Quick Marriage in Nevada: Get Married Same Day in Las Vegas (2026)

Nevada is the easiest place in America to get married quickly. No waiting period, no blood test, same-day marriages available 7 days a week. The Clark County Marriage License Bureau issues licenses until midnight on weekdays and weekends alike. You can be legally married in Nevada within hours of arrival — no prior planning required.

Whether you are a local couple looking for a simple, fast ceremony or out-of-state visitors planning a Las Vegas wedding, Nevada's permissive marriage laws make it uniquely welcoming. Here is everything you need to know for 2026.

Why Nevada Is Famous for Quick Marriages

Nevada has been the quickest place to get married in the United States for decades, and its laws have only become more streamlined. Several factors combine to make Nevada uniquely fast:

• No waiting period — Most states require 24 to 72 hours between obtaining a license and the ceremony. Nevada has none.
• No blood test — Many states historically required a premarital blood test for STDs. Nevada eliminated this requirement decades ago.
• Late-night bureau hours — The Clark County Marriage License Bureau stays open until midnight every single day, including holidays.
• 24/7 chapels — Dozens of Las Vegas chapels offer around-the-clock ceremonies for walk-in couples.
• Flexible officiant rules — Any ordained minister, judge, or online-ordained individual can legally perform a Nevada ceremony.
• Volume — Clark County alone processes approximately 80,000 marriages per year, making Las Vegas the most-married city in America.

Step 1: Get Your Nevada Marriage License

The marriage license is the legal foundation of your marriage. Both parties must obtain it in person before any ceremony can take place.

Clark County Marriage License Bureau

• Address: 201 E. Clark Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89101 (Downtown Las Vegas, near the courthouse)
• Hours: Monday–Sunday, 8:00 AM to Midnight (yes, every day — including holidays)
• Cost: $102 in Clark County (2026)
• Processing time: Typically 15–30 minutes, longer on peak days (Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve)

What to Bring

• Valid government-issued photo ID for both applicants (driver's license, state ID, or passport)
• Your Social Security number — not always required but helpful for the application
• If either party was previously married: know the date the prior marriage ended (divorce decree date or date of spouse's death) — you do not need to bring the documents, just know the date

License Details

• Valid immediately upon issuance — no waiting period whatsoever
• Valid for 1 year from the date of issue
• Valid anywhere in Nevada — you do not have to get married in Clark County even if you got the license there

Step 2: Get Married (The Ceremony)

Once you have your license, you can get married immediately. Here is what the ceremony requires:

• A licensed officiant — an ordained minister, judge, justice of the peace, or any person legally authorized to perform marriages in Nevada
• Two adult witnesses — they must be 18 or older; many chapels provide witnesses for an additional fee if needed
• No minimum ceremony length — a legally valid Nevada ceremony can literally take 2 minutes

Your Ceremony Options

• Clark County Commissioner of Civil Marriages — secular civil ceremonies performed at the courthouse for approximately $75–$100; appointment required but available same day
• Las Vegas wedding chapels — dozens of chapels throughout the Strip and downtown offer packages from $50 to $500+, walk-in friendly, many open 24 hours
• A friend ordained online — Universal Life Church, American Marriage Ministries, and similar organizations offer free online ordination that is fully legal in Nevada; your ordained friend can perform your ceremony
• An outdoor or venue ceremony — rent a space, hire an independent officiant, and have a more personal ceremony — all perfectly legal

Clark County Marriage License Requirements

Nevada's marriage license requirements are minimal by design. Here is the complete list:

• Both parties must be physically present at the county clerk's office — no proxy marriages
• Age: 18+ with no restrictions; 16–17 with parental consent; 15 with both parental and judicial consent
• Not currently married to another living person (bigamy is illegal and void)
• Not closely related by blood — Nevada prohibits marriage between parents and children, siblings, half-siblings, aunts/uncles and nieces/nephews; first cousins are legal in Nevada
• Valid photo ID — government-issued, unexpired
• Mental capacity — both parties must be of sound mind at the time of the ceremony

Drive-Through Weddings: Still a Thing?

Yes — the Las Vegas drive-through wedding is not just a movie trope. It is a real, legally valid option.

A Little White Chapel (1301 Las Vegas Blvd S) is the most famous, offering its Tunnel of Love Drive-Through since the 1990s. The officiant comes to your car window, witnesses stand nearby, and you exchange vows without leaving the vehicle. Previous customers include Michael Jordan and Joan Collins.

