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and Saturday 8:00 am to 12 noon except for holiday weekends
Additional requirements: Both parties must be present with their photo IDs and Social Security numbers. Applicants must provide their parents’ first, middle, and last names (including maiden names if applicable) as well as the state of their parents’ birth. If you’ve been married before, you’ll be asked to provide the date (approximate is fine) your previous marriage ended.
100 Public Square West, Suite 104, Shelbyville, TN 37160
Phone: (931) 684-1921
Marriage License Fee: $107.50
Open Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and Saturday 8:00 am to 11:00 am
Additional requirements: Couples seeking a marriage license on Saturdays must arrive before 11:00 am. Both partners must be present with their photo IDs and Social Security cards.
732 South Congress Boulevard, Room 102, Smithville, TN 37166
Phone: (615) 597-5177
What happens after the marriage license is officiated?
Once the marriage license has been officiated, the county clerk requires the marriage documents to be returned within three business days. Licenses must be returned to the office that issued them (i.e.: if your marriage license is issued in Bedford County, you must return it to the Bedford County Clerk; you can’t return it to the Davidson County Clerk’s office). Completed licenses that are not returned in time will be voided. This means you’ll have to start the entire process of applying for a license and getting it officiated from the beginning - including paying all the fees again.
Unfortunately, it’s becoming increasingly common for licenses to get lost in the mail. Due to this, the Davidson County Clerk now recommends that couples return the signed and completed license to the clerk’s office in person. If you’re eloping in Nashville while visiting from out of state, you may not have factored a second trip to the county clerk into your travel plans. Luckily, Zelda has a solution for busy couples who don’t have time to drive back to the clerk’s office.
CONCIERGE IN-PERSON LICENSE RETURN
Zelda now offers a Concierge In-Person License Return Service. For an additional fee, our team will deliver your completed documents to the county clerk who issued them on your behalf. This add-on is ideal for couples visiting Nashville on a short trip and who are unable to make a second trip to the clerk’s office. You can learn more about our Concierge In-Person License Return Service under the Policies section of our Services and Licenses page.
Book your wedding today!
Now is the perfect time to book your wedding or elopement. Nashville Wedding Officiant Zelda Sheldon and her team have officiated over 1,000 weddings from curbside drive-thru elopements to grand events with hundreds of guests. However you choose to celebrate love, we’re here to help.
Text multi-award-winning Nashville Wedding Officiant Zelda Sheldon for more information or to book your wedding service.
Note: All of the above information was accurate at the time of publication, but is subject to change. Please confirm hours, requirements, and any other information with the county clerk by calling them directly. Do not rely on the clerk’s office website alone; county websites are infrequently updated and may have missing or inaccurate information.