Due to the impacts of Covid-19, I have quite a few current clients who have rescheduled their big traditional wedding for later this year. Many of these couples have also chosen elope on their original dates this spring with plans to hold a reception for family and friends later on in in the autumn. The problem that they are running into is finding an private wedding officiant here in the Triangle who would be willing to preform a small wedding ceremony or elopement. So, instead of hiring a traditional wedding officiant, they are opting to get married by a Magistrate Judge instead.

Are you thinking of eloping in central North Carolina? Here is some information that you'll need to get started below from the Wake County government. You can also find this at
http://www.wakegov.com/rod/help/vital/marriage/Pages/application.aspx

From the Wake County website

"Effective 3/30/2020 Until Further Notice: For the health and safety of our staff, customers, and the general public, we have made arrangements to deliver all services to your homes and offices online, by video conference and by mail. Our office is currently closed to non-staff to protect public health.
The Wake County Register of Deeds will be issuing Marriage Licenses virtually, online by appointment only."

Please follow the steps below to schedule an online appointment:
    1.    Before completing the application ensure you have access to a smartphone with a camera and internet access. Install the Android or iPhone Google Duo App.
    2.    Click the ‘APPLY FOR A MARRIAGE LICENSE’ below and complete the online application. Ensure the application is complete and accurate as mistakes may prevent issuing a valid license.

APPLY FOR A MARRIAGE LICENSE

    1.    Upon completing the application, please send an email to [email protected], please include your:
    1.    Contact information (email address, phone number, and mailing address)
    2.    The online application order number*
    3.    A copy of both parties' valid identification.
    4.    If either party have never been issued a social security number, submit a completed affidavit. Please allow at least two or three business days for us to process your completed application and identification verification.
    2.    Once we receive and process your application you will be contacted to schedule an appointment.
    3.    Due to the high demand, Wake County residents will have first priority for appointments. Residents of other counties may find it faster to obtain a license from the register of deeds in your own counties.
    4.    At the time of your appointment you will be contacted using Google Duo with the phone number you provided us. Both parties must be together in the single video conference with valid identification and proof of social security (or affidavit). The $60.00 fee will be paid by credit/debit card only at that time.
    5.    Once the application process is complete the marriage license will be issued and mailed via U.S. Mail to the address provided.
    6.    Both parties are to sign the marriage license upon receipt.

*You will receive an order number upon completing the online application.

Per the directives of the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court effective Monday, March 16, all civil marriage ceremonies in Wake County are to be performed at the Magistrate's Office within the Wake County Hammond Road Detention Center located at 3301 Hammond Road, Raleigh NC 27603

Now, you may be wondering what your wedding day may look like if you are married by a Magistrate Judge at a government building. Understandably you may be worried that your ceremony photos might look terrible. Luckily, the Court system is directing it's Judges to preform marriage ceremonies outdoors whenever possible for safety purposes. This is a very good thing in regards to your personal health but this also means that your elopement photos wont look terrible either. Pictured below are a few examples of an elopement that I photographed two weeks ago in Raleigh at the Hammond rd. location.

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If you are in need of a Raleigh elopement photographer, I would love to be the one to capture your day! We can start out at the ceremony site and then after your wedding ceremony is over, we can head out to go take some gorgeous portraits somewhere beautiful like a nearby local park.

Check out the link below to view my packages.

https://sallysiko.zenfolio.com/raleigh-wedding-photography-price-and-service-information