Self-Officiating In Washington DC: What Is It & How Do You Do It?

Eloping is all about creating a perfect and unique day that’s all about your love. This is the day when you have permission to do things your own way.  It’s about choosing intention over overwhelm. Where tradition becomes a choice, not a rule.

That’s why I’m here to tell you about one of the best-kept secrets in eloping: self-officiating in Washington, DC!

That means you don’t need an officiant. No stranger leading your ceremony. No asking a friend to get ordained online. Just the two of you, deciding to marry each other, AND doing it. This gives you the freedom and flexibility to elope anywhere, anytime, without needing to decide in advance. 

Exchange vows on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, make it official as you kayak through Georgetown, or even tie the knot in your own cozy backyard! The choice is completely yours to do this wherever and however you want. 

In this guide, you’ll learn how to legally elope in Washington, DC, with a self-officiated wedding, perfect for independent and free-spirited couples.

What Is Self-Officiating and Who Can Do It?

When you hear “officiant,” you probably picture a pastor, judge, or family friend holding a little black book. And by definition, you’d be right! An officiant, or celebrant, is someone authorized by the state to lead a wedding ceremony and officially perform the act of marriage.

But in DC, you have another option. You can be your own officiant.

Legally speaking, DC is one of the handful of US jurisdictions that allow self-officiated marriages. That means you and your partner can sign as your own officiants on the marriage license. No one else needs to be present (unless you want them there). You don’t need to have a religious official or civil celebrant with you for the ceremony.

Having an officiant can make some people feel uncomfortable if it’s a person they don’t really know. The option to self-officiate your wedding means you can truly elope with just the two of you, making for a much more intimate, personal, and special experience.

So, How to Self-Officiate in Washington, DC?

The process is straightforward, but as your elopement photographer in Washington, DC, I’m always glad to guide you, since many of the couples I work with choose this option. 

Here’s everything you need to know.

1. How and Where to Get the Marriage License

Step one: download a copy of the Marriage License Application or fill out the Application Online.

After completing your application, it can be submitted online, or you can take it to the courthouse, which is generally faster. The address is:

DC Marriage Bureau – Moultrie Courthouse
500 Indiana Avenue, N.W.
Room 4485
Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 879-4840

Once submitted, a courthouse representative will contact you to verify your information.

Processing times vary for marriage applications, especially if doing parts online vs in person. While the online application is great, make sure to call a few weeks later to follow up that they received your application, or just plan to go in person to apply regardless. Some couples report delays in the online application. 

As with most places in DC, parking is extremely limited, but it’s easy to access on the Metro, with the closest stop being Judiciary Square station on the Red Line. Or use apps like Spot Hero and Park Mobile to find nearby street and garage parking.

Also, you can definitely make your trip to the courthouse fun! Why not get dressed up, drop off your application, then go out for a nice lunch or picnic to celebrate the official start of your elopement adventure?

2. Prepare the Paperwork

The application itself is simple to fill out, but note that you will need to pay a fee. The marriage license application fee is currently $45, and $35 of this fee is waived if you have an original copy of your DC Domestic Partnership Certificate. 

Note: Both parties must be present in person at the DC Marriage Bureau to obtain the license and provide valid photo ID.

• The DC courthouse is only open Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, so you’d need to pay for and pick up your marriage license on a weekday. If you applied online, the process for getting the license in person will be much faster because it only requires verifying your information, ID, and paying for the license.
  
• The marriage license never expires, so if you plan to travel to DC for an elopement weekend getaway, you could pick up your license in person on Friday and then have your elopement adventure and celebration on the weekend!
  
• After signing the marriage license, you have 10 days to return it to the court. This can be done in person (on a weekday), by mail to the address listed above, or by having someone else return it for you, such as an officiant or family friend. I recommend either returning in person or by mail yourself to make sure it gets there.

P.S. This blog was updated in October 2025, but I always recommend checking with the DC Marriage Bureau for the most up-to-date info.

3. Ceremony & Officiant Options

Do you need an officiant or celebrant in DC? Technically, yes, but this is where the self-officiating comes in, as you can simply be your own celebrant. You’ll need to note on the form who’ll be officiating, so if you’re going for the self-officiate option, decide which of you will sign off as the officiant and mark this on your application. 

One important note: the ceremony does not have to occur inside the courthouse or on courthouse property, and D.C. does not require the ceremony location to be a court facility. In fact, if you’re going the self-officiation route, you cannot legally perform your ceremony on courthouse grounds. You must step off the property to do that, so that is why it is extremely important to plan for a specific ceremony location!

