How To Find Someone's Wedding Date: A Quick Guide

If you're trying to find out someone's wedding date, there are a few ways to go about it. Marriage dates are a matter of public record, so you can try searching online, checking local newspapers, or visiting a county records office. If you know the state and county where the marriage took place, you can access the marriage license through the county clerk, which will include the date of the wedding. Alternatively, you can try searching through church records, especially for weddings that took place before the 20th century.

Marriage certificates

Obtaining a Marriage Certificate

To obtain a marriage certificate, individuals can follow these steps:

• Identify the relevant office: Contact the vital records office or the County Clerk/Recorder's office in the jurisdiction where the marriage took place. This information can usually be found on the website of the respective state or county.
• Submit a request: Visit the office in person or submit a request through their website or by mail. Some offices may also offer phone services. There may be a processing fee associated with the request, which can vary depending on the state and delivery method.
• Provide necessary information: When submitting the request, individuals will need to provide specific information, such as the full names of the couple, the date and location of the marriage, and their own contact details. Having additional information, such as the marriage license number, can expedite the process.
• Wait for processing: The processing time for obtaining a marriage certificate can vary depending on the office and the method of request. It may take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to receive the certificate.
• Receive the certificate: Once the request is processed, individuals can receive their marriage certificate by mail, in person, or through an online portal, depending on the options offered by the relevant office.

If an individual was married abroad and needs a marriage certificate, they should contact the embassy or consulate of the country where the marriage took place. For marriages that occurred before November 9, 1989, individuals can contact the State Department to obtain a copy of the "Certificate of Witness to Marriage Abroad."

Church records

Churches and governments often kept marriage records before other life events were documented. Marriage records can be found in the archives of churches, historical and genealogical societies, and libraries. If the church doesn't hold the archives, the headquarters of the denomination may do.

Marriage records may include the following information:

• Age at the time of marriage
• Church of the marriage ceremony
• County where the marriage took place
• Date and/or place of birth for the couple
• Date of the marriage
• Full names of the couple
• Name of the minister or priest
• Names and birthplaces of the couple's parents
• Names of the witnesses to the marriage, who are often relatives
• Residence of the couple
• Whether the couple were single, widowed, or divorced

If you are looking for information on a marriage that occurred before the 20th century, it is a good idea to check church records, which in some cases go back to the 1600s. To find church records, you will need to know where the person lived, as well as the denomination of the church they attended.

Civil marriage records can be easy to find and access, but there may be times when you cannot obtain them, or they do not include all the information you are looking for. In these cases, it is a good idea to turn to church marriage records.

Census records

The US Federal Census has been carried out every 10 years since 1790, and 90% of US citizens are listed in the censuses. The census records can be accessed online through various websites, including FamilySearch.org, Ancestry.com, Fold3.com, MyHeritage.com, and Findmypast.com. These websites offer different ways to search for census records, such as by name, location, or collection.

The census records contain basic family information such as the name, age, and gender of each family member, as well as their relationship to the head of the household. They also include information on whether the individual was married that year, their place of birth, their occupation, their marital status, and their naturalization status.

For those looking to find out about a person's marriage, the census records can provide valuable clues. For example, the number of years an individual has been married can give an approximate marriage date. Additionally, the census records can indicate if a person married within the census year, providing a more precise date.

It is important to note that the information in the census records is only as accurate as the information provided by the person being interviewed. There may be errors in the records due to miscommunication, lack of knowledge, or illegible handwriting. Nonetheless, census records remain a valuable resource for those researching their family history or looking for specific information about an individual's life, including their marital status and marriage date.

Online agencies

Using an online agency is the quickest and easiest way to find out someone's wedding date. There are a number of online agencies that can search through marriage records for you. To find them, simply search "marriage record checks" or "background checks" in a search engine.

Before employing an agency, be sure to research the company and look for positive feedback and a good reputation. Many online agencies will charge you for their services, but some may offer free trials or a single free search. Results are not guaranteed, even if you pay, so a free trial will give you an idea of the service you can expect. Some databases will not include recent records, so make sure the agency covers the approximate year of the wedding in question before proceeding.

Few agencies will allow you to search without signing up for an account. You will need to provide your personal details and agree to a payment option. In the UK, a subscription could cost you £15 a year, or 3 months for £5. With deals like these, there will often be a limit to the number of searches you can perform.

To search for a marriage record, you will generally need the person's full name, and the city and state the marriage took place in. Some sites will show you which years are available to be researched in each state. You may also be able to pay for a complete background check to learn other personal information in addition to the marriage date.

County records

In most cases, marriage records are considered public information, and anyone can access them by conducting a search using details such as the names of the couple, the location of the marriage, or the specific date. However, it's important to note that certified marriage records may have restricted access, and only authorised individuals, such as the married couple, their parents or legal guardians, children, or legal representatives, may be able to obtain them. The availability and accessibility of these records can vary from state to state, so it's essential to check the relevant state and county regulations.

Marriage records can include a variety of documents, such as marriage licenses, marriage certificates, applications, and returns. A marriage license is typically issued by the county clerk's office and confirms that a couple is legally qualified to marry. On the other hand, a marriage certificate is issued after the wedding ceremony and serves as proof of the marriage. It is usually signed by the couple, their witnesses, and the officiant, and then filed with the county clerk. These records often contain valuable information such as the full names of the spouses, the date and location of the marriage, the names of the officiant and witnesses, and sometimes even the ages or birth dates of the spouses.

In addition to the county clerk's office, marriage records may also be available from other sources. Some states have a central repository for vital records, such as the state's Division of Vital Records or the Department of Public Health, where records from multiple counties are stored. Additionally, religious authorities, such as churches, may have their own records, especially for marriages that occurred before civil authorities began documenting them. For more recent marriages, online databases and third-party genealogy websites can also be useful resources for locating marriage records.

It's important to note that the availability of marriage records can vary depending on the age of the records and the location of the marriage. Older records may be stored in archives or may require a search of court minutes, deed books, or other sources. Additionally, some states have different types of marriage records, such as public and confidential records, with varying levels of accessibility. Therefore, it's recommended to familiarise yourself with the specific regulations and procedures of the relevant county and state when conducting research on someone's wedding date.

Frequently asked questions