By Distant Vows | Updated 2026
If you are trying to figure out how to get married online in Colorado, you will quickly run into the state’s traditional marriage license requirements. Both applicants must appear in person at a county clerk and recorder’s office, complete a sworn application, and pay the license fee before a ceremony can take place. Colorado has no waiting period and the license is valid for 35 days, but that in-person requirement is an immediate barrier if one partner is in another state, deployed overseas, or living abroad.
By using Utah’s fully legal online marriage system through Distant Vows, Colorado couples can get married online in Colorado entirely over video and receive a U.S. marriage certificate that is valid in Colorado and all 50 states.
How Colorado Marriage Usually Works if You Do Not Get Married Online in Colorado
Under Colorado law, a marriage license is issued by the county clerk and recorder of any county in the state. Unlike some states, Colorado does not require you to apply in the county where you live or where the ceremony will be held, so there is some flexibility there. Both partners must appear together in person with government-issued photo ID.
Colorado is also one of the few remaining states that allows self-solemnizing marriages, meaning a couple can legally marry themselves without an officiant present. Once the ceremony is completed, the signed license must be returned to the issuing county clerk within 63 days for recording.
Colorado is one of only a handful of states that still recognizes common-law marriage. If you and your partner have lived together in Colorado and held yourselves out as married, you may already have a legal common-law marriage under state law. However, proving a common-law marriage to USCIS, an insurance provider, or a federal agency is significantly more complicated than presenting a formal Utah online marriage certificate. Many Colorado couples who have been together for years choose to get married online in Colorado through Utah specifically to get a clean, government-issued document that removes all ambiguity.
The in-person requirement is exactly why many Colorado couples look for a way to get married online in Colorado instead of coordinating county clerk office visits and travel, especially when one partner is out of state or abroad.
Are Online Weddings Allowed Directly if You Want to Get Married Online in Colorado?
Colorado does not currently operate a statewide system that allows both the marriage license and the ceremony to be completed entirely over video. The self-solemnization option is unique and useful, but it still requires both partners to obtain the license in person at a county clerk’s office first.
That is why couples who want to get married online in Colorado often choose to marry under Utah law via a real-time video ceremony, then use that Utah marriage certificate in Colorado. You still live and celebrate in Colorado, but you get married online in Colorado through Utah’s modern, virtual-first legal framework. Utah explicitly authorizes online marriage licenses and video ceremonies under state law, making the resulting certificate fully valid nationwide.
4 Steps to Get Married Online in Colorado with Distant Vows
Step 1: Verify Your Eligibility
First, you confirm that you and your partner meet Utah’s basic requirements and complete the Distant Vows intake form. You both must be 18 or older, not currently married to anyone else, and able to join a live video call together. This is the foundation that lets you get married online in Colorado in a way that is fully valid under Utah law.
- Confirm you are legally free to marry, meaning single, divorced, or widowed.
- Gather valid government-issued photo IDs such as a Colorado driver’s license or passport.
- Make sure you have a stable internet connection and a device with audio and video.
You can begin this step by completing the Distant Vows intake form here: Get married intake form/.
Step 2: Choose Your Package and Ceremony Date
Next, you choose a Distant Vows package and select a ceremony date and time that works for your schedule in Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Boulder, or anywhere else. You can keep the ceremony short and entirely legal, or personalize it with custom vows, readings, and guests watching online as you get married online in Colorado.
- Select a basic legal ceremony or a more personalized experience.
- Pick a time that works for your time zone and any guests joining from Colorado or overseas.
- Let us know if you need witness support, special wording, or language assistance.
Step 3: Apply for Your Utah Online Marriage License
After you pick your date, you complete a Utah online marriage license application. Utah County’s system lets you submit everything digitally including your personal information, ID uploads, and signatures. You never have to visit a Utah courthouse, and you do not need to appear at a Colorado county clerk’s office because the license is issued by Utah. Your goal is to get married online in Colorado, but the legal mechanism is Utah’s online marriage system.
- Fill out the secure Utah County application form online.
- Upload clear images of your IDs and any required documents such as divorce decrees if applicable.
- Respond to any follow-up from the Utah clerk if they need clarification on your application.
Step 4: Attend Your Online Ceremony and Receive Your Certificate
On your wedding day, you and your partner join a live video ceremony with a Utah-licensed officiant. Two adult witnesses are required and they can join from anywhere in the world. If you do not have family or friends available to serve as witnesses, you can invite them at no charge, or use our witness service for a small fee.
- Join from your home in Colorado or any quiet location with a good internet connection.
- Participate in a real-time ceremony where you exchange vows and say your “I dos.” This is the moment you actually get married online in Colorado, even though the legal ceremony is happening under Utah law.
- After the ceremony, your officiant files the certificate in Utah and you receive your official Utah County marriage certificate digitally and by mail.
