How Much Does It Cost to Get Married Online?

Getting married online in the United States usually costs between about $250 and $700 all-in for a domestic ceremony, with the price depending mostly on which platform you use and whether you need extras like provided witnesses. So how much does it cost to get married online if you also need the marriage recognized abroad? That total can climb to $800 to $1,100 once apostilles, embassy authentication, and translations enter the picture. The platform fee is the single biggest expense; the government license and certified copies make up most of the rest.

One Thing to Know Before the Numbers

Utah is the only state that permanently allows fully remote marriage ceremonies where neither partner has to be physically present in the state.¹ The officiant has to be in Utah, but the couple and witnesses can join by video from anywhere. A few states allow proxy marriages for narrow situations like military deployment, and several opened virtual options during COVID-19 and later closed them. Because almost every online marriage runs through Utah, the fees below are grounded in Utah’s structure. The resulting certificate is valid in all 50 states.²

Marriage License Fee

Utah counties set their own base license fees, so the total varies, but most couples pay roughly $50 to $70. A mandatory $10 state assessment for the Children’s Legal Defense Account is added to whatever the county charges. Counties that offer online applications can charge an extra $20 for that service. There’s one small discount: couples who complete an approved premarital education or counseling course before applying are exempt from the $20 online fee.³ An optional $10 assessment supporting domestic violence shelters is yours to include or skip.

Platform Package Fees

Most couples book through a platform that bundles the officiant, ceremony, and document handling. This is where you’ll spend the most. Courtly, an established option, publishes three tiers:⁴

Core at $199 includes an officiant, concierge support, and digital and physical certificates. You bring your own two witnesses. Non-refundable.
Popular at $399 adds a video recording, cloud storage, international recognition advice, and a refund option. You still supply your own witnesses.
Fast-Track at $599 adds two provided witnesses and rush processing, with the ceremony booked within 24 hours of license approval.

Each tier lists the government license (around $70) as a separate charge. Other platforms exist at similar price points, with a practical floor around $150 to $200 for a basic package that includes an officiant and document handling. Independent Utah officiants sometimes charge less, but you’ll handle the paperwork yourself.

Officiant and Witness Costs

When you book through a platform, the officiant fee is already in the package price. An independent Utah-based officiant might charge anywhere from $50 to $200 for a virtual ceremony; there’s no standard rate.

Utah requires at least two witnesses who are 18 or older, visible and audible on the video call.¹ Friends or family on the call cost nothing. If you don’t have anyone, Courtly charges $50 for two provided witnesses as an add-on, or includes them in the Fast-Track package.⁴

Certified Copies and Shipping

You’ll want certified copies of the marriage certificate for name changes, insurance, and other administrative tasks. In Utah County, certified copies cost $10 each plus shipping and a small processing fee, and other Utah counties charge similar amounts.⁵ Two or three copies will run you $20 to $30 before shipping.

Budget for shipping in both directions. You may need to mail signed documents back to the county clerk, and the clerk mails your certified copies out to you. Domestic shipping typically runs $5 to $15 per mailing, more if you’re overseas.

International Recognition Add-Ons

If you need the marriage recognized in another country, documentation costs can match or exceed the ceremony itself. Through a platform, the common line items are:⁴

Apostille certification, around $50 plus shipping. State apostille fees on their own run $10 to $20 per document.
Embassy authentication, averaging about $275 when the receiving country requires it on top of the apostille.
Expedited apostille, around $290 if you’re on a tight deadline.
Certified translation, typically $25 to $40 per page. Live translation during the ceremony itself runs about $40 through a platform.

USCIS treats a marriage as valid for immigration purposes if it was valid where performed, and a Utah online marriage meets that standard.² The receiving country’s own authentication rules decide the rest of your paperwork.

Total Cost Scenarios

For a straightforward domestic online marriage, the pieces add up like this: license at $50 to $70, platform package at $199 for basic or $399 for mid-tier, two or three certified copies at $20 to $30, and shipping at $10 to $30. The practical total for most couples falls between about $280 and $530.

Add international recognition and the number climbs. Apostille service runs $50 to $290 depending on speed, embassy authentication adds about $275, and certified translation adds $25 to $40 per page. An international total of $800 to $1,100 is realistic. Couples who need provided witnesses, rush processing, or a name change kit should budget separately for those add-ons, which range from about $35 to $275 each.⁴

1
Utah Legislature. Utah Code 81-2-302
2
USCIS. Chapter 2 – Marriage and Marital Union for Naturalization
3
Utah Legislature. Enrolled Copy H.B. 324 – Marriage License Fees
4
Courtly. Pricing and Wedding Packages
5
Utah County Clerk. Certified Copies of Marriage Licenses