Can we skip the 72-hour waiting period?

Only with an order from the Superior Court, which is rare, so apply early. The one built-in exception is a remarriage or reaffirmation to the same spouse, which has no waiting period if you bring a certified copy of your existing certificate.

We live in New York but want to marry in Bloomfield. Where do we apply?

If neither of you is a New Jersey resident, you apply at the registrar in the municipality where the ceremony will take place, in this case Bloomfield, and the license is valid only for a ceremony in that municipality.

Can the ceremony be entirely in Spanish?

Yes. New Jersey does not require the ceremony to be in English. The license and the registrar's paperwork are in English, and Michael completes those; the words you exchange can be in whatever language you choose.

Guides

Getting Married in New Jersey: License and Officiant

Getting legally married in New Jersey takes two things: a marriage license from a municipal registrar and a ceremony performed by someone the state authorizes. Neither is complicated, but the timing rules catch people, especially couples planning a small bilingual ceremony around family flying in. Here is how both work, and how Fermin Consulting officiates weddings in English and Spanish across Essex County.

By Michael Fermin, Notary Public · Fermin Consulting LLC, Bloomfield, NJ · Leer esta guía en español

Step 1: Apply for the marriage license

Apply at the registrar's office in the New Jersey municipality where either of you lives; that license is valid anywhere in New Jersey. If neither of you lives in New Jersey, apply where the ceremony will happen; that license is valid only there.
Both of you must appear, with one witness who is 18 or older.
Bring proof of identity (driver's license, passport, or state/federal ID), proof of residency, and your Social Security number if you have one. Any document in another language needs a certified English translation.
Pay the $28 application fee. If either of you was married before, bring the divorce decree or death certificate.
Wait 72 hours. The registrar cannot issue the license sooner than 72 hours after you apply. For a Saturday wedding, apply no later than Tuesday.
Pick up the license. It is valid for 30 days from issuance; the application itself stays valid for six months if you need to reschedule.

Step 2: Who can perform the ceremony

New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 37:1-13) authorizes judges, surrogates, county clerks, mayors and certain other municipal officials, and every minister of every religion to solemnize marriages; religious societies may also marry couples according to their own customs. A notary public commission by itself does not authorize anyone to perform marriages in New Jersey.

After the ceremony, the officiant and witnesses sign the license, and the officiant returns it to the registrar in the municipality where the ceremony took place. The registrar records the marriage, and you can then order certified copies of your marriage certificate.

A bilingual ceremony with Fermin Consulting

Michael Fermin officiates weddings for $150, in Spanish, English, or both, so that abuela from Santiago and your coworkers from Montclair hear the same vows. The fee covers a short planning call, a ceremony script tailored to you (civil, lightly spiritual, or with readings you choose), the ceremony at your venue, home, or a park in Essex County, and return of the signed license to the registrar.

Weekday evenings and Saturdays are available, and small backyard ceremonies are as welcome as large receptions. We can also prepare certified translations of a foreign birth certificate for the license application.

Registering the marriage back home

If you plan to register your New Jersey marriage in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Colombia, or Ecuador, you will usually need a certified copy of the marriage certificate from the State Office of Vital Statistics, an apostille from the New Jersey Treasury ($25 per document standard), and a Spanish translation. We can run the whole chain in the weeks after the wedding.

Fermin Consulting does not give legal advice on marriage, immigration, or property. For questions about how marriage affects an immigration case or an inheritance, consult an attorney.

Common questions

Can we skip the 72-hour waiting period?: Only with an order from the Superior Court, which is rare, so apply early. The one built-in exception is a remarriage or reaffirmation to the same spouse, which has no waiting period if you bring a certified copy of your existing certificate.
We live in New York but want to marry in Bloomfield. Where do we apply?: If neither of you is a New Jersey resident, you apply at the registrar in the municipality where the ceremony will take place, in this case Bloomfield, and the license is valid only for a ceremony in that municipality.
Can the ceremony be entirely in Spanish?: Yes. New Jersey does not require the ceremony to be in English. The license and the registrar's paperwork are in English, and Michael completes those; the words you exchange can be in whatever language you choose.

This guide is general information from a New Jersey notary public, not legal advice. For advice about your situation, consult an attorney.

Sources

Official pages and primary sources used for this guide. Fees and processing times change; always confirm with the issuing office.