How to elope at Worcester City Hall | Worcester, Massachusetts

How to get married / elope at Worcester City Hall

1. Make an appointment online to file for your marriage intention.

2. Apply for a marriage license in person and pay application fee

3. Make an appointment for your ceremony

4. Read FAQ to be prepared for your City Hall ceremony

5. Hire Tamara Merri Photography to document your union and location scout for the best photo locations. (see real elopement photos here and here)

6. Find other vendors & nearby attractions for your celebration

7. Get married! Your officiant will return the license to the appropriate city clerk's office

8. Order a copy of your marriage certificate either online or in-person

How to get a marriage license in Worcester:

1. Make an appointment to visit City Hall and file your marriage intentions. Note: At the time of writing this, the online application website service is not working. Instead, call Customer Service at 508-799-1121. Press 1 for English, then 7 for customer service. See all City Hall contact info noted below.

2. At your appointment time, both partners need to go to Worcester City Hall together (455 Main Street Worcester, MA 01608). Your appointment time will be between M-F 9 am - 3 pm. Bring proof of identity as well as all personal information noted below.

3. Pay $40 application fee. They accept cash, money order, or check. Make the check is payable to "City of Worcester".

4. There is a 3 day waiting period before you can pick up your license. Your marriage license is valid for 60 days. If you do not get married within the 60 days you'll need to apply for it again.

5. If you plan to get married at Worcester City Hall, you don't need to pick up the license 3 days later. Instead, just arrive at your appointment time and they'll print it out. See below for how to make your appointment.

Note:

• You can apply for a marriage license from any city or town in Massachusetts — it doesn’t have to be from Worcester, just because that's where your ceremony will be.

• Your officiant must sign and return the license to the city clerk who issued it before the 60-day time period is up.

• Valid proof of identity includes passports, driver's licenses, state ID, or military ID. While you need your SSN number (or reason for not having one), you don't actually need to have your physical card with you. In addition, you'll also need provide what your name will be after you get married, what your parent's names (and maiden names) are, if your parents were married when you were born, and where each of you were born.

COVID-19 Notice: Due to restricted access to the building, all couples planning to file a marriage intention with the Worcester City Clerk must make an appointment online. At the time of writing this, the online application website service is not working. Here is the City Clerk's contact info:

Phone: 508-799-1121

Fax: 508-799-1194

Email: clerk@worcesterma.gov

Sources: http://www.worcesterma.gov/city-clerk/certificates-licenses/marriage-intentions

https://www.mass.gov/guides/getting-married-in-massachusetts-before-the-wedding

City Hall Wedding Ceremony Details

Making your appointment: Make an appointment to get married when you're at the clerk's office filing your marriage intention. If you don't make an appointment at that time, call clerk's office to schedule an appointment.

When: Monday-Friday 8:45 am to 3:00 pm. The last appointment is at 2:30 pm. Arrive at your scheduled appointment time. It is not necessary to arrive early.

Weekend availability: none

Where: 455 Main Street Worcester, MA 01608. Second floor room 206. The ceremony is sometimes in the vestibule room next to the clerk's office. However, lately under new management it is in the doorway across from the base of the grand staircase.

Officiant: Either the Clerk or Deputy City Clerk will perform ceremony depending on who is there that day.