The wedding ceremony is one of the most important parts of your wedding day. We can help you to plan your wedding as to the ceremony, the wording, the order of service and after the wedding, making sure all of the documents that need to be filed with the Office of Probate Court are filed properly. Upstate Event Services is available to perform marriages in South Carolina as well as Georgia and North Carolina. We would love to speak to you and get to know you and your style so that the wedding ceremony is a reflection of you, your values and your taste. Contact us for a consultation today.
Wedding Ceremony
Types of Ceremonies
Here are descriptions of the many types of ceremonies you will be able to choose from for you wedding. Of course, these can also be customized / altered to suit your needs and wishes in order to make your wedding day everything you have always dreamed it would be.
Civil Wedding Ceremony: for couples who would prefer a non-religious ceremony
Non-Denominational Ceremony: for couples who would like their ceremony to be spiritual in nature, but not necessarily based on a particular religion
Christian Ceremony: for couples who share a christian based background and want their ceremony to reflect their religious beliefs
Interfaith Ceremony: for couples who share different religious backgrounds and would like their beliefs blended and encompassing both
Custom Ceremony: We will work with the couple to create a fully customized wedding ceremony in order to be as simple or as extravagant as you have always imagined
Vow Renewal Ceremony: This is for married couples who wish to have a ceremony to want to let their spouse know that they would "do it all over again"! These ceremonies can be as simple (just the couple) or as extravagant (all your family and friends) as you wish. Many couple choose to have a vow renewal ceremony on milestone anniversaries.
Commitment Ceremony: We will conduct commitment ceremonies between same sex couples. The state of South Carolina does not recognize this as a wedding ceremony, but we feel that all persons regardless of sexual orientation have the right to publicly declare their love with out prejudice or judgement.
Here are descriptions of the many types of ceremonies you will be able to choose from for you wedding. Of course, these can also be customized / altered to suit your needs and wishes in order to make your wedding day everything you have always dreamed it would be.
Civil Wedding Ceremony: for couples who would prefer a non-religious ceremony
Non-Denominational Ceremony: for couples who would like their ceremony to be spiritual in nature, but not necessarily based on a particular religion
Christian Ceremony: for couples who share a christian based background and want their ceremony to reflect their religious beliefs
Interfaith Ceremony: for couples who share different religious backgrounds and would like their beliefs blended and encompassing both
Custom Ceremony: We will work with the couple to create a fully customized wedding ceremony in order to be as simple or as extravagant as you have always imagined
Vow Renewal Ceremony: This is for married couples who wish to have a ceremony to want to let their spouse know that they would "do it all over again"! These ceremonies can be as simple (just the couple) or as extravagant (all your family and friends) as you wish. Many couple choose to have a vow renewal ceremony on milestone anniversaries.
Commitment Ceremony: We will conduct commitment ceremonies between same sex couples. The state of South Carolina does not recognize this as a wedding ceremony, but we feel that all persons regardless of sexual orientation have the right to publicly declare their love with out prejudice or judgement.
South Carolina laws concerning marriage provisions
Marriage license requirements in the state of South Carolina, here is what you need to bring with you, and what you need to know about the South Carolina marriage laws before applying for the South Carolina marriage license application.
Marriage License in South Carolina
ID Requirement:
Drivers License and Social Security number.
Residency Requirement:
Do not have to be a resident of South Carolina.
If previously married:
No proof of divorce is required.
Application Requirement:
Both parties to a marriage should appear in person at the office of a South Carolina County Probate Judge and file a written application. This application asks for the full name, social security number, age, and place of residence of both the bride and the groom. It is a sworn statement that must be signed by both the bride and the groom and notarized in the office of the Probate Judge. Couples should apply for a marriage license in the county that they intend to hold the ceremony.
Fees:
The fee for a South Carolina marriage license application varies depending on county.
Ceremony Officiating : $300.00
Rehearsal: $250.00
Travel: Over 20 miles, 2.50 per mile.
Waiting Period:
There is a 24-hour waiting period after the application is filed before the license can be picked up and the marriage can take place. If you want to get married on a weekend, make sure you apply for a marriage license by Thursday so you can pick up your license by Friday.
Blood Tests:
No blood test or physical exam is required.
