Colorado Self Solemnization: How you can marry yourself!
Looking for a way to legally marry yourself? It’s called self solemnization, and Colorado is the easiest state to do it in. Keep scrolling to learn more!

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Updated: May 9, 2023
What is self solemnization?
Self solemnization is where the couple legally marries themselves, without the need for an officiant or a witness to be present to sign their marriage certificate.
How to self solemnize your wedding in Colorado
Self solemnizing your marriage in Colorado is very easy! It’s the same marriage license as a traditional wedding, but you’ll fill it out a little differently. You and your partner simply sign on the line where the officiant would typically sign. Just 4 easy steps!
- Go to a county clerk and recorder’s office.
- Apply for a marriage license. It costs $30 and you need both parties’ social security numbers and valid forms of identification.
- Complete the marriage license within 35 days.
- File the license back with the clerk and recorder’s office within 63 days of the wedding.
The County Clerk & Recorder’s office where you get your license will give you the instructions as well for how to fill out the license. Let them know if you plan to self solemnize, and they will help you!
One important thing to keep in mind: You can have a non-officiant (a.k.a. they have not been ordained or licensed as an officiant) relative or friend lead the ceremony. But they would only sign as a witness or not sign at all on your marriage license. They will NOT sign as an officiant. Think of them more like a speaker at your ceremony than a true officiant. From a legal standpoint, you are still self-solemnizing, in other words pronouncing yourselves married.

Are there any other states that allow you to self solemnize your wedding?
Colorado is the only state that currently allows couples to legally marry themselves, without any caveats or the need for any witnesses or officiants whatsoever.
Washington D.C. also allows self solemnization with no witnesses or officiants. There are a few other states that have a form of self-uniting marriage, but there are caveats.
For example, Wisconsin allows self solemnization; however, you must sign a form acknowledging that the state can’t guarantee your marriage will be legally recognized in all cases. Pennsylvania and California only require two witnesses; officiants are not required. And Illinois, Nevada, Kansas, and Maine allow forms of self-solemnization as part of certain types of religious ceremonies. This site has more info on the marriage laws in various states.

What will our ceremony look like if we self solemnize?
In short, however you want! It’s your day so you get to make the rules!
It can look very similar to other, more traditional wedding ceremonies if you’d like it to. You can exchange your own vows, exchange rings, and even read sentimental readings or letters to each other.
Or you could try things like hand-fasting, sage smudging, a sand ceremony, wine/whiskey blending, or a unity ceremony cross. Really the options are endless!

6 Reasons to consider self solemnizing
- You don’t want a traditional wedding. If you don’t want a big, traditional wedding, but instead want to have a smaller wedding or elopement, self-solemnizing is a great option!
- You want to have a “just us” experience for your wedding. When it comes down to it, your wedding day is about you and your partner, and the commitment you’re making to each other. It’s not about anyone else, so maybe you’d rather have an experience just for the two of you. If this is the case for you, self solemnizing is a great choice.
- You want to get married on an epic adventure. So you want to hike to the top of a mountain to say your vows or take a helicopter out to a glacier for your ceremony? But it’s been a little difficult to find an officiant who’s game for this (or you just don’t want to bring one along!) Self-solemnizing is definitely the way to go!

- You’re not religious. Many couples who are not religious just can’t picture having an officiant lead their ceremony, so self solemnizing is much more appealing.
- You want a friend or family member to lead the ceremony. So you have a loved one that would be perfect to lead your ceremony, but you don’t want them to be inconvenienced by the process of legally becoming an officiant? In Colorado, your friend or family member can lead the ceremony without actually having to sign any paperwork! Or, you could even have your dog sign as your witness!
- Endless options! Self solemnization gives you more opportunity to take back your wedding day and make your own rules! So start dreaming about what you REALLY want your wedding day to look like!
Are you planning an elopement or microwedding?
I’m more than just a photographer. Helping couples create their dream day is what I do best!
Get in touch and let’s chat about your vision!
Or check out more elopement planning resources…

Hi I’m Kim, a Denver, Colorado based photographer specializing in Adventure Elopements in Colorado and worldwide! Photographing couples on the most special day of their lives is a true honor for me. But I’ve made it my mission to take it one step further than that. When you work with me, you’re getting more than just a photographer. I’m here to help you with all of the planning resources you need to have the most amazing elopement day ever! That includes everything from assistance with location ideas, timeline planning, and lots more free resources. So you can forget the work, and focus on having fun!
FAQ
Yes, you can! It’s called self-solemnization. Self solemnization is where the couple legally marries themselves, without the need for an officiant or a witness to be present to sign their marriage certificate.
Colorado is the only state that currently allows couples to legally marry themselves, without any caveats or the need for any witnesses or officiants whatsoever.
Washington D.C. also allows self solemnization with no witnesses or officiants. There are a few other states (Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, California, Illinois, Nevada, Kansas, and Maine) that have a form ofself-uniting marriage, but there are caveats.
Self solemnization is where the couple legally marries themselves, without the need for an officiant or a witness to be present to sign their marriage certificate.
According to the Colorado State official website, the following parties can legally perform a marriage in Colorado:
A judge of the court
A court magistrate
A retired judge of the court
A public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages
Clergy
The parties to the marriage (a.k.a. the couple getting married)
Yes, once you file the paperwork with a Colorado Clerk and Recorder’s office, your marriage is legal just the same as any other type of wedding.
So much great info!!!!
What a great informative post on self solemnization! Colorado is really special + gorgeous and then add on this unique feature and no wonder it is a major elopement destination! 😉 Great information and well organized making it easy to read. I didn’t realize Washington D.C. has something similar too, that’s cool. Great post! Love this!
This is such a good blog post! Super informative and helpful!
Such good tips! As a fellow photographer I wish Canada had something like this.
This is so helpful for couples thinking about eloping in Colorado! I wish Washington allowed self-solemnization!
What a great blog! I never knew about self solemnization. Hopefully more states start to allow it!
So much great infos for any eloping couple!
Super informative for anyone who is considering going the route of self solemnizing! I didn’t even know that Washington doesn’t require witnesses or an officiant.
This article is so helpful! I wish I lived in a self solemnizing state.
Ah this article is SO helpful! Thank you for sharing
I love this! It’s so cool that you can do this in certain states!!
Yes I totally agree with you! I wish every state had this option, but at least I’m so glad I live in Colorado where it is available for couples.
Hi Kim. The title of your article got me excited, but reading on your soon learn that you do still need to have a partner to get married.
In all seriousness this is a really lovely guide on something that I’m sure means a lot to couples. Unfortunately we don’t have anything like this in the Uk at the moment.
So so so helpful! I wish it was more common in the US! I think one of my favorite things about self solemnization is when couples symbolically have their dog “sign” their marriage certificate haha.