Making it Legal: Getting Married In Palm Springs

Making It Legal

Palm Springs has served as a wedding destination to the stars since the early days. Our unique blend of perfect weather and incredible openness has made Palm Springs the ideal wedding venue for every personality.

Whether you are getting hitched at the last minute, planning a destination wedding, or an intimate gathering of your closest friends and family, the Gay Desert Guide is here to help. In California, obtaining a marriage license is simple, and residency is not required, nor is there a wait time or blood test requirement. Look at our list of wedding vendors for everything you need to know to plan your Rainbow Wedding, including finding an officiant, the perfect jeweler, wedding planners, florists, caterers, and photographers.

In California, obtaining a marriage license is simple. There is no residency requirement, nor do you need a blood test. Also, California does not require you to wait between obtaining a marriage license and tying the knot.

Counties in California are the gatekeepers for marriage licenses. The Riverside County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder is conducting civil ceremonies at their locations, including 38686 El Cerrito Rd, Palm Desert, Ca 92211

Appointments are suggested.

Masks are strongly recommended.

They also ask that you complete the application for your marriage license before arriving or booking your appointment. Follow the instructions at Public Marriage License or Confidential Marriage License pages. Marriage licenses cost $100 for Public Licenses and $110 for Confidential Licenses. 

Civil ceremonies are $85 at all Riverside County locations, except the 14th Street Chapel in downtown Riverside, which is $120. Marriage licenses issued in other California counties are valid here in Palm Springs and Riverside County, so if you come from within the state, you may want to get your license beforehand.

Appointments fill quickly, and the clerks will book appointments up to 60 days out. To book your appointment, visit https://asrclkrec.site/

Please keep in mind the following rules for obtaining a marriage license:

• Both parties MUST be 18 years of age or older. (We are not issuing licenses to minors at this time.)
• Both parties MUST be present TOGETHER during their appointment to obtain the marriage license. (In the same room and on the same screen).
• Both parties MUST have valid, current picture identification. 
  • The identification must be government issued. 
  • Examples include state-issued driver’s licenses or identification cards; military identification; green card; naturalization certificate; or passport.
• If either party has been divorced or has had a dissolution of a State Registered Domestic Partnership within 90 days of the issuance of the marriage license, a copy of the FINAL dissolution IS REQUIRED. They will take a copy of the register of actions showing the written final decree of dissolution has been entered. The divorce paperwork does not need to be certified. A copy of a Minute Order IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
• Payment of fee for a public marriage license: $100.00.

GayDesertGuide.com is your one-stop portal for planning your special day, like when our wedding channel Married in Palm Springs partnered with YouTube couple Zach & Evan to create their dream Palm Springs wedding. Originally from Pittsburg, these “everymen” vlog about their lives as a gay couple [See their YouTube Channel], and the pair became YouTube sensations in 2017 with their sincere and touching engagement video, filmed at the National Lantern Festival. [View it here]

Gay Desert Guide worked with the two men on their wedding plans, as well as documenting those wedding plans, for their popular YouTube channel and Facebook page. Zach & Evan rode in the 2018 Greater Palm Springs Pride Parade and finally tied the knot in January 2019 at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club (see photos featured in this article above) with Gay Desert Guide by their side along with a vast array of family, friends, and fans.