North Carolina Wedding Officiant Rules –
From an Asheville Elopement Photographer

When you choose to elope (in North Carolina, sure, but truly anywhere), there’s often a whirlwind of exciting choices that rush toward you almost immediately. 

Who’s invited to your elopement? Where in the world will your elopement take place? What will you wear? Which North Carolina elopement photographer will capture your day? 

Making these decisions is exhilarating and important, but often, couples check these boxes and answer these questions without acknowledging one of the most important of all – how do you legally get married in North Carolina on their elopement day? 

Every country, every state, and even every county has different rules about what’s legally required to get officially married on your wedding day. 

As an experienced Asheville elopement photographer and North Carolina native, I figured it was high time to make this as seamless as possible to get the answers you needed. So, I created a go-to guide for the official rules of how to elope in North Carolina. 

I’m here (by the power vested in me and this blog) to share all the answers you need and possibly answer some of the questions you didn’t even know you had.

Key Takeaways: What’s in This Elopement Blog

• You’ll need a valid marriage license, a recognized officiant, and two witnesses to make it official in North Carolina.
• Make sure to grab your marriage license before the wedding day—there’s no waiting period, but it does expire after 60 days.
• You can snag your license from any county in the state (some even let you apply online—talk about a time saver).
• There’s a small fee to file for your license, so don’t forget to budget for it.
• After the ceremony, your marriage license needs to head back to the Register of Deeds within 10 days. Some officiants handle this for you, but it’s always worth asking!
• North Carolina officiants can be magistrates, ordained ministers, or other religious officials (even online ordination is usually good to go, but there’s a tiny legal gray area to consider).
• You’ll need two witnesses to sign your marriage license—don’t worry if it’s just the two of you; there’s always a way to find someone to sign.
• Want a ceremony in a remote spot or up a mountain trail? Make sure your officiant is up for the adventure!

How to Elope in North Carolina: The Go-To Guide You’ve Been Looking For

I’ve always loved North Carolina for its beautiful and diverse landscape. There’s something magical about wandering through the forested mountains, high above the clouds (or in them if you’re here during one of the state’s moody days). 

But I don’t just love North Carolina as an elopement destination for its striking beauty; I love it because it’s one of the states that makes it relatively easy to legally elope. 

Though some states out there have a simpler process (I’m looking at you, Colorado–a state that lets couples self-solemnize without officiants or witnesses), North Carolina truly doesn’t overcomplicate it. With just a few quick requirements checked off, you can pretty much elope anywhere you and your partner desire. 

This guide spells out everything you need to know about eloping in North Carolina–from the step-by-step process and officiant requirements to elopement FAQs and elopement photographer considerations.  

How to Officially Get Married in North Carolina

Before we dive into the logistics, I want to offer any couple reading this a quick disclaimer. The day you get married can look and feel any way you want it to look and feel – and if that doesn’t include dealing with paperwork, witnesses, and officiants, that’s OK. 

You can elope in the mountains of North Carolina and have that count as your wedding day, but choose to deal with the paperwork at a later time. 

That being said, a lot of couples want to be legally married on the day they say I do. If you’re curious about the step-by-step process of how to elope in North Carolina, here’s the legal stuff all spelled out in one, simple spot for you. 

• To get legally married in North Carolina, you must have an official marriage license, a recognized officiant, and two witnesses to sign your marriage certificate. 
• Your marriage license must be obtained before your wedding. Thankfully, there’s no waiting period between when you pick up your license and when you get married, but it does expire after 60 days. 
• You’ll need to get your marriage license from any county in the state. Depending on the county, you might be able to file for your license online and save an in-person trip (but check in advance with the specific county). Here’s the Buncombe County application!
• Of course, you’ll have to pay a bit of a fee to file for your license! 
• You’ll need to return your marriage license to the Register of Deeds within 10 days of your wedding to make things official! Some officiants will do this for you, others might not–it’s important to ask yours what they offer. 

Choosing the Right North Carolina Wedding Officiant: What to Consider

OK, so you read the part above about needing an officiant to make sure things are legal, right? The good news is this isn’t as complicated as it might sound. 

According to North Carolina, their definition of a qualified “officiant” is:

• A magistrate 
• A minister ordained in any religious denomination 
• Ministers authorized by a church 
• Officials of any religious denomination that do not use officiants, such as federally or state-recognized Indian Nations of Tribes 

Choosing an officiant for your wedding day doesn’t have to be an overwhelming or stressful decision. There are plenty of officiants you can hire to join you and your soon-to-be-spouse at any location you choose–whether you’re hiking up to your Max Patch elopement or planning your Blue Ridge Parkway wedding.  

