After Your Wedding FAQ
You said “I do.” Now the paperwork has a little journey of its own.
After your Wedding Ceremony, the marriage license must be completed, returned to the County, recorded, and then turned into the official marriage record from which certified copies are issued.
This page explains what the Wedding Officiant handles, what the County handles, when to expect certified copies, how to begin a name change, and what to do if you discover an error.
What Happens After the Wedding Ceremony?
The License Is Completed
The Wedding Officiant who performed the ceremony completes and signs the required sections. A witness signs a Public Marriage License when required.
The Officiant Returns It
Only the Wedding Officiant who performed the ceremony may return the original completed license to the County that issued it. The couple may not file the original.
The County Reviews It
The County checks the document and records the marriage if everything is complete and correct.
The Record Becomes Available
After recording, the County can issue certified copies of the marriage record.
Certified Copies Are Sent or Picked Up
Delivery depends on the County, how the copy was ordered, and whether payment and forms were submitted in advance.
You Begin Any Name Changes
Once you have a certified copy, you can begin updating government, financial, employment, insurance, and other records.
Who Must Return the Marriage License?
The original marriage license must be returned to the issuing County only by the Wedding Officiant who performed the Wedding Ceremony.
Only the Wedding Officiant who performed the Wedding Ceremony may return the original marriage license to the issuing County. The original license cannot be given to the couple to mail, hand-deliver, or file themselves.
When one of our Wedding Officiants performs your ceremony, that Officiant handles completing, signing, and returning the original marriage license.
Keep any customer or keepsake copy you receive. That copy is for your records, but it is not the official certified marriage certificate.
Which County Records the Marriage?
The marriage license must be returned to the same County that issued it.
If Los Angeles County issued the license, Los Angeles County records it. If Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County, Ventura County, or another California County issued it, that County handles the recording.
The wedding location does not change which County records the license. The issuing County controls the record.
How Long Does Los Angeles County Take?
Los Angeles County currently takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks to process the marriage record and mail certified copies that were ordered with the completed license.
Processing may take longer if the County has a backlog, the license requires review, payment is missing, or information needs to be corrected.
Government processing time is not controlled by the Cute Little Wedding Chapel or Great Officiants. We wish we had a giant red button marked “record immediately,” but sadly the County has not given us one.
What If Another County Issued Our License?
Processing times vary by County.
If another County issued your license, contact that County Recorder or County Clerk for its current recording timeline and certified-copy process.
Couples usually need to either:
- Go to that County in person after the marriage has been recorded, or
- Download the County's marriage-record request form and order certified copies by mail.
Each County sets its own forms, fees, identification requirements, mailing address, and processing time.
Do You Order Certified Copies for Us?
When we issue your Los Angeles County marriage license, we can prepare the certified-copy request forms for you.
If you order certified copies and provide the required payment, we send the request forms, payment, and completed marriage license to Los Angeles County together.
Los Angeles County then records the marriage and mails the ordered certified copies to the address listed on the request.
What Is a Certified Marriage Certificate?
A certified marriage certificate is the official County-issued proof that the marriage was recorded.
It is different from:
- The original marriage license
- A customer copy
- A decorative certificate
- A ceremony keepsake
- A photograph of the signed license
Government agencies, banks, employers, insurance companies, and other organizations usually require a certified copy rather than a decorative or customer copy.
How Many Certified Copies Should We Order?
Many couples order two certified copies.
One may be used for name-change and administrative purposes while the other is kept safely with important records.
You may want additional copies for immigration, insurance, pension, military, international, or other legal purposes.
Each County charges a separate fee for every certified copy.
How Do We Know the Marriage Was Recorded?
Receiving the certified copies is confirmation that the marriage record has been recorded.
If you did not order copies in advance, contact the issuing County after its normal processing period to ask whether the record is available.
Have both names, the ceremony date, the County that issued the license, and the marriage license number available when contacting the County.
When Can We Begin a Legal Name Change?
You generally begin updating your legal records after the marriage has been recorded and you receive a certified copy of the marriage certificate.
A name change is not automatic. The marriage license may establish the permitted new name, but you still need to update each agency and account separately.
Apparently, marriage can join two lives together in one beautiful moment, but every government office still wants its own form.
Which Records Should Be Updated?
Social Security
Many people begin with the Social Security Administration before updating other government records.
Driver's License or State ID
Update your records with the Department of Motor Vehicles after completing the required Social Security steps.
Passport
Passport procedures depend on the passport's issue date and your travel plans.
Employer and Payroll
Update payroll, tax withholding, benefits, emergency contacts, and retirement accounts when applicable.
Banks and Credit Accounts
Banks and financial institutions may request identification and a certified marriage certificate.
Insurance and Other Records
Update health, auto, home, life, professional, membership, and other records as needed.
What If We Find an Error?
Contact our office or the issuing County as soon as you discover a possible error.
The correction process depends on:
- The type of error
- Who entered the information
- Whether the license has already been recorded
- The County that issued the license
- Whether supporting documents are required
Do not write on, erase, cross out, white out, or attempt to fix the original marriage license yourself.
Marriage licenses are official documents. They do not appreciate creative editing.
What If the Marriage Certificate Does Not Arrive?
First, confirm that enough processing time has passed.
For a Los Angeles County license, allow approximately 6 to 8 weeks when certified copies were ordered and submitted with the completed license.
If the expected time has passed, contact Los Angeles County or the County that issued the license. Confirm the mailing address used on the request and ask whether the marriage record has been recorded.
Frequently Asked After-the-Wedding Questions
Who returns the marriage license?
The Wedding Officiant who performed the Wedding Ceremony must return the original completed marriage license to the County that issued it.
Can we return the license ourselves?
No. Only the Wedding Officiant who performed the Wedding Ceremony may return the original marriage license to the issuing County. The original cannot be given to the couple to file.
How long does Los Angeles County take?
Los Angeles County currently takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks to process the record and mail certified copies that were ordered.
Do you prepare the certified-copy request?
Yes. When we issue your Los Angeles County marriage license, we can prepare the request forms and send them with the completed license and payment.
What if another County issued our license?
Contact that County for its current recording timeline and certified-copy process. You may need to go in person or order copies by mail.
Is the keepsake copy legally certified?
No. A keepsake or customer copy is not the same as a certified marriage certificate issued by the County.
When can we change a name?
You generally begin updating legal records after the marriage has been recorded and you receive a certified copy.
Is a name change automatic?
No. You must update each agency, employer, bank, insurer, and account separately.
What should we do if we find an error?
Contact our office or the issuing County immediately. Do not alter the original marriage license yourself.
How do we know the marriage was recorded?
Receiving certified copies confirms the record was completed. You may also contact the issuing County after its normal processing period.
Questions About What Happens Next?
We are here to help you understand the process. The Wedding Officiant returns the license, the County records it, and certified copies allow you to begin name changes and other legal updates.
Call or text: (562) 435-4000
Email: getmarried@cutelittleweddingchapel.com
Cute Little Wedding Chapel
3740 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 201
Long Beach, California 90807
County fees, forms, processing times, mailing procedures, correction requirements, and name-change rules may change. Contact the issuing County or appropriate government agency for current requirements.