How to Get Your Marriage License to Elope in New Orleans

By George Kuchler, GK Photography

So you're eloping to New Orleans. Good choice. Between the oak-lined streets, the iron balconies, the brass bands and the beignets, this city was made for a wedding with no fuss and a whole lot of soul.

The one thing that does need a little planning is the paperwork. After more than 30 years photographing weddings here, I can tell you the license process is easier than most couples expect, especially if you're visiting from out of state. Here's everything you need to know, step by step.

A quick note: rules and fees can change, so always confirm with the Orleans Parish Marriage License Office before you travel. I'm a photographer, not an attorney, and this guide is meant to help you plan, not to serve as legal advice.

Step 1: Know the Basics

In Louisiana, you need a marriage license issued before your ceremony, and the license is a legal document your officiant will complete and sign after you say "I do." Here's the short version:

• Both of you must be present to apply for the license.

• The license costs $27.50 in Orleans Parish.

• It's valid for 30 days from the date of issue, and it expires at midnight on day 30.

• It's valid anywhere in Louisiana, but it must be registered in Orleans Parish.

• Both people must be at least 16, and marriage under 16 is prohibited by law.

Step 2: Visit the Orleans Parish Marriage License Office

The office is located downtown in Benson Tower:

Orleans Parish Marriage License Office Benson Tower, 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 407 New Orleans, LA

Hours: Licenses are issued Monday through Friday, roughly 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., excluding state holidays. That means no weekend license pickups, so plan your arrival around it. If you're flying in for a Saturday ceremony, aim to get your license on Thursday or Friday.

There's also a second option for Orleans Parish licenses at the Second City Court in Algiers. Check with the state's Vital Records office on current availability before you plan around it.

Tip: The application is available online and can be filled out ahead of time. Do it at home so you spend less time at the counter.

Step 3: Bring the Right Documents

Each of you will need:

• A current, government-issued photo ID: a driver's license, state ID, or passport.

• Your payment for the $27.50 license fee. Confirm which payment types are accepted before you go.

Things to ask the office about before you travel:

• Birth certificates. Louisiana has historically asked for certified birth certificates, and a judge can waive that for out-of-state applicants. Ask the office what they currently require so you aren't scrambling.

• Previous marriages. If either of you has been married before, ask what proof of divorce or death you'll need to bring.

Step 4: The 24-Hour Waiting Period (and How Out-of-State Couples Skip It)

Louisiana law requires a 24-hour waiting period between when your license is issued and when your ceremony takes place.

Here's the good news for visitors: if both of you live outside Louisiana, the ceremony takes place in Orleans Parish, and it's performed by a registered Orleans Parish officiant, your officiant can waive the 24-hour waiting period. That waiver gets attached to your marriage certificate when it's returned to Vital Records.

In plain English, that means you can pick up your license and get married the same day, as long as you hire a registered Orleans Parish officiant and say your vows in Orleans Parish. If either of you lives in Louisiana, plan for the full 24 hours.

Step 5: Line Up Your Officiant and Two Witnesses

Your ceremony needs:

• A licensed officiant who is registered in Orleans Parish. Many local officiants specialize in elopements and are happy to handle the waiver for you.

• Two adult witnesses who sign the marriage certificate alongside you and your officiant.

No friends or family traveling with you? Don't worry. Many elopement officiants can help arrange witnesses, and some couples ask their photographer or a friendly local to serve. Just confirm this with your officiant ahead of time.

Step 6: Say "I Do" and Make It Official

After your ceremony, your officiant completes and signs the marriage certificate with you and your witnesses, then returns it to be recorded. Your officiant will typically handle this, but it's worth asking exactly how and when it will be filed.

Step 7: Order Certified Copies

You'll want certified copies of your marriage certificate for name changes, Social Security, the DMV, passports, insurance and banking. Orleans Parish lets you order them when you apply for your license, at $5.00 each plus a $0.50 mailing charge per transaction. Ordering a few extras up front saves a lot of hassle later.

A Simple Elopement Timeline

Here's one easy way to put it all together:

1. Weeks before: Hire your officiant, choose your location and book your photographer. Fill out the license application online.

2. 1-2 days before (weekdays only): Both of you go to Benson Tower, apply for your license and order certified copies.

3. Ceremony day: Meet your officiant and witnesses, say your vows, and sign the certificate.

4. After the ceremony: Celebrate, explore, and eat everything.

Questions Couples Ask Me

Do we have to be New Orleans residents? No. Visitors and international couples can marry in New Orleans with an Orleans Parish license.

Can we get the license on the weekend? No. The office is open Monday through Friday only, so build that into your travel dates.

Can we marry the same day we get the license? If you both live outside Louisiana and use a registered Orleans Parish officiant for a ceremony in Orleans Parish, yes, the waiting period can be waived.

Where can we marry? Anywhere in Orleans Parish works legally for the waiver, but many public spaces have their own permit rules, so check before you pick a spot.

Popular Venues & Permits

• French Quarter Wedding Chapel: The only dedicated wedding chapel in the French Quarter; offers 24/7 packages starting around $350.

• Jackson Square: Requires a $250 permit for a 1-hour slot (2–25 guests).

• Audubon Park: Requires a $150 permit.

• Pirate Alley & City Park: Pirate Alley allows ceremonies without a formal permit, while City Park and historic oak trees offer scenic outdoor backdrops.

Ready to Plan Your New Orleans Elopement?