In my experience, there are a few important considerations to mull over with your spouse when choosing which wedding officiant is right for you. Keep reading to tackle a few of the most crucial questions you and your partner should ask of your wedding officiant. 

The Legal Stuff Matters–They Have to Be Ordained

First things first, you have to ask the most important question– “is this person legally allowed to marry us in North Carolina?” Run through the list I shared with you above and make sure they check one of those boxes. 

If you’re not sure, ask the officiant directly–they should have documentation and all the legal information you need to make sure they’re legally recognized as a wedding officiant in the state. 

Before you ask, let’s tackle one of the most commonly asked questions in this area of elopement legality–can an online minister act as our wedding officiant in North Carolina? 

The question might be straightforward, but the answer is… a little more complicated than that.  

This back ‘n’ forth always pops up when we start talking about the validity of marriages performed by the Univeral Life Church, an organization that’s made it relatively easy for people to be “ordained” on their site rather quickly.  

I can’t speak for every county, but here’s what I’ve confirmed with my lawyer in Buncombe County: wedding ceremonies performed by ULC ministers are presumed to be valid. 

In short, this means that they won’t be rejected by the Register of Deeds or SSA. But there’s a catch– they are still technically voidable by a judge.

So, it’s not illegal, invalid, or unrecognized by the state. By all accounts, this won’t mess up anything in your day-to-day life. Things get tricky later on if divorce is ever on the table. (I know it’s taboo to mention divorce, but it’s an important thing to know!) 

Here’s the rub: if you get married solely by someone who is ordained online by the Universal Life Church, someone in your partnership could deem your marriage as invalidated down the line if they wanted to.

The summary of this? It’s not illegal and unrecognized, but it’s not completely unproblematic, either. 

Ultimately, what you choose is completely up to you (and I support you every step of the way). Knowing all the facts is the best way to make the decision that makes the most sense for the two of you. 

The Wedding Officiant’s Personality & Attitude

Once you’ve tackled the legal, official stuff, you can start having fun with choosing your officiant. When interviewing and meeting wedding officiants, think about how you want them to act on your wedding day. How do you want the day to feel? What’s important to you as a couple? 

Are you both unserious and silly? Do you prefer someone who’s a bit more sentimental and stoic? There’s no wrong answer here; it’s totally up to the kind of officiant (and the kind of day) you want to have. 

Cultural and Religious Considerations  

What do you want the flow of your wedding ceremony to include? Are you planning on incorporating important religious elements? Key things from your culture that are significant to you? 

Choosing an officiant who’s well-versed in these things can make your elopement day feel a bit more seamless and stress-free because you can count on them to know how to incorporate what’s important to you. 

The Style, Length, & Flow of Your Elopement Ceremony

Before you can choose a wedding officiant, you and your partner should discuss the style of your ceremony, how long you’d like it to be, and how you want it to feel. Do you want a day that’s filled with traditional elements? Something a bit more non-traditional? Or maybe a blend of the two (that’s allowed, you know!).

Then, and only then, should you start seeking out officiants. 

Think of choosing a wedding officiant like solving an equation – if you want to solve for X (the officiant), you need the other important information first! Discuss what’s most important to you both, and how you want the ceremony to go; then tackle finding the officiant that fits that equation. 

Day-of Logistics & Accessibility

This conversation becomes more important depending on where and how you’re choosing to elope. If you’re having your elopement ceremony somewhere accessible, most officiants should be prepared to take part in your elopement ceremony. 

This conversation changes a bit if you and your partner want to have your elopement ceremony a few miles into a gorgeous North Carolina mountain hike. 

Make sure you talk this through with your officiant of choice to make sure they’re prepared and ready for a ceremony in the mountains (and that they’re up to your style of adventure). 

If you’re having trouble finding a wedding officiant who’s down to tackle an elopement adventure, ask your Asheville elopement photographer for advice (that’s me; I’ve got plenty of recommendations!) 

The Must-Know NC Elopement & Micro-Wedding Paperwork & Legal FAQs

Can an Online Officiant Legally Marry Us During our Elopement or Wedding?

Technically, yes. Earlier in the blog, we talked about how there’s been some controversy around ULC-ordained folks and whether their ceremonies are valid. 