Important notes for drive-through weddings:

• You must still obtain your marriage license separately at the County Clerk before the drive-through ceremony
• Most drive-through chapels require a reservation or walk-in appointment — call ahead
• Packages typically start around $75–$150 for the basic drive-through ceremony
• The marriage is 100% legally valid — same as any chapel ceremony

Can I Get Married Online in Nevada?

The short answer: you can prepare your documents online, but you still need to appear in person to get the license.

Nevada does not offer fully remote marriage licenses. Both applicants must appear at the county clerk's office in person with valid photo ID. There is no mail-in or fully online process for obtaining the license itself.

However, CourtFree's Nevada Online Marriage Service lets you:

• Complete and review all marriage documentation online before you arrive
• Understand exactly what you need to bring and what to expect
• Prepare for name change paperwork in advance
• Get your questions answered before making the trip

This is especially useful for out-of-state couples planning a Las Vegas wedding — complete your paperwork and preparation online, then arrive ready to get licensed and married in the same visit.

Nevada Marriage License Fees in 2026

International Visitors: Getting Married in Nevada

Nevada warmly welcomes international couples. The marriage laws apply equally to US citizens and foreign nationals:

• Valid foreign passport is accepted as photo ID — no US driver's license required
• No US citizenship or permanent residency required to marry in Nevada
• No requirement to speak English — bring an interpreter if needed; many chapels have multilingual staff
• International recognition — a Nevada marriage certificate is generally recognized in most countries, though you should verify with your home country's authorities, as recognition rules vary
• Apostille — if your home country is a signatory to the Hague Convention, you can get an apostille on your Nevada marriage certificate through the Nevada Secretary of State's office to make it officially recognized abroad

What Happens After the Ceremony?

The ceremony is just the beginning. Here is what to expect in the days and weeks after your Nevada wedding:

• Officiant files the license — your officiant is legally required to sign and return the marriage license to the county clerk within 10 days of the ceremony
• Wait 2–4 weeks — the county clerk processes the license and records it; you can then order certified copies
• Order certified copies ($10–$15 each) — you will need these for Social Security, DMV, passport, bank accounts, insurance beneficiaries, and other name-change purposes; order 4–6 copies

Name Change After a Nevada Marriage

If you are changing your name, the process starts with your certified marriage certificate:

• Social Security Administration — first stop; bring certified certificate and current ID; new Social Security card mailed in 7–10 days
• Department of Motor Vehicles — bring new Social Security card and certified certificate; get updated driver's license
• US Passport Office — DS-5504 form (within 1 year of marriage) or DS-82 (after 1 year); bring certified certificate
• Bank accounts, credit cards, employer HR — each institution has its own process; most require a certified copy

FAQ: Quick Marriage in Nevada

• Can I get married in Las Vegas the same day I arrive? +

  Yes. The Clark County Marriage License Bureau is open until midnight every day of the week. Get your license upon arrival, then visit any chapel — many are open 24 hours for walk-in ceremonies. As long as you arrive before midnight, you can have your license and be married within a couple of hours.
• Do both of us have to be in Nevada to get the license? +

  Yes, both parties must appear in person at the county clerk's office to obtain a Nevada marriage license. You cannot apply by mail, proxy, or fully online — both applicants must be physically present with valid government-issued photo ID.
• Is a Las Vegas wedding legally binding in my home state? +

  Yes. Under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the US Constitution, marriages validly performed in Nevada are legally recognized in all other US states. Your Las Vegas marriage certificate is fully valid for name changes, insurance beneficiaries, and all legal purposes nationwide.
• What if one of us was recently divorced? Is there a waiting period before remarrying in Nevada? +

  No waiting period. Once your divorce is finalized — meaning the court has entered the final decree — you can remarry immediately in Nevada. There is no mandatory waiting period between divorce and remarriage. You will need to know the date your divorce was finalized when you fill out the marriage license application.
• Can we get married in Nevada if we live in California or another state? +

  Absolutely. You do not need to be a Nevada resident to get married in Nevada. Out-of-state and international couples get married here every day. Simply appear in person at the county clerk's office with valid photo ID and pay the license fee. Your Nevada marriage certificate will be legally recognized in your home state.