Marriage Officiant Service: ceremonies in Miami-Dade & Broward (in-office or on-site) with Notary Public Center

Where we officiate (service area & formats)

• Miami-Dade County — In-office ceremonies at our Miami location, plus on-site weddings across the county (home, venue, park, hotel ballroom, beach permits handled by you).

• Broward County — On-site ceremonies for homes and venues in cities such as Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Weston, Coral Springs, and beyond.

• Weekdays & weekends — Morning, afternoon, or evening windows; holiday availability varies.

• Guest size — From two witnesses to small family groups. (For larger events, we coordinate the timeline with your planner.)

Marriage license basics (and how we help)

The marriage license is your government authorization to marry. It’s typically issued by the clerk of the court (or county clerk). Requirements vary by county and can change, but the process generally looks like this:

1. You apply to the county clerk that serves your ceremony location. Some offices allow pre-application online and then an in-person appearance to issue the license.

2. Bring valid ID and any additional documents the clerk requests (names must match exactly).

3. Pay the clerk (the clerk sets the fee; we don’t control it).

4. Receive the license (valid for a limited time; some counties impose waiting periods or waive them under certain conditions).

5. Get married within the license validity window.

6. Return/record the completed license per county instructions.

7. Obtain certified copies of the marriage certificate from the clerk (these are what schools, banks, consulates, and agencies ask for).

How Notary Public Center helps:

• Pre-application prep — We provide a checklist and review the county’s current steps so you can move quickly at the clerk window.

• Name consistency — We confirm that the names on your license, IDs, and ceremony script match exactly (initials, hyphens, compound surnames), avoiding downstream reprints.

• Witness planning — We explain any witness rules and, when needed, help you coordinate witnesses for your ceremony.

• Return guidance — After the ceremony, we complete the officiant section legibly and return the license promptly for recording (per county instructions).

• Certified copies retrieval — Instead of you waiting in line again, we can order and retrieve the certified copies on your behalf immediately after recording..

We can’t issue the license and we don’t collect clerk fees. Only the county clerk can issue; our role is to keep you prepared and on time.

Ceremony options you can choose

In-office civil ceremony (Miami)

• Best for: couples who value speed, privacy, and a controlled environment.

• Flow: arrive with your license and IDs; quick welcome, optional short vows, legal pronouncement, signing, photos in our minimalist setting; we file/return the license promptly.

• Runtime: most in-office ceremonies take 10–20 minutes once you arrive (not including photography after).

On-site ceremony (Miami-Dade & Broward)

• Best for: home, backyard, terrace, park, beach, hotel, or private venue.

• Flow: we arrive early, coordinate with your planner or host, confirm IDs and witnesses, lead the ceremony, and complete paperwork.

• Customization: you can add personal vows, readings, or a unity ritual (sand, ribbon, etc.)—civil, non-religious language unless you ask otherwise.

We are bilingual and experienced with cross-cultural families. If parts of your family speak Spanish only, we can weave Spanish into the script seamlessly.

Paperwork precision: small details that prevent big delays

Exact names — We copy names exactly as they appear on the license and IDs (accents, hyphens, and middle names included).

Legible entries — We write clearly, in dark ink, and avoid abbreviations that can confuse recorders.

Sign where it counts — You sign only where instructed; we ensure the right lines are used by each party, witness, and officiant.

Timely return — We complete and return the license promptly so the county can record your marriage and issue certified copies without delay.

Copies advice — We suggest how many certified certificates to order based on your needs (immigration, banks, insurance, name change, dual citizenship, etc.).

If your marriage certificate will be used abroad: apostille support

If you are marrying in Florida and plan to use your marriage certificate in a Hague Apostille Convention country, the certificate will need an apostille. If your destination is not a Hague member, the path is authentication (and often consular legalization). Here’s how we make the international part easy through our partner Apostille de la Haya:

1. We confirm the country of use and the receiving authority’s preferences (paper vs. electronic copies, translation, number of certificates).

2. We help you obtain certified copies of the marriage certificate from the county clerk (these are government originals—not notarized photocopies).

3. We route the apostille on the official’s signature (not the officiant’s), according to the state’s competent authority procedures. Timeframes may vary by office and season.

4. Translation planning — If needed, we coordinate a translator’s sworn statement/notarization and clarify whether the apostille should attach to the base document, the translation affidavit, or both.

The result: your certificate is accepted the first time, without a ping-pong of legalization steps.

What to bring (and how to prep) for a smooth ceremony

• Marriage license issued by the appropriate county clerk (valid and unexpired).

• Valid IDs for both parties (names matching the license).

• Witnesses (when required by venue/your preference); we’ll tell you how many and any restrictions.

• Rings (optional) and any personal vows or readings if you plan to include them.

• Contact for the venue (event manager or host) so we can coordinate arrivals, parking, and setup.

For on-site weddings: consider backup shade or umbrellas if outdoors; allow a few extra minutes for parking and elevator access; have the license and pens at the signing table.

Timeline example: your wedding day with Notary Public Center

1. Before the day — Complete the pre-application with the clerk and pick up the license. We finalize your script, confirm witnesses, and lock logistics.

2. Arrival — In-office: you arrive 10 minutes early. On-site: we arrive early and coordinate with your host/planner.

3. Ceremony — Welcome, statement of intent, vows (short civil vows or your own), legal pronouncement, signing.

4. Paperwork — We complete the officiant block and ensure all required signatures are in the right places.

5. Return & proof — If you want the service, we physically return the license to the Clerk for recording. We can then retrieve the certified copies for you, ensuring you have the official proof in hand without further trips to the court..

6. Apostille (optional) — If needed, we assemble the apostille packet and handle filing. Timeframes may vary.

Common mistakes we help you avoid

• Arriving without the license — We remind you and confirm the clerk’s pickup window.

• Name mismatches — Middle names, accents, or hyphens missing on the license or IDs create headaches. We catch these before ceremony day.

• Illegible or misplaced signatures — We guide everyone line by line so you don’t need to redo anything.

• Witness confusion — We clarify who can serve, where they sign, and whether additional info is needed.

• Missing the return step — We handle the return promptly so your certificate can be issued without delay.

• International surprises — If you need the certificate abroad, we plan for apostille and translation upfront to avoid last-minute scrambles.

Questions we’ll ask (so you don’t have to ask them later)

• Which county issued your license?

• What is your ceremony location (exact address) and preferred date/time?

• Do you need bilingual (English/Spanish) elements in the script?

• Will you include personal vows or keep the standard civil script?

• How many guests/witnesses do you expect?

• Will you need apostille or additional certified copies of your certificate?

• Do you have any accessibility or privacy requests?