Logistics
Marriage License
The legal document, issued by the county, that authorizes a couple to marry. Required before the ceremony.
A marriage license is a state- and county-issued document the couple obtains in person from a county clerk, usually within a window of 60-90 days before the wedding (some states require 1-3 days of waiting after issuance).
After the ceremony, the officiant and (often) witnesses sign it. The signed certificate is returned to the clerk — that's the step that actually marries you. Without that signed return, the wedding isn't legally registered.