The short answer: They’re valid, but they’re technically voidable by a judge. 

So, yes, your marriage is valid, but it could cause problems down the line if divorce is ever on the table. To make things as legal as possible, the best route is to either be married by a magistrate at the courthouse or find someone who is officially ordained and recognized by the state.  

Is Eloping Legal?

It sure is! Whether you’re having a micro-wedding in Asheville with your closest loved ones or a just-us day at the peak of a Western NC mountain, you can legally marry the love of your life wherever and however you choose. 

To make sure you’re tackling the “legal” part, though, you’ll need to ensure you’ve got a valid marriage license, a state-approved wedding officiant, and two witnesses to sign your marriage license. 

Do We Need an Officiant to Elope in North Carolina? 

You do! Though some other states (like Colorado) let couples self-solemnize without witnesses or officiants, the state of North Carolina does require a state-recognized officiant to make things legal. 

Do We Have to Do Paperwork in NC if We’re Visiting From Out of Town? 

If you’re planning to be legally married in North Carolina on your elopement day, you will have to tackle the paperwork. If you’d rather not bother with paperwork while you’re here and plan to tackle the legal side of stuff before or after the day you say I do, don’t worry about it. You can always take care of the paperwork before or after your wedding day in your home state, county, or town. 

Do We Have to Bring Witnesses to Legally Elope? 

North Carolina requires two witnesses to sign your marriage license. That doesn’t always mean you have to bring witnesses with you. If having your marriage license signed by people who love and support you is important to you, bringing two witnesses along is a beautiful way to celebrate your marriage. If you’d rather have a just-us day, there are always ways to find witnesses on your day to sign your marriage license (and I can help with that!). 

Do We Have to Legally Elope to Book an Elopement Photography Package in NC? 

You sure don’t! I’m a big fan of love without the labels–my partner and I have been in a loving, committed relationship for over a decade and I believe that– just as much as a wedding– deserves the same celebration. I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what your love looks like, you should have your story documented–in videos and in photos. When you book a North Carolina elopement package with me, you can choose a love-without-the-labels package. That means we can plan your day your way without the paperwork and legal stuff (if that’s what you’re after). Plus, if you eventually do want to legally get married, you can always tackle the paperwork in your home state or county at a later date. This is a great way to include family members during one ceremony and then saving your elopement day just for the two of you! 

Finding Your Perfect Asheville Elopement Photographer 

Just like you want to make sure you’ve got all the logistical details ironed out before your North Carolina elopement (or micro-wedding or celebration of love–no labels needed), you’ll want to make sure you’ve got a creative wedding vendor on your side–an elopement photographer who understands you, your love, and your day. 

I’ve been an Asheville elopement photographer & videographer for a long time now (about 8 years!), and I’m a lifelong North Carolina native, too. What I know to be true? Your love story deserves to be documented so you can remember and savor every second for the rest of forever. 

You deserve to romanticize every moment of your life–to fall in love with your story and be reminded of why you chose one another. These photos are the reminder of why you choose each other, again and again, and what’s behind the beautiful life you’re building together. 

The best way to do that? Ensure every moment is captured by someone who gets your love, grounds you, and supports your vision of a perfect-for-you elopement day. 

Saying all of that is one thing – choosing a North Carolina elopement photographer who can do that is another. Here’s a quick checklist I like to share with couples in love to help them get to the root of what a perfect-for-them elopement photographer or videographer looks and feels like. 

• They support your love–no matter what it looks like. 
• Every moment matters to them just as much as it matters to you. 
• They’ve got experience working with couples like you and care about what you care about. 
• They have lots of suggestions, location guides, and special ideas for your wedding day. 
• They know, love, and protect the beautiful locations they share with you.  
• The legal stuff is common knowledge to them–they can walk you through the paperwork, logistics, and permits with ease. 
• They can capture your love story candidly and naturally.
• Bonus points if they can provide elopement photos and videos at the same time(like this Asheville elopement photographer right here). 

Capturing Your Real Moments Every Step of the Way 

No matter how you choose to elope–tackling the legal stuff on your wedding day or celebrating without crossing the Ts–it’s my greatest hope you plan and experience a day that makes you feel alive, aligned, and in love. 

If you’re ready to talk about your North Carolina elopement and work with an Asheville elopement photographer who loves the land (and your love story), I’m here to help. Let’s chat about what your day can look and feel like and how I can help you capture those moments and feelings forever.