Colorado In-Person Marriage vs. Online Utah Marriage
| Feature | Traditional Colorado Marriage | Get Married Online with Distant Vows |
|---|---|---|
| Where the license is issued | Colorado county clerk and recorder. | Utah County Clerk via online application. |
| In-person appearance | Both partners appear together at the clerk’s office with ID. | No in-person visits. Everything is handled online. |
| Waiting period | None. | None. |
| Self-solemnization | Allowed, but still requires in-person license pickup. | Not applicable. A licensed Utah officiant performs your ceremony. |
| Common-law marriage | Recognized, but complex to prove for federal and immigration purposes. | Formal Utah County certificate removes all ambiguity. |
| Both partners must be in Colorado | Yes, for the license application. | No. Partners can be anywhere in the world. |
| Valid in Colorado | Yes. | Yes, and in all 50 states. |
| International use | Requires apostille depending on the country. | Utah certificate can be apostilled. See Distant Vows apostille services. |
Military Couples in Colorado
Colorado Springs is one of the most military-concentrated cities in the entire country. Fort Carson is home to the 4th Infantry Division. Peterson Space Force Base and Schriever Space Force Base sit nearby. Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station is carved into the granite of Cheyenne Mountain. The United States Air Force Academy is just north of the city. Buckley Space Force Base is in Aurora near Denver, and the Colorado Army and Air National Guard operate installations across the state.
For service members at Fort Carson whose partner is deployed overseas, or for a couple where one partner is stationed at Peterson while the other is in a different state, Colorado’s in-person county clerk requirement is impossible to satisfy. Utah online marriage is the most practical solution for these couples. Both partners join a live video ceremony from wherever they are, no Colorado presence is required, and there is no waiting period. You can read more about how this process works specifically for service members at Distant Vows for Military Couples.
Immigration and International Couples in Colorado
Colorado has a large and growing international population. The Denver metro area has significant communities from Mexico, El Salvador, Vietnam, Ethiopia, and Somalia. The Front Range corridor from Pueblo to Fort Collins includes one of the largest Hispanic populations in the Mountain West. For binational couples where one partner is still abroad, Colorado’s in-person county clerk requirement makes obtaining a traditional Colorado marriage license impossible without both partners traveling to the same location.
When you get married online in Colorado through Utah, your partner can be anywhere in the world. The Utah County marriage certificate is accepted by USCIS for spousal visa and green card applications. If you need your marriage recognized abroad, Distant Vows can help you obtain an apostille so your Utah certificate can be used internationally. You can learn more about that process at Distant Vows apostille services.
Using Your Utah Certificate in Colorado
After you get married online in Colorado through Utah, your certified Utah County marriage certificate becomes your primary legal document for updating records. Colorado agencies look for a valid U.S. marriage certificate and do not require it to be a Colorado-issued document.
- Change your name with the Social Security Administration.
- Update your Colorado driver’s license through the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles. No court order is required for a post-marriage name change in Colorado.
- Adjust your name and marital status with banks, employers, and insurance providers.
- Use your certificate for USCIS spousal visa and green card applications.
Couples who get married online in Colorado through Utah can handle all of these updates locally without any additional steps beyond presenting their Utah County certificate.
FAQ: Getting Married Online in Colorado
Is it legal to get married online in Colorado?
Colorado recognizes marriages that are valid where they are performed. When you get married online in Colorado through Utah’s system, your marriage is valid in Utah and must be recognized in Colorado even though the ceremony happens over video.
Do we still need to apply for a Colorado marriage license?
No. If you choose the Utah online route, your license is issued by Utah County, not by a Colorado county clerk. You do not need a Colorado marriage license to be legally married if you get married online in Colorado through Utah.
I am in a common-law marriage in Colorado. Do I need to do anything?
You are not legally required to formalize it, but a Utah online marriage certificate is far easier to use than proving a common-law marriage for immigration, name changes, insurance claims, and federal benefits. Many Colorado common-law couples choose to formalize through Utah specifically for this reason.
Can military couples at Fort Carson or Peterson Space Force Base get married online in Colorado?
Yes. Both partners join the ceremony by video from wherever they are. One can be deployed overseas and the other at home in Colorado. No Colorado presence is required. You can read more about this at Distant Vows for Military Couples.
Can same-sex couples get married online this way?
Yes. Same-sex marriages are treated the same under Utah and federal law, so same-sex couples in Colorado can get married online in Colorado through Utah and receive the same legal certificate as any other couple.
How fast can we get married online from Colorado?
Many couples complete all four steps and receive their digital certificate within a few days. Rush options are available for couples who need to get married online in Colorado on a tighter timeline.
For details on Colorado’s traditional marriage license process and common-law marriage rules, the Colorado Secretary of State marriage records page has official guidance. For couples who want to get married online in Colorado without a county clerk visit, Distant Vows handles everything remotely.
Ready to Get Married Online in Colorado?
If you are ready to get married online in Colorado, Distant Vows makes the process simple. Our four-step system walks you from eligibility to your official U.S. marriage certificate, with licensed Utah officiants, witness support, and clear guidance at every stage.
Start today, choose your date, and let us handle the legal details so you can get married online in Colorado without leaving home. You can begin by completing our intake form get married online intake form.