Ideas for Planning Your Self-Officiated Elopement in Washington, DC

As you’re planning to elope, why not get creative and think big?! If you want, you can turn your elopement into a full day or weekend of adventures, fun, and unforgettable memories. You could explore DC, book a rooftop bar like the Line Hotel, splurge at a trendy restaurant, or just have a luxury picnic and enjoy the sunshine together. There’s no right or wrong way to do it! 

When you choose to plan a whole day out of it, you’re giving yourself so much more than “more photos”. You’re giving yourselves:

• Space to breathe. Instead of rushing from vows to portraits, you get time to actually feel the day.
  
• A story that unfolds naturally. From quiet moments in the morning to golden hour adventures to late-night celebrations, your gallery reflects the whole arc of your wedding, not just a snippet. And think about flipping through your wedding album, reliving every moment of your day!
  
• Room for spontaneity. Want to stop for coffee, explore a favorite neighborhood, or watch the sunset in silence? You can.
  
• Okay, you do, of course, get more images! Those will be images you’ll treasure for decades. More time means more variety, more emotion, and more candid memories preserved.

“I was tempted to have a court wedding and just go thru the motions. But the one thing I’ve always wanted were epic elopement photos with my now husband. I wanted to go on an adventure with my best friend and just happen to be in a white dress. I found Juliana pretty easily as her style and talent stood above the rest for me. I was never really nervous about the process because it was easy to trust her.” – Bailey

Looking for inspiration? One of my favorite DC couples spent their full-day elopement exploring museums, exchanging vows by the water, and finishing with a rooftop dinner under the stars. The moments they loved most weren’t even the ones we planned! They were the in-between moments that we had time to capture without rushing.

Bonus Elopement Idea: Imagine chartering a private yacht on the Potomac during Cherry Blossom season. You’ll see the monuments and skyline from the water, toast with champagne, savor oysters, and share music and laughter with your favorite people. For couples with out-of-town guests, it’s one of the most unforgettable ways to celebrate DC in spring. 

Check out the full blog for more inspiration from this day!

If you have any questions about how to self-officiate in Washington, DC, or how this approach might work for your elopement day, I’m here to help. I can’t wait to help you craft beautiful memories – let’s do this! Fill out my contact form to get started today!

“Working with Juliana was one of the very best decisions we made for our elopement. As someone who works in event planning, the last thing I wanted to do after work was plan another event—and Juliana took that weight completely off my shoulders. She helped map out the flow of the day, recommended wonderful vendors, and made the process simple and stress-free. Honestly, hiring her was worth every penny.” – Jessica

P.S. You can also check out my full guide on How to Elope in Washington, DC, for more tips, ideas, and inspiration!

DC Elopement Packages

Your Elopement, Your Way. Right Here in DC.

The best part about eloping in Washington, DC? You get to make it completely your own. Whether you’re dreaming of a slow morning wandering through gardens hand in hand, a meaningful ceremony beneath cherry blossoms, or a day filled with history, food, and architecture, this city has space for it all. Your love story deserves more than a script. It deserves a day that feels like you.

“She helped us plan locations, gave genuinely thoughtful and creative suggestions, and made sure everything flowed naturally. She just got us—what we wanted, how we wanted to feel, and how to make it all come to life. And then, when the day came, she made us feel like absolute royalty.” – Olivia C

As your photographer and planning partner, I’ll be with you through every decision, every idea, and every step of the experience. From choosing the perfect location to crafting a timeline that gives you room to breathe, laugh, and be fully present, I’ve got you.

Whether you’re planning something cozy and private or want to share the moment with your closest people, my elopement experiences are designed to be easy, personal, and stress-free from start to finish.

Most couples choose longer coverage so we can document everything that matters, from getting ready and exchanging vows to celebrating however it feels right for you. That could look like a private dinner, a sunset walk, a champagne pop, or something entirely unique to your story.

Every DC Elopement Package Includes:

• Photo Coverage with me, Juliana
• In-depth questionnaires – so I can truly get to know you and help create a day that feels right.
• Sneak peeks within 3 business days – so you have gorgeous photos to share ASAP.
• Personalized planning assistance – helping you with locations, permits, vendors, and timelines.
• A private online gallery – to easily download, share, and order prints of your photos.
• Photographer’s travel costs included 
• A new adventure buddy!

If you’re dreaming of an elopement day that looks like a real wedding — fully captured, fully felt — I’d love to talk. My DC elopement packages start at $5,500 (half-day and full-day options). If that aligns, let’s chat. Fill out my contact form here!