Wedding Witness Requirements by Location 2025

Most weddings legally require 1-2 witnesses to sign the marriage license, though requirements vary significantly by location¹. In 2025, 26 US states mandate witnesses, while the UK, Australia, and Canada universally require two witnesses aged 16-18+ who must physically attend the ceremony and sign official documentation²³. Witnesses serve a purely legal function—confirming the marriage occurred—and can be family members, friends, or even strangers, as long as they meet local age and competency standards⁴.

Quick Reference: Witness Essentials

US State Witness Requirements

Currently, 26 US states require wedding witnesses, with variations in how many witnesses must sign the marriage license¹.

States Requiring Two Witnesses

Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming all require two witnesses aged 18 or older¹.

States Requiring One Witness

California, Iowa, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and South Dakota require only one witness¹. California has no age requirement but witnesses must understand they are witnessing a marriage and be able to sign their name⁵.

States Requiring No Witnesses

Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia do not require witnesses¹.

Special Cases

Georgia requires two witnesses only if the officiant does not complete the license form¹. Washington allows witnesses as young as 14 years old⁵.

International Witness Requirements

United Kingdom

The UK requires two witnesses for all marriages and civil partnerships². Witnesses must be at least 16 years old in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, though some venues prefer witnesses over 18⁶. In Scotland, witnesses must be 16 or older⁶.

UK witnesses must understand the nature of the ceremony and what they are witnessing, and they must be capable of signing their name². No proof of identity is required, and witnesses do not need to be UK citizens or residents².

Registry staff cannot act as witnesses or supply witnesses, so couples must arrange their own².

Australia

Australian law requires two witnesses aged 18 or older for all marriage ceremonies³. Witnesses must be present for the entire ceremony, understand the nature of what they are witnessing, be mentally capable of observing the proceedings, and have sufficient understanding of English or have an interpreter present⁷.

No proof of identity documents are required from witnesses, and they do not need to be Australian citizens or residents³. Family members can serve as witnesses with no restrictions⁷.

If couples do not provide witnesses, the ceremony cannot proceed and no refund is provided³.

Canada

Canadian marriages require at least five people present: the couple, two witnesses, and the officiant⁸. Witnesses must be physically present and cannot participate by video⁸.

In Ontario, witnesses should preferably be over 15 years old and must be of sound mind and body⁹. Quebec requires witnesses to consent to the marriage before them, but witnesses do not need to know the couple well¹⁰.

Witnesses must provide their home address for official records and sign the marriage registration after the ceremony⁸.

Who Can Be a Wedding Witness

Basic Qualifications

To serve as a wedding witness, a person must meet these criteria⁴:

Age Requirements: Must be at least 18 years old in most US states and Australia, or 16+ in the UK and some Canadian provinces. California has no minimum age, and Washington allows 14-year-olds¹⁵.

Mental Competency: Witnesses must possess the use of reason and be capable of understanding the events they are witnessing⁴. They must understand that a marriage ceremony is taking place.

Physical Presence: Witnesses must be physically present in the room during the entire ceremony². Remote or video witnesses are not permitted in most jurisdictions⁸.

Language Ability: Witnesses must have sufficient understanding of the language used in the ceremony, or have an interpreter present⁷.

Signing Capability: Witnesses must be able to sign their name on the marriage license or certificate².

Common Choices for Witnesses

Wedding Party Members: The maid of honor and best man traditionally serve as witnesses at many weddings⁴.

Family Members: Parents, siblings, adult children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins can all serve as witnesses with no legal restrictions in any jurisdiction²⁷.

Close Friends: Friends who attended the ceremony make excellent witnesses and need no special relationship to the couple beyond being present⁴.

Strangers: If you arrive at a venue without required witnesses, you can ask bystanders, venue visitors, or passersby to serve as witnesses¹¹. Many people are happy to help couples in this situation.

Who Cannot Be a Wedding Witness

The Officiant

The wedding officiant cannot double as a witness for the purpose of signing the marriage license¹¹¹². The officiant signs the license in their own capacity and must be separate from the required witness signatures.

