George Boyle
The role of a wedding witness is to observe the ceremony and sign the paperwork afterward, including the marriage register and marriage license. While there are no strict rules on who can be a witness, they must be able to understand the language and nature of the ceremony and be of age — typically 18 or over. In some places, witnesses as young as 16 can be accepted. Witnesses can be family members, and parents can be witnesses, too.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of witnesses required | This varies by location. In the UK, two witnesses are required. In New York, one witness is required. In California, one or two witnesses may sign the public marriage license, but no witnesses may sign the confidential marriage license. |
| Age of witnesses | This varies by location. In the UK, witnesses can be any age as long as they understand what is happening. In the US, witnesses must be 16 or over in Minnesota and 18 or over in Arizona, Delaware, Kansas, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, and Wisconsin. |
| Who can be a witness | This varies by location. In the UK, witnesses can be strangers. In the US, witnesses must know the applicants in New Jersey. Witnesses are often family members or members of the wedding party, but this is not a requirement. |
What You'll Learn
Legal requirements for witnesses
The legal requirements for witnesses at a wedding vary depending on the state or country in which the wedding is taking place. In the US, for example, only about half of the states require witnesses for marriage ceremonies. In the UK, however, it is a legal requirement for every wedding to have at least two witnesses.
In US states that do require witnesses, the general rule is that witnesses must be able to understand and witness the wedding ceremony and sign their names. There is usually no requirement for witnesses to be a certain age, but some states specify that witnesses must be at least 16 or 18 years old. In some cases, witnesses may be required to show identification or provide a signature and photo identification with their date of birth.
For example, in Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, two witnesses are required. In California, Nevada, and Iowa, only one witness is needed.
In the UK, there must be at least two witnesses aside from the couple getting married and the person conducting the ceremony. There are only two spaces for witness signatures on the wedding register, but some officiants may allow more than two witnesses to sign. If not, additional witnesses can be included in photos next to the register.
Overall, the legal requirements for witnesses at a wedding depend on the specific laws of the state or country in which the wedding is taking place. It is important to check the local requirements to ensure that the marriage is legally valid.
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Parents as witnesses
A wedding witness is a person who observes the wedding ceremony and signs the paperwork afterward. Witnesses are required to ensure that the wedding is done legally, that neither party is forced into the marriage, and that the officiant carries out their job correctly. While there is no strict rule on who chooses the wedding witnesses, it is usually a joint decision made by the couple. It is ideal to choose someone who means a lot to both the bride and the groom.
The core role of a wedding witness is to witness the bride, groom, and officiant signing the wedding certificate. Once the couple is done signing, the witnesses must also sign to indicate that they have witnessed the wedding taking place. A wedding witness can also have other roles, such as being a bridesmaid or an usher (groomsman). There is no law on who can and cannot be a witness, as long as they are adults and understand what is happening.
The parents of either the bride or groom can be witnesses. This may seem like a conflict of interest, given the role of the witness in ensuring the propriety and legality of the ceremony and the signing of the paperwork. However, the law does not see it that way, so the couple is free to choose from the parents of either side. The couple may also pick any other family member, such as uncles, aunts, grandparents, or cousins.
In most states, witnesses must be at least 16 or 18 years old and must have proper identification. However, in some states, there is no age restriction as long as the witness understands what is happening. In the UK, witnesses must be able to understand the language the ceremony is conducted in.
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Number of witnesses required
The number of witnesses required at a wedding depends on the location of the ceremony. In the US, most states require one or two witnesses, but some states require none. For example, in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington DC, and Wyoming, no witnesses are needed. In contrast, states like Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin mandate two witnesses. Meanwhile, California, Iowa, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and South Dakota only require one witness.
In the UK, the law mandates a minimum of two witnesses for every wedding. The wedding register has two signature spaces for witnesses, but if desired, more than two witnesses may be allowed to sign on each line at the officiant and venue's discretion. If the officiant does not permit more than two official witnesses, additional individuals can be present as unofficial witnesses and participate in photos without signing the register.
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Who can be a witness
A wedding witness is a person who observes the wedding ceremony and signs the paperwork afterward. Witnesses are important as they ensure that the wedding is done legally, and that neither party is forced into the marriage. While there are no strict rules on who can be a witness, there are some legal requirements that must be met. For example, in the UK, there must be at least two witnesses, and they must be able to understand the language of the ceremony and have the mental capacity to understand the nature of the ceremony. While there is no restriction on the age of a witness in the UK, some register offices and places of worship may ask for an additional witness if one of the witnesses is under 18. In the US, the minimum age to be a witness varies by state, with some states requiring witnesses to be 16 or over, and others requiring them to be 18 or over.
With that in mind, almost anyone can be a witness at a wedding. This can include family members such as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins. It is also common for members of the wedding party to act as witnesses, such as the best man, maid of honour, bridesmaids, or groomsmen. The couple can also choose to have friends as witnesses, which is a great way to include them in the wedding day. Ultimately, the only consideration is that the person understands what a marriage is and what a legal ceremony should look like.
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Role of a witness
The core role of a wedding witness is to observe the wedding ceremony and sign the marriage papers, including the marriage license and register, afterwards. Witnesses are required to make sure that the wedding is done legally, that neither party is being forced into the marriage, and that the officiant is carrying out their job correctly.
Today, wedding witnesses perform the same role and it is still a legal requirement to have them in most countries. Anybody who understands what a marriage is and what a legal ceremony should look like is fit to be a witness. There is no law on who can and cannot be a witness, as long as they are an adult and they understand what is happening. In some countries, witnesses do not need to be over 18, but they must be able to understand what a wedding is and why it is important. In the UK, witnesses must be able to understand the language the ceremony is being conducted in. In the US, some states require witnesses to have photo identification with a date of birth.
The wedding couple can choose whoever they want to be a witness, and it is common for the best man and maid of honour to take on this role. However, it is also popular to have parents as witnesses, usually one from the bride's side and one from the groom's. This is a way to give parents a responsibility and help them feel included in the day.
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Frequently asked questions
This depends on where you are getting married. In some states in the US, witnesses must be 16 or over and in others, they must be 18 or over. In the UK, witnesses can be any age, but they must be old enough to understand what a wedding is and why it is important.
Yes, the parents of either the bride or groom can be witnesses. It is a popular choice to have one parent from the bride's side and one from the groom's side.
This depends on where you are getting married. In the UK, you need at least two witnesses, but in the US, some states require only one witness, while others require two or more.
Almost anyone can be a wedding witness, including friends, siblings, grandparents, or other family members. The only rule is that they need to understand what they are witnessing.
