Georgia Destination Wedding Officiant
Remote-planned ceremonies for couples marrying in Georgia from another state or another country.
The short answer
Mila Notary & Wedding Solutions helps couples from other states and countries marry in Georgia. The key rule: if neither of you lives in Georgia, you must get your marriage license from the probate court in the county where your ceremony takes place. There is no waiting period, so most couples finish everything in one trip.
A destination wedding simply means marrying somewhere you do not live. Legally it works like any Georgia wedding: a license from the right county, an authorized officiant, and a signed license returned to the court within 30 days.
How do you plan a Georgia wedding from out of state?
Almost everything happens before you travel. We plan the ceremony with you by phone or video: script, vows, music cues, and the timeline for the day. The only step that must happen in person is the license application, because Georgia requires both of you at the probate court counter. Since the state has no waiting period, couples usually apply the day before or even the morning of the ceremony.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| 2 to 3 months out | Choose your city and venue, and confirm which county it sits in. That county's probate court will issue your license. |
| 1 month out | Plan the ceremony with us remotely: script, vows, and schedule. |
| Arrival day | Apply together at the ceremony county's probate court with photo ID, Social Security numbers, and any divorce decree date. The license is issued the same visit. |
| Wedding day | Ceremony at your venue. You, us, and the license signature; witnesses are not required. |
| Within 30 days | We return the signed license to the probate court, which records the marriage and can issue certified copies. |
Where do destination couples marry in Georgia?
Most of our destination couples choose the coast. Savannah delivers historic squares and a walkable honeymoon in one city. The Golden Isles around Brunswick offer Driftwood Beach and lighthouse lawns. St. Marys pairs a waterfront gazebo with ferry access to Cumberland Island. Inland, Atlanta suits couples flying into a major hub, and the North Georgia mountains give autumn ceremonies real color. Because we are based in Jacksonville, coastal dates offer us the most scheduling flexibility, including short-notice ceremonies.
Start with the Savannah wedding officiant page or the Brunswick and Golden Isles page if you are choosing between coastal towns.
Can international couples get married in Georgia?
Yes. Georgia probate courts accept a valid passport as photo ID, and United States citizenship or residency is not required to marry here. A marriage performed in Georgia is a legal US marriage. Two practical points deserve attention, though. First, if you need the marriage recognized in your home country, ask your consulate what documentation it expects; requirements differ by country, and some ask for an apostille, an international certification attached to official documents. Second, if a previous marriage ended abroad, the probate court will want the date of the final decree, and a decree written in another language may need a certified English translation. We prepare certified translations for exactly this situation.
- Passport accepted: Georgia probate courts take a valid passport as identification.
- No residency requirement: visitors can legally marry in Georgia.
- Home-country recognition: check with your consulate; an apostille on your marriage certificate is a common request.
- Foreign divorce decrees: bring the final date, with a certified translation if the decree is not in English.
- Multilingual ceremony: we officiate in English, Russian, and Ukrainian.
What happens after the ceremony?
You fly home married; the paperwork stays with us. We sign your license and return it to the issuing probate court within Georgia's 30-day window. The court then records the marriage and can issue certified copies of your marriage certificate, which is the document you will use for name changes, immigration filings, and recognition abroad. If you need help understanding which copies to order before you leave the state, ask us during planning and we will build it into your timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we plan a Georgia wedding without visiting first?
Yes. Ceremony planning happens by phone or video, and Georgia has no waiting period, so your only required in-person step is applying for the license at the ceremony county's probate court once you arrive.
Where do we get our license if we do not live in Georgia?
From the probate court in the county where your ceremony takes place. That is a firm rule for non-resident couples, so confirm your venue's county before you travel.
Can foreign citizens marry in Georgia?
Yes. A valid passport works as identification and no US residency is required. For recognition back home, ask your consulate what documents it expects; many countries request an apostille on the marriage certificate.
How early should we arrive before the wedding?
One business day is usually enough. The probate court issues the license during your visit and there is no waiting period. We still suggest arriving the day before the ceremony to keep the schedule calm.
How do we prove we are married afterward?
After we return your signed license, the probate court records the marriage and issues certified copies of the certificate on request. That certified copy is what banks, agencies, and foreign authorities accept.
What if our documents are not in English?
Bring certified English translations, especially for a foreign divorce decree, since the court needs the final decree date. We offer certified translation services and can prepare these before your trip.
Let's Make Your Georgia Destination Wedding Official
Tell us where you are flying from and where you want to say your vows. We will map the county, the license, and the ceremony.