Under 18:
If you are under the age of 18, parental consent can be granted for boys who are at least 16 years old and for girls who are at least 14 years old. All minor applicants must file an original birth certificate or a certified copy of their birth certificate, which becomes a part of their permanent application record. The parent or legal guardian of a minor applicant must appear at the same time as the minor to present identification and sign a form consenting to the marriage.
If you are 18 years old or older, you do not need parental consent. But you must provide proof of your age (or simply identification if you're over age 25) by presenting one of the following:
Name Change:
Getting a marriage license with your new name on it does not mean your name has automatically changed. If you need to change your last name, you can use an online marriage name change kit.
Proxy Marriages:
No. Both parties must be present.
Common Law Marriage:
Yes, and both parties must be at least 16 years of age to marry.
Cousin Marriage:
Yes. First cousin, no.
Same Sex Marriage:
Yes.
Officiants:
Ministers of the gospel who are authorized to administer oaths in this state may perform marriages. Ministers must complete the marriage license and give one copy to the parties and the other two must be returned to the county judge of probate who issued it within 15 days after the marriage. We will take care of filing these forms after the ceremony. A Notary Public can also perform marriages in South Carolina.
Valid:
There is no expiration date for a South Carolina marriage license.
The license can only be used within the State of South Carolina.
Copy of Certificate of Marriage:
Office of Public Health Statistics and Information Systems
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803) 898-3630
Please Note:
State and county marriage license requirements often change. The above information is for guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice.
South Carolina Clerk's Office
Marriage license requirements in the state of South Carolina, here is what you need to bring with you, and what you need to know about the South Carolina marriage laws before applying for the South Carolina marriage license application.
Marriage License in South Carolina
ID Requirement:
Drivers License and Social Security number.
Residency Requirement:
Do not have to be a resident of South Carolina.
If previously married:
No proof of divorce is required.
Application Requirement:
Both parties to a marriage should appear in person at the office of a South Carolina County Probate Judge and file a written application. This application asks for the full name, social security number, age, and place of residence of both the bride and the groom. It is a sworn statement that must be signed by both the bride and the groom and notarized in the office of the Probate Judge. Couples should apply for a marriage license in the county that they intend to hold the ceremony.
Fees:
The fee for a South Carolina marriage license application varies depending on county.
Ceremony Officiating : $300.00
Rehearsal: $250.00
Travel: Over 20 miles, 2.50 per mile.
Waiting Period:
There is a 24-hour waiting period after the application is filed before the license can be picked up and the marriage can take place. If you want to get married on a weekend, make sure you apply for a marriage license by Thursday so you can pick up your license by Friday.
Blood Tests:
No blood test or physical exam is required.
Under 18:
If you are under the age of 18, parental consent can be granted for boys who are at least 16 years old and for girls who are at least 14 years old. All minor applicants must file an original birth certificate or a certified copy of their birth certificate, which becomes a part of their permanent application record. The parent or legal guardian of a minor applicant must appear at the same time as the minor to present identification and sign a form consenting to the marriage.
If you are 18 years old or older, you do not need parental consent. But you must provide proof of your age (or simply identification if you're over age 25) by presenting one of the following:
- Valid driver's license;
- Original birth certificate or a certified copy of your birth certificate;
- Valid South Carolina identification card issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety;
- Current military identification card;
- Current passport.
Name Change:
Getting a marriage license with your new name on it does not mean your name has automatically changed. If you need to change your last name, you can use an online marriage name change kit.
Proxy Marriages:
No. Both parties must be present.
Common Law Marriage:
Yes, and both parties must be at least 16 years of age to marry.
Cousin Marriage:
Yes. First cousin, no.
Same Sex Marriage:
Yes.
Officiants:
Ministers of the gospel who are authorized to administer oaths in this state may perform marriages. Ministers must complete the marriage license and give one copy to the parties and the other two must be returned to the county judge of probate who issued it within 15 days after the marriage. We will take care of filing these forms after the ceremony. A Notary Public can also perform marriages in South Carolina.
Valid:
There is no expiration date for a South Carolina marriage license.
The license can only be used within the State of South Carolina.
Copy of Certificate of Marriage:
Office of Public Health Statistics and Information Systems
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803) 898-3630
Please Note:
State and county marriage license requirements often change. The above information is for guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice.
South Carolina Clerk's Office