Getting Married in Tennessee: Marriage Licenses, Notary Officiants and Filing Your Certificate
Getting married in Tennessee doesn’t have to involve a large wedding or a complicated ceremony. If you’re planning a simple marriage ceremony in Knoxville or East Tennessee, a commissioned Tennessee notary public can serve as your wedding officiant.
The process involves three main steps: getting your marriage license, having an authorized officiant perform the ceremony, and returning the completed paperwork to the county clerk.
1. Get Your Tennessee Marriage License
Before your ceremony, you’ll need a marriage license issued by a Tennessee county clerk. You can obtain the license from any county in Tennessee, regardless of where you live or which Tennessee county will host your ceremony.
Your license is valid for 30 days from issuance, so plan your officiant appointment within that time. You must obtain the license before the ceremony takes place.
Contact the county clerk before visiting to confirm:
Required identification and application information.
Whether both applicants must appear together or an exception applies.
Current fees, payment options and office hours.
Whether an online application is available to start the process.
Review the paperwork before leaving the clerk’s office. Make sure your names and other information are correct, and keep all pages and return instructions together.
2. Schedule an Authorized Wedding Officiant
Can a notary marry you in Tennessee? Yes. Tennessee law authorizes notaries public to solemnize marriages under Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-3-301. This authority was added in April 2021.
When scheduling a notary officiant, provide your preferred date, location and the type of ceremony you want. Let the officiant know whether you already have your marriage license.
For your appointment with Knox Notary Co., bring your original marriage license, all accompanying paperwork and valid government-issued photo identification for both people.
3. Complete a Simple Marriage Ceremony
Tennessee does not require a particular wedding script. The essential requirement is that each person declares, in the officiant’s presence, that they accept the other person in marriage.
A short civil ceremony can meet this requirement. You can also include personal vows or an exchange of rings if you choose.
The officiant must actually perform the ceremony. Simply signing the marriage paperwork does not replace the required exchange of consent.
4. Have the Officiant Complete the Marriage Paperwork
After the ceremony, the officiant completes and signs the appropriate sections of the marriage license and accompanying Certificate of Marriage.
Depending on the form, this includes the marriage date, ceremony location, officiant’s information and signature, and whether the ceremony was civil or religious. The officiant should follow the issuing clerk’s instructions and check that all required fields are complete.
Does the notary stamp the marriage certificate?
Officiating a wedding is different from notarizing a signature. The officiant signs to certify that they performed the marriage ceremony. Tennessee’s marriage certification requirements call for the officiant’s completion and signature, rather than a standard acknowledgment or jurat with a notarial stamp. Any questions about a particular form should be directed to the issuing county clerk.
5. Return the Paperwork to the Issuing County Clerk
After the ceremony, the completed paperwork must go back to the county clerk who issued the license.
Tennessee law requires the officiant to return the completed marriage license and required marriage record within three days of the ceremony. Returning the paperwork is the officiant’s responsibility.
If you’re referring to this as “taking it to the courthouse,” the correct destination is the issuing county clerk’s office. Confirm its approved return method and location in advance, especially for a weekend or holiday ceremony.
After the paperwork is recorded, ask the clerk how to obtain certified copies for name changes or other official purposes. A keepsake wedding certificate may not serve the same purpose as a certified marriage record.
Need a Wedding Officiant in Knoxville?
I offer wedding officiant services through Knox Notary Co. for couples looking for a simple, personal ceremony in Knoxville and the surrounding East Tennessee area.
Contact Knox Notary Co. to discuss your date, location and ceremony preferences. Obtain your Tennessee marriage license before your appointment, and I’ll walk you through the ceremony and officiant paperwork.
This article provides general information about Tennessee marriage procedures and is not legal advice. Confirm current application and filing instructions with the county clerk issuing your license.