To be legally married by our licensed minister, you need first to apply for, and be issued a marriage license from the State of Hawaii, Dept. of Health. Please follow the procedures listed below.

Note: The "Decorative Wedding Certificate" we include as part of our service is a decorative keepsake only! It is not a legal marriage license

Note: If you're already legally married and are just having a vow renewal, you don't need a license.

Note: If you are not a United State citizen, you may need to apply for additionally, an "Apostille" for your marriage to be recognized by your home country (see bottom of this page). 


Step 1:  APPLY FOR YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE

Applying for and receiving a license can only be done by you! We cannot do this for you and it is not part of our contracted services.

Apply for a State of Hawaii marriage license here: Hawaii Marriage and Civil Union Registration System.


Step 2:  PICK-UP YOUR LICENSE WORKSHEET

Both you and your future spouse must appear in person at the State Dept. of Health in downtown Honolulu to verify your identity and issued a Marriage License Worksheet.

Bring your application paperwork with government issued photo I.D. (driver's license, military I.D., or passport) for you and your spouse to verify your identity.

If you have questions regarding the legalities or status of your marriage or civil union, please direct them to the Hawaii State Dept. of Health or your attorney. We cannot give legal advice or opinions.

If you are unable pick-up your license during the regular business hours, you must make an appointment to meet with an off-duty agent. The Health Dept. has a list or you may ask us for a referral from our minister.

See a Map to the State Health Dept. here.


Step 3: AFTER YOU PICK-UP YOUR WORKSHEET

You must bring your License Worksheet to the ceremony and give it to the minister before the ceremony. Our minister cannot legally marry you without it.


IF YOU FORGET YOUR WORKSHEET

DO NOT GO BACK TO GET IT! This will make you late and/or may cause your ceremony not to happen if the minister or photographer have to leave for another event.

We can still perform a ceremony without but, it will not be a legal until, the officiate signs, dates, and submits it. You'll need to meet the minister later that day or another day solely dependent upon they're availability and where directed. This will require an extra fee paid directly to the minister. Usually $50 for meeting in and around Waikiki. The wedding date will be the date and location the officiate signs it and not that of the ceremony.


AFTER THE CEREMONY:

The minister will take the Marriage License Worksheet, sign, date, and input your information electronically to the State Dept. of Health.

The information takes time to enter and the minister usually preforms multiple weddings in a day consequently,  your information may not be entered on the same day (we allow them 3 days). You may expedite the minister submittal (go to the front of the line) for an extra fee (see Request From).

Once received by the State, the staff clerks must manually input the information onto another computer system. Yes, it is ridiculous to have to re-input but, it's government i.e. you would think that the minister's input would show pre-filled for them.

Once your information is entered by the Health Dept. system, you'll be able to download a temporary license using your document locator number. It usually takes about 3 business days from the date of staff entry so, you're looking at a week?

The official hardcopy marriage license will be mailed directly from the State of Hawaii to the mailing address entered on your Worksheet. We understand this is supposed to be within 30 days of staff input. Delivery will also depend upon the postal system of your area or home country i.e. some countries mat take 6-8+ weeks!

If you do not receive your official marriage licence by mail after 3 months, please let us know, the minister can check on it for you with the Health Dept..

 

APOSTILLE
 

Many countries require a "Apostille" to accompany the marriage license certificate for home country certification. This is a document signed by the Lt. Governor's office.

When you go to the Health Dept., make sure you notify them that you will need an Apostille. They will give you the proper forms and instructions.

If you did not get your Apostille you can go back to the Health Dept. to apply and pay for it at the same time before your leave Hawaii.

If you forget to get your Apostille or forget to mail the form back to the government or did not think that you needed one and your home country says you do, all is not lost. See here.

Health Dept and the Vital Records Division Go Here for information:

Department of Health - Apostille

Countries requiring a Apostille

Albania
Antigua & Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Botswana
Bulgaria  
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic   
El Salvador
Estonia  
Fiji
Finland
France
Germany

Greece
Honduras
Hungary  
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kazakhstan  
Latvia
Lesotho
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malawi
Malta
Marshalls
Mauritius
Mexico
Netherlands (Aruba)  
Niue (Savage Is)  
Norway
Panama
Portugal
Romania
Russia
San Marino
Serbia & Montenegro
Seychelles
Slovak
Slovenia
Spain
South Africa
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Tonga
Trinidad & Tobago
Turkey
Ukraine  
United Kingdom & Northern Ireland
USA
Venezuela
Yugoslavia