How To Get Married In New Mexico

All you really need are:

• yourself,

• your betrothed,

• a marriage license,

• a Wedding Officiant, and

• two witnesses.

You and your betrothed must be at least 18 or have parental consent and possibly a court order. As of this writing, marriage licenses are available for $25 from your local County Clerk. Wedding Officiant fees may vary. Your witnesses are usually, but not always, your maid of honor and best man; however, they can be random people off the street. Everything else is just icing on the cake.

Remember to get your marriage license before your ceremony. Both you and your betrothed must be present with valid picture IDs or birth certificates, also (if you've been issued a Social Security number), bring proof of SSN. If either of you are widowed or divorced, you will need to provide the death or divorce date with your application. Contact your County Clerk for more information.

A Wedding Officiant can be anyone licensed, ordained, or certified to legally perform wedding ceremonies. Judges, court clerks, justices of the peace, and recognized members of the clergy have the authority to perform legal marriages. At Samantha's Ceremonies, the Wedding Officiant is an ordained Universal Life Church Minister.

Your witnesses don't need to be with you when you pick up your marriage license, but they must witness your wedding ceremony and then sign the document to make it legal. You can wait as long as you want between getting your marriage license and having your ceremony. However, once you have your ceremony you must return the signed document to your County Clerk's Office within 90 days.

You don't need music, food, drinks, decorations, entertainment, or a large guest list. Wedding receptions are just parties. They don't have to be expensive to be meaningful though. Cake and punch, potlucks, small picnics, or backyard barbecues are all good options to keep costs down. In the end, it's the marriage that's important.