Getting married in Madison

The marriage license process

The Dane County Clerk says marriage licenses are processed virtually, over Zoom, by appointment only. You book online through the Clerk's site, and both applicants must join the meeting, though they can join from separate locations. You can apply in any Wisconsin county, and if both of you live outside Wisconsin you may apply in any county in the state.

Before you apply, set the ceremony date, time, place and officiant. The Clerk doesn't schedule ceremonies. The application asks for the ceremony date, its location (county and city, town or village) and the officiant's name, address, email and phone number.

Scheduling details from the county:

• The calendar shows appointments up to 45 days ahead, and the county asks you not to book more than 60 days before the wedding.
• Demand is high from May through October, and the county recommends scheduling two to three weeks before the wedding.

Waiting period, fees and validity

The county says applications have a three-day waiting period. The license is issued on the fourth calendar day after you apply and is valid for 60 days. A waiver of the waiting period is available for an additional fee, and applications made less than four days before the ceremony always incur it, according to the county.

As of 2026, the county lists a $150 license fee plus a service fee and a $25 waiver fee. Payment is due at the appointment and is non-refundable. The Clerk's Office is at 608-266-4121 if cost is a hardship.

What to bring

Each applicant needs:

1. Photo ID and Social Security number. You don't need the card. Write "none" if you have no number.
2. Proof of your current address, such as a driver's license, lease, utility bill or bank statement. Know whether you live in a city, village or town, and your county.
3. A certified birth record from the state or county of birth. Hospital certificates and photocopies aren't accepted. You'll also need both parents' full names, including your mother's full maiden name.
4. Proof the last marriage ended, if you were married before, such as a divorce judgment, annulment or death certificate. CCAP printouts aren't accepted, and the county notes that divorced people may not remarry until six months after the judgment.

The minimum age is 18. Applicants who are 16 or 17 need a consent form signed by both parents or guardians before the County Clerk. If either of you doesn't speak English, a third-party interpreter must attend, and Spanish-language appointments can be selected when scheduling.

Who can officiate and the Wisconsin rules

The county lists any Wisconsin supreme court, circuit court or municipal judge, or any court commissioner, as eligible officiants, and posts a list of civil officiants willing to perform ceremonies. The county also says officiants ordained online or through a religious organization don't need to register with the Clerk's Office, and that Wisconsin doesn't require registration or proof of ordination.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services publication the county cites adds these rules:

• The officiant must be at least 18 and an authorized officiating person.
• Two competent adult witnesses, other than the officiant, must be present. If one party is on active military duty, only one witness is required.
• After the ceremony, the officiant completes the worksheet, signs with an original signature, gets the witnesses to sign, and returns it to any Wisconsin County Register of Deeds within three days of the marriage.

Places for a ceremony

City of Madison parks. The Parks Division takes shelter reservations online, by phone or in person, and asks for the event type, such as a wedding, when you book. Pavilions and shelters are generally available mid-April through mid-October, while picnic and sun shelters are typically open year-round. Reservations for a calendar year open the preceding fall, so check the city's shelter page. The Gates of Heaven shelter in James Madison Park is described by the city as a popular spot for intimate ceremonies, with about 98 folding chairs. The city says amplified sound, temporary structures or alcohol may need a special use permit obtained at least ten business days ahead. Its pages for that shelter are inconsistent about alcohol, so confirm with the Parks Division.

If you don't want a shelter, the city's Open Space permit is described as great for wedding ceremonies and small private celebrations. It requires an expected attendance under 200, one day only, no advertising to the public and no more than one temporary structure. The city asks for an application at least 30 days ahead.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Olbrich offers the Atrium, the Event Garden and the Bolz Conservatory for ceremonies and runs a rental office. Its guidelines say the gardens stay open to the public during outdoor ceremonies, tents and pop-up canopies aren't allowed, and rice, petals, confetti and balloons are prohibited. Ask the rental office for current packages.

Wisconsin State Capitol. The Capitol has ceremonial reservations. The Assembly Sergeant at Arms processes a wedding permit application and confirms by mail. The page doesn't say who is eligible, so call the Sergeant's office at 608-267-9808 first.

For other options, browse event venues.

Wedding vendors

Local businesses that commonly work on weddings include florists, photographers, caterers, bakeries and hair salons.

Changing your name afterward

If you're taking a new name, the order matters:

1. Social Security first. The Social Security Administration says to update your record before going to the motor vehicle agency. Its October 2026 blog post says you can apply online, make an in-person appointment or mail Form SS-5, and that you need identity proof and your marriage certificate. It accepts only original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency.
2. Then the Wisconsin DMV. WisDOT says to update Social Security first and allow 48 hours for it to process before visiting. You go in person to a DMV customer service center, complete form MV3001 for a license or MV3004 for an ID, and surrender your current card. WisDOT lists a certified marriage certificate as acceptable proof of name change. Your receipt serves as valid ID until the new card arrives, which WisDOT says takes 7 to 10 business days.

WisDOT says vehicle titles needn't be reissued right away.