Elope in PA | PA Elopement Packages | Eloping Pennsylvania (2023)

FAQs

Elope in PA | PA Elopement Packages | Eloping Pennsylvania? ›

All you have to do is tell the clerk at the courthouse that you'd like a self-uniting marriage license and mail it back in afterward, just as you would any other marriage license. With this, you can state your own vows or even have any family member or friend "officiate" the ceremony with readings of your choice.

All you have to do is tell the clerk at the courthouse that you'd like a self-uniting marriage license and mail it back in afterward, just as you would any other marriage license. With this, you can state your own vows or even have any family member or friend "officiate" the ceremony with readings of your choice.

The cost of eloping

While there is no set cost to elope, most couples spend $5,000-$15,000, far less than the national average of $33,000 for a traditional wedding. Eloping couples tend to cut out the things they don't care about, and perhaps pay a little more for the things they do.

Pennsylvania law requires a three-day waiting period between the date applicants apply for a Marriage License and when the license may be issued. If applying on Monday, the license will be ready on Thursday. If applying on Tuesday, the license will be ready on Friday.

That being said, elopements typically end up being more affordable than a wedding. The average cost of a wedding is about $34,000 whereas the average cost of an elopement is $6,000 to $15,000. The biggest expense for an elopement will be the travel costs and the photography and videography coverage.

Pennsylvania has a provision in the Marriage Act that recognizes a marriage performed without officiating clergy. This is referred to as a self-uniting license. Two witnesses are required.

You need a marriage license before you can legally get married. Both applicants must appear in person at the Register of Wills and provide the required documents, including identification. You can use your marriage license in any county in Pennsylvania. You cannot use it in another state or country.

Both parties must possess a valid Social Security number. Both parties must also provide evidence that any prior marriages have been legally ended through divorce, annulment or death. The bride and groom may not be legally married to any other individual at the time of application.

Is it worth it to elope? ›

Eloping is great for couples that value experience over a big wedding, or would rather put their money toward something that is more important. Most couples that choose to elope crave a day that reflects their relationship. They're rad couples that value a true experience they can remember forever.

Monday is a great day to get married, especially if you're throwing a wedding with a tight budget. Weekday weddings are typically more affordable, with Monday being most affordable and increasing in expense as you get nearer the weekend.

Married couples enjoy more Social Security benefits, tax breaks, retirement options, estate planning perks, and cheaper insurance (health and auto).

Guests. This is one of the biggest contrasts between a traditional wedding and an elopement ceremony. Most traditional weddings have a guest list with 50 to 200+ guests, while an elopement is 20 guests or less. A microwedding is 20-50 guests.

A minister, priest or rabbi of any regularly established church or congregation.

Notary publics can provide services in the state that they are licensed in. They can complete your wedding documentation, and if they are licensed, they can also officiate your wedding. However, a licensed notary cannot marry couples who are from another state. They also can't go out of the state to perform a wedding.

Both applicants must appear together in person to complete the marriage license application. Applicants must have valid ID (e.g., current Driver's License, military or Pennsylvania Department of Transportation photo ID ). Birth Certificates are required only when applicants have no other ID .

Increasing Elopement Risks

Residents who have eloped may be exposed to extreme heat or cold. They may suffer a fall when walking over uneven or unfamiliar territory. Additionally, they may suffer injuries or death as a result of wandering into traffic or bodies of water, or as a result of exposure to inclement weather.

Even in an elopement, two people are getting married and starting a new chapter together as one — that certainly calls for a gift! So whether you're the couple debating setting up your elopement registry or you know someone who's eloping and you're wondering if you should send a gift, the answer is a resounding YES!

Is $100 too cheap for wedding? ›

They suggest the following breakdown: coworkers or distant relatives should spend 50 to 75 dollars. Friends or relatives, 75 to 100 dollars. For close friends, family, or if you are in the wedding party, you should spend 100 to 150 dollars—or more.

The license is only valid in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The fee to obtain a marriage license is $50 cash; money order (less than 9 months old) or cashiers check from bank.

A marriage license is valid for 60 days from date it is issued. Please note that if you cannot speak English, an independent translator must join the video conference. The translator must present valid photo ID. A marriage license issued in Montgomery County may be used anywhere in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Lost License

If your license was never filed and cannot be found, more steps must be taken for the marriage to be recognized legally. You can request a duplicate license, which then needs to be signed again by both spouses and the officiant.

The marriage license must be obtained at least three days prior to the marriage ceremony. The three-day waiting period does not start until after your appointment.

Fee. Application and License $60. Fee is waived for certified copy only of marriage record with proof of service in U.S. Armed Forces.

To hold a Quaker wedding in Pennsylvania, you'll have to follow a few steps. In Philly, you'll need to first make an appointment for a marriage license through the Marriage License Bureau at the Register of Wills. Due to the pandemic, marriage licenses are being offered by appointment only.

The unique Pennsylvania license, which is a Quaker tradition, allows people to marry themselves without an officiant, just witnesses. That means a couple can have someone emcee the ceremony as a symbolic but not legal officiant.

To legally get hitched in PA, you and your partner will need to apply for a marriage license—together and in person—at a local Register of Wills, marriage license bureau, or county clerk's office. Pennsylvania does not permit proxy marriages.

Since 1979, 33 other states, not including Pennsylvania, have eliminated the test and five never required it. California, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Vermont, the District of Columbia, and New Jersey, still require the test.

What are the consequences of eloping? ›

Cons of eloping: Disapproving Opinions

Your relationships are important to you, and sadly, some of those relationships may be strained by your choice to elope. Friends may be jealous you have chosen such a stellar way to get married while some family may be upset they didn't make the tiny guest list.

The elopement could take place anywhere, from a local courthouse to a luxury resort in the Caribbean. So, when it comes to bridal showers and elopements, people are bending the old rules, too. The consensus: Whether or not the elopement is a secret, it's perfectly fine to have a bridal shower.

Eloping doesn't have to involve running, and it certainly doesn't have to be secret. In fact, the best way to elope without offending family is to let them know in person. If you're anticipating a negative reaction, it may be tempting to break the news over a text message or in an email. Resist this temptation.

In the U.S., off-season wedding months can vary by region, but usually they are January, February, July, and November. These are usually also the cheapest months to get married in.

When Is Wedding Off-Season? In contrast, winter is considered the off-season for weddings. Only 11% of weddings took place between December and February last year, making it the least popular season to get married. February is the least popular month for weddings, accounting for just 3% of them in 2022.

“The ideal age to get married, with the least likelihood of divorce in the first five years, is 28 to 32,” says Carrie Krawiec, a marriage and family therapist at Birmingham Maple Clinic in Troy, Michigan. “Called the 'Goldilocks theory,' the idea is that people at this age are not too old and not too young.”

A regular marriage license costs $90. Quaker or self-uniting licenses cost $100. Other common costs include: Corrections fee – $25.

The license is only valid in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The fee to obtain a marriage license is $50 cash; money order (less than 9 months old) or cashiers check from bank.

Paying for your license

The fee for a marriage license is $90.00, payable by Visa, MasterCard, certified check, or money order. Cash and personal checks are not accepted. A Quaker (or Self-Uniting) license is $100. Have more questions?

The least expensive weddings, on average, can be thrown in Kansas, Oklahoma and Utah — average wedding costs in these states are well below the national average at $16,000. Here in Pennsylvania, we sit just $3,000 over the average at $33,000.