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Getting married is a monumental event, and the idea is to make it as special as possible. From historic churches to stately homes, lovely waterfront locales to contemporary settings, New Bern offers a number of exciting locations to make your wedding day an extraordinary one. In this chapter, we highlight just a few of the locations and services available in the New Bern area, including information on where and how to obtain the marriage license.

Wedding Show

New Bern Bridal  Expo
New Bern Riverfront Convention Center, New Bern
(252) 638-8101

Those planning a wedding in the New Bern area will want to mark their calendars for this show, held annually on the last weekend in January. The expo highlights services available locally, including catering, photography, musicians and more. It also includes a fashion show and prize drawings. Admission is $5.

 

Marriage Licenses

North Carolina requires that all couples get a marriage license before the marriage takes place. Licenses are available at any Register of Deeds office in North Carolina. The Craven County Register of Deeds office is located at 226 Pollock Street, (252) 636-6617.

To obtain a marriage license, those age 21 and older need to come in together and bring their driver's licenses, Social Security cards and $50 in cash; those 18 and 19 years of age also need to bring along certified copies of their birth certificates. (Those 17 and younger should call the registrar's office for more information about other requirements they need to meet.) If you have been divorced within six months, bring your divorce papers.

The Register of Deeds office issues marriage licenses Monday through Friday between 8 AM and 4 PM. The license is valid for 60 days in any county in North Carolina. After the wedding, certified copies of the marriage certificate are available from the Register of Deeds for $10 each.

In North Carolina, you can be married by a magistrate — the Magistrate's Office is located in the Craven County Law Enforcement Center at 411 Craven Street, (252) 639-9015, next door to the courthouse. You'll need to bring two witnesses (at least 18 years of age), your marriage license and $20 in cash for state fees; otherwise, the magistrate typically does not charge anything for performing the ceremony, although tipping is permitted. The Magistrate's Office is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week (but keep in mind that jail visitation takes place between 11 AM and 4 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, so the lobby of the office can get crowded).

The Register of Deeds office, (252) 745-4421, in neighboring Pamlico County has a few different requirements. Located on the first floor in the courthouse on N.C. Highway 55 in Bayboro, the office requires that couples who have ever been divorced at any time should bring in a copy of their divorce decrees. Marriage licenses are issued Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM; the bride and groom will both need to be present in order for the license, which costs $50 in cash, to be issued. Those 18 and older should bring along their driver's licenses and Social Security cards, although the Pamlico County office allows the use of a W-2 or tax return in lieu of a Social Security card. (Those 17 and younger should call for more information.) The license is valid for 60 days. After the marriage, the couple can pick up one free certified copy of the marriage certificate; copies after the first one are $10 each. The Magistrate's Office, (252) 745-6010, also is located in the courthouse.

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