You and your partner are ready. The love is real, the decision is made, but the idea of booking a venue, navigating county paperwork, and pulling together a full wedding feels anything but simple. What if you could skip all of that and just… get married? Not someday. This week. From your living room, your favorite hiking trail, or even from two different cities?
That is exactly what thousands of Colorado couples are now doing. Get married online is a fully legal, increasingly popular choice that gives you control over when, where, and how you say “I do.”
This guide covers everything you need to know about how to get married online as a Colorado resident. Whether you are eloping quietly or just want a stress-free start to your marriage, Distant Weddings makes the entire process affordable and 100% legal.
Yes, and it is completely legal. Colorado residents can get married online legally through Utah’s Remote Appearance Law, which came into effect in 2019. This law allows couples to apply for a marriage license and complete their ceremony entirely online. No courthouse visit, no in-person witnesses standing next to you, and no need to travel anywhere.
You do not need to be a Utah resident. You do not need to have ever set foot in Utah. As long as both partners appear on the video call, your online marriage in the USA is official the moment the ceremony ends.
If you have looked into getting married in Colorado the traditional way, you need to visit the county clerk. This may involve waiting for a period of time and finding witnesses to be there in person. Here is how that compares to the online route:
|
Feature |
Traditional Colorado Marriage |
Online Marriage |
|
In-person visit required |
Yes, the county clerk’s office |
No, 100% online |
|
License issued by |
Colorado County Clerk |
State of Utah |
|
Waiting period |
Varies by county |
None |
|
Recognised in all 50 states |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Average cost |
$30–$80+ licence fee only |
$299 all-inclusive + $71 licence fee |
|
Time to complete |
Days to weeks |
As fast as same day |
|
Witnesses required |
Yes, must be in person |
Yes, virtual witnesses accepted |
The process has been designed to be clear. There are three steps, and the whole thing can be done in under 48 hours; sometimes the same day.
Start by signing up and choosing a date and time that works for both of you. The calendar is available seven days a week, and you can pick any time slot that fits your schedule. This step is the same for everyone: open a browser and pick a date, whether you are based in Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, or a small mountain town.
Once your ceremony is booked, you will receive access to the marriage license application. It is filled out entirely online and takes about 10 to 20 minutes. Both partners need a valid government-issued photo ID, i.e., a passport or driver’s license, which works perfectly. You will each need to provide your full legal name, date of birth, and a profile photo. A $71 government marriage license processing fee is paid at this stage.
This is the moment. You and your partner join a video call via Zoom, WhatsApp, or Google Meet and meet your U.S.-recognized officiant. The ceremony typically lasts around 15 minutes. You can invite guests to join the call from anywhere in the world, making this a genuinely global online wedding in the USA experience.
The moment the ceremony ends, you will receive a digital copy of your marriage certificate. The physical copy arrives by mail within 3 to 10 business days. That is it! Congratulations, you are married.
This is the question most couples ask first, and the answer is a firm yes. When you get married online legally through Utah’s digital marriage system, the resulting certificate is a standard U.S. marriage document. It does not say “online” anywhere on it. It looks and functions exactly like a certificate from an in-person ceremony.
The legal foundation is solid. Utah launched the country’s first complete online marriage platform in 2019, and the system has been helping couples formalize their relationships legally ever since. Utah’s online marriage system was fully operational by January 2020, and Utah County reported that 60–70% of license processes were completed remotely in 2020–2021.
Colorado is required to recognize that marriage under federal law, like every other U.S. state.
One of the things that surprises couples most is how personal the experience feels. It is not a cold, transactional process. It is a real ceremony, just without the traffic, the catering stress, or the seating chart. Here is what you can expect and customize:
Distant Weddings has officiated thousands of ceremonies for couples from every background, in every situation, and from every corner of the globe. The platform is built around making your day feel exactly like yours even through a screen.
The ceremony is over, the certificate is in your inbox; now what? Here is what most Colorado couples do next.
Your digital certificate arrives immediately after the ceremony. It is a fully usable legal document. You can print it, save it, or share it right away. The physical copy will be sent in the mail within 3 to 10 business days and is identical in every way.
If you plan to take a new name, your marriage certificate is the document that starts the process. First, update your name with the Social Security Administration. Then, change it with the Colorado DMV, your passport, bank accounts, and any other records that need updating. Keep both a digital and a physical copy somewhere accessible.
If one or both partners are from outside the U.S., or if you need your marriage recognized in another country, an Apostille Stamp is the way to do it. This is a special certification that gives your U.S. marriage certificate legal standing abroad.
For couples navigating a spousal visa or green card application, the marriage certificate issued through this process is fully valid for USCIS purposes. It is treated the same as any other U.S. marriage certificate. Many couples choose to get married online specifically because it allows them to start the immigration process faster than a traditional ceremony would.
There is no single type of couple that chooses this route. Some are long-distance. Some are military families. Some are just busy people who want to make their commitment official without the weight of a traditional wedding. Here is what draws people to it:
The option to get married online gives you a real, legal, meaningful ceremony on your own terms.
Getting married in Colorado does not have to mean months of planning, a long list of vendors, or a trip to the county clerk. If you and your partner are ready to officially commit, you can do it on your own schedule and from anywhere. The process is easier than you might think.
The ceremony is real. The certificate is real. And the moment you say “I do” over a video call with the person you love, that is real, too.
Distant Weddings has helped thousands of couples from across the U.S. and around the world do exactly this. The process takes three steps, the support is there every step of the way, and your certificate is recognized in all 50 states from the moment the ceremony ends.
Book your ceremony today and get married on your terms!
Get married online with Distant Weddings. We’ll guide you step by step through our 3-step process, ensuring the process is simple & easy.