(These are only guidelines. Please consult your local license issuing agency for more information.)
Click HERE for a listing of courts that issue marriage licenses for Atlanta and surrounding areas.
Your vows are your promises to one another. You know what is important to your fiancé, and these are the things that you vow to do. Check out these articles for more information!
All About Your Vows - The Modern Officiant & The Knot
Private Vows - The Knot, The Modern Officiant and Daniela VillaRamos, of Once Upon a Vow
These are a few examples. Feel free to edit and customize as much as you like!
I, XXX, / take you XXX / to be my partner in life. / I promise to walk by your side forever, / and to love, help, and encourage you / in all that you do. / I will take time to talk with you, / to listen to you, / and to care for you. / I will share your laughter and your tears / as your partner, lover, and best friend. / Everything I am and everything I have is yours / now and forevermore.
From this day on, I choose you, my beloved XXX, to be my wife.
I promise to laugh with you in good times, to stand alongside you in bad.
To be joy to your heart, food for your soul, and wine to your spirit.
To wipe your tears with my gentle fingers.
I promise to mirror you with my soul.
To be your best friend, confidant, and partner in all of life’s adventures.
I, XXX, / take you, XXX, / to be my wedded wife, / to have and to hold / from this day forward,/ for better, for worse,/ for richer, for poorer, / in sickness and in health, / to love and to cherish, /till death do us part. / This is my solemn vow.
I, XXX, / take you, XXX, / to be my wedded wife. / I will cherish our friendship, / and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. / I will trust you and honor you. / I will love you faithfully / through the best and the worst, / through the difficult and the easy. / Whatever comes our way, I will be there always. / This I promise to you.
A unity ceremony is a symbolic tradition performed by the couple during their wedding ceremony. Unity ceremonies are a way for a couple to put their “personal stamp” on their wedding day. Generally, it visually symbolizes the blending of two lives (or more) into one. Children and other family members/friends may also be involved in the unity ceremony. Check out these awesome ideas posted by The Knot. Unity ceremonies can be as traditional, cultural, or as unique as you wish. Remember, these are fully customizable, so go crazy!
1. The first step is to obtain your marriage CERTIFICATE from the court it was filed at. Your officiant may have mailed your license to the court, or you may have elected to take it yourself. Either way, it must be filed at the court in order to receive your marriage certificate. Your new married name will NOT appear on your marriage license OR marriage certificate.
2. Take your marriage certificate to apply for your new Social Security card immediately. You will be required to show it when you apply for a new driver’s license, tax and other important documents. Download the SS-5 name change form at the Social Security Administration’s page on Marriage, Divorce, and Name Changes. Bring it to your local Social Security office with your driver’s license, current Social Security card and marriage license. It can take 10 days for the administration to update tax forms via the Internal Revenue Service, and up to two weeks for your new card to arrive.
3. Once you have your new Social Security card documentation, you will be able to update your driver’s license and vehicle registration. All records at the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles will reflect the name change. Bring your marriage license, your new Social Security card, and your current driver’s license in person to the DMV.
4. Contact your employer with your new Social Security card and driver’s license and ask that all tax documents regarding your itemized deductions, such as W4, are correctly updated. IRS form #8822 “Change of Address” should also be completed, if applicable. It is available from the Internal Revenue Service and typically takes four to six weeks to process. It is important that the name on your Social Security card should match the name on your tax returns.
5. Contact the Department of State to update your passport. You must mail your current passport, the DS-5504 form, if your passport was issued less than a year previous, or form DS-82, if your passport was issued more than a year previous. You should include your marriage certificate. If your passport was issued more than 90 days previous you will need to include recent “passport ready” photos. You will be charged the current rate for renewing your passport (the current fee is $110). Checks and money orders payable to the U.S. Department of State are accepted if paying by mail.
6. The United States Postal Service does not require you to file paperwork regarding your new name, but if you move to a new address after your wedding, fill out the proper change of address forms. Be sure to list your old name with your old address. You will need a valid credit card or debit card plus a valid e-mail address if you wish to complete the form online. You will be charged $1 for the online identification verification. For more information, contact or visit your local Post Office.
7. Update your voter registration card. You can update this on GA's My Voter Page
8. You can also use your marriage certificate, along with your Social Security number if needed, to update:
You can also contact your bank and credit card companies to complete their particular name change procedures.
START HERE TO BOOK YOUR PERSONALIZED WEDDING OFFICIANT EXPERIENCE!
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