Are you thinking you want to get married on the beach, but you would rather not drive that far from home? A Virginia Beach wedding might be just right for you. Accessible and not far from a large percentage of the United States, yet just far enough south to be warm for the largest part of the year, Virginia Beach weddings tend to be fun, relaxed, and near tons of honeymoon spots.
Getting a Virginia Marriage License
You can get a marriage license valid to marry at Virginia Beach at any Circuit Court Clerk office in Virginia; the clerk's office recommends arriving between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. No blood tests or witnesses are required, and there is no waiting period after receiving the license. You must use the license within 60 days. The fee is $30 cash – no checks. Bring government-issued photo identification or a certified copy of your birth certificate.
You can download a marriage license form from the Virginia Beach government website. Both bride and groom should complete this form before going to the Clerk's office to save time. If you want a certified copy of the marriage license, each copy will cost $2.50.
You must be 18 (or 16 or older with written and notarized parental consent) to get married. In Virginia, first cousins can marry, but no relatives closer than that.
You can have your marriage ceremony performed by certified marriage commissioners of the State of Virginia, or by an ordained minister who is in regular communion with his faith.
Outdoor Weddings
Most people traveling to Virginia Beach to get married want to have the ceremony on the beach, which is mostly controlled by the Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Department. While Virginia Beach is happy to host weddings, they do have some rules:
1. Though Virginia Beach has many miles of public beaches as well as beautiful city parks and gardens, they do want to preserve all of them. The city gladly allows small (less than 150 people) weddings without reservations if the wedding does not require shutting out the public and uses minimal equipment and setup (check with the city to see what they consider minimal). They do not allow weddings on the boardwalk at all because of the public accessibility problems.
2. They do not allow private receptions on public property. You should speak with some of the restaurants and/or hotels in the area to discuss holding your reception in their facilities or outdoors on their beachfront or garden properties.
3. You cannot reserve space from June 15 through Labor Day in any public area. Outside these dates, you must not restrict general public admittance. You should anticipate that your parking will be limited, and you cannot use any amplified sound. Always check to be certain that no construction, beach cleaning, etc. will be going on at the time and place you have scheduled your wedding. You may not release helium balloons because of the environmental risks.
4. Suggested public venues for your Virginia Beach wedding include: the Great Neck Park Gazebo; the Red Wing Park Gardens, including Japanese, Rose, and Fragrance Gardens; Little Island Park; Bayville Farms Park; Great Neck Park; Munden Point Park; Mount Trashmore Park; Woodstock Park; and Red Wing Park.
5. You can get more information at Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation's Leisure Events Office.
