Signing the marriage license...

Making it legal, and getting engaged? YES! from Steven Young on Vimeo.
Mother makes it legal, daughter gets....engaged?

MAKING IT LEGAL IN HAWAII
...a very very simple process....

Getting married in Hawaii is extraordinarily easy. All you need is a picture ID such as a driver's license, passport, or state ID, and well...that's it! There is no waiting period, no blood test, no need to post your name on a bulletin board to see if anyone objects to your marriage! Yes, that is actually still part of the marriage license process in England. The minister, of course, needs to be commissioned by the State of Hawaii. And regarding witnesses, you honestly don't need one because the minister can actually be the witness for his own ceremony. I realize a lot of wedding companies will claim you need to pay for a witness, but it's hogwash.

To get the marriage license, you can either head to the Department of Health, or to an independent agents house if you want to get your marriage license after hours, or on the weekends. Once you obtain the marriage license, all you have to do from there is to bring that license to your wedding with you. After your wedding ceremony, my minister and you and your then husband, will make it legal by filling out the blanks on the marriage license. This is where the bride, or the groom, has the opportunity to change their last name. In all my history of planning weddings, only once did I ever have a groom take his bride's last name.

After all the signing is done, my minister will mail off your license to the Department of Health. The Department of Health will then process the marriage license and turn this into a certificate of marriage. That process can take up to 200 days! I know what you're thinking.... 200 days! Don't worry...if you turn in the green paper that comes with the marriage license, plus $10, they will take about 3 to 4 weeks to get your marriage certificate to you.

So, did you watch the video yet? It's a video clip of one of our couples making it legal. Then, at the end of the video, her daughter gets the surprise of her life. It was truly a special moment! I don't get to be there for many engagements. In fact, I think this was my first one that I video taped.

Till the next post...


Steven Young
The Wedding Guy