Do We Need Witnesses to Get Married in California?

It depends entirely on which type of marriage license you get.

A public marriage license requires at least one witness present at your ceremony to sign the license. This is the most common route for City Hall couples, and honestly, it's an easy requirement — your officiant, a friend who came along, or even your photographer (in some cases) can typically serve as that witness.

A confidential marriage license does not require a witness — but it comes with its own condition: both partners must already be living together at the time of application. Confidential licenses also aren't part of the public record, which some couples prefer for privacy.

If it's truly just the two of you eloping with no one else in the room, ask your officiant ahead of time who can serve as your witness, or confirm you qualify for a confidential license instead. It's a small logistical detail, but one worth locking down before your ceremony day so nothing holds up the moment.

We're often asked to step in as an unofficial extra pair of hands (or witness!) on ceremony day — just let us know if that's something you might need.