Minors Below the Age Requirement

Anyone below the minimum age for witnesses in that jurisdiction cannot serve. Most locations set this at 18, though the UK allows 16-year-olds and Washington allows 14-year-olds¹²⁵.

People Not Present at the Ceremony

Witnesses must physically attend the entire ceremony and observe the exchange of vows²³. Someone who arrives only for the signing or who witnesses by video call cannot serve as a legal witness.

Mentally Incapacitated Individuals

Anyone who cannot understand the nature of the ceremony or what they are witnessing cannot serve as a witness²⁷. This includes individuals under the influence of substances or those with cognitive impairments preventing comprehension.

Signing the Marriage License

When to Sign

Witnesses sign the marriage license immediately after the ceremony concludes, before leaving the venue⁴. Some officiants incorporate the signing into the ceremony itself, while others handle it privately afterward.

All required parties must sign on the same day as the wedding ceremony⁴.

What Witnesses Sign

In the United States: Witnesses sign the marriage license, which is then filed with the county clerk to create the official marriage certificate¹.

In the United Kingdom: Witnesses sign the marriage register, and their names appear on the official marriage certificate².

In Australia: Witnesses sign the marriage certificates immediately after the ceremony³.

In Canada: Witnesses sign the marriage registration form along with the couple and officiant⁸.

Information Required from Witnesses

Witnesses typically must provide⁴:

• Full legal name
• Signature
• Home address (in most locations)
• Date of birth (sometimes)
• Photo identification (in some US states)

Special Situations

Religious Ceremonies

Religious ceremonies follow the same legal witness requirements as civil ceremonies¹³. A Catholic wedding requires two witnesses who must be at least 18 years old and able to indicate what events transpired during the ceremony¹³.

Unlike sponsors at baptism or confirmation, Catholic marriage witnesses assume no religious responsibility to attest to the faith of those marrying or assist them in living out marriage obligations¹³. Their sole function is to witness that the marriage was legitimately celebrated¹³.

Witnesses at Catholic weddings do not need to be Catholic, and non-Catholics, atheists, or people of other faiths can all serve as witnesses¹³.

Destination Weddings

Destination wedding witness requirements depend entirely on the local laws of the country where you marry¹⁴. Some countries require witnesses to have affidavits stating the couple is free to marry¹⁴.

Many couples choose to get legally married in their home country before or after their destination wedding, then hold a symbolic ceremony abroad to avoid complex international paperwork requirements¹⁴.

If you plan to marry abroad, contact the office that issues marriage certificates or tourist information bureau of that country to learn specific witness requirements¹⁴.

When a Witness Doesn't Show Up

If a required witness is missing at ceremony time, the marriage cannot legally proceed¹¹. Solutions if you don't have a witness:

Ask a stranger: You can ask a passerby, venue visitor, or bystander to serve as your witness¹¹. Many people are delighted to participate in a wedding, as long as they meet age and ID requirements.

Hire a professional witness: In major cities like New York, professional witness services exist specifically for City Hall weddings¹¹. You must typically arrange this in advance.

Hold a second ceremony: Many couples hold a short license signing ceremony following their symbolic ceremony to make things legal¹¹. This allows you to have your full ceremony without witnesses, then sign paperwork later with proper witnesses present.

Choosing Your Witnesses

Practical Considerations

Reliability: Choose people you trust to arrive on time and remain until the license is signed⁴.

Availability: Confirm witnesses can attend your ceremony before finalizing your wedding date.

Proximity: Select witnesses who will definitely be at the ceremony location, not just the reception.

Backup Plan: Identify backup witnesses in case your first choices cannot attend⁴.

Informing Your Witnesses

Tell your chosen witnesses about their role well in advance of the wedding day. Explain that they need to⁴:

• Stay for the entire ceremony
• Remain after the ceremony for signing
• Bring photo ID if required in your state
• Provide their home address

Sources and References