Is the Florida premarital course required to get married?
No, the Florida premarital course is not legally required to get a marriage license. However, if you and your partner are Florida residents and choose not to take an approved course, you are legally required to wait 3 days before your marriage license becomes valid, and you must pay the full $86.00 fee at the Clerk of Court. Taking a 4-hour approved course allows you to skip the 3-day wait entirely and saves you $25 on your license.
If you are planning a wedding in the Sunshine State, you are likely juggling a million details. Between booking venues and finalizing guest lists, the legal requirements for your marriage license might be an afterthought.
As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and an approved Florida premarital course provider, one of the most common questions I get from couples is: “Do we actually have to take premarital counseling in Florida?”
The short answer is no. But skipping it comes with a catch that catches many couples off guard. Here is exactly what happens if you skip the course, and why taking an online class is actually the smartest financial decision you can make for your wedding.
What Happens If You DON’T Take the Course?
Under Florida law, couples applying for a marriage license are given a choice: complete a registered premarital preparation course, or face a mandatory waiting period and higher fees. If you opt out of the course, here are the two main consequences:
1. The Mandatory 3-Day Waiting Period
If you do not present a certificate of completion from an approved provider, you will be subject to a strict 3-day waiting period.
How the clock works: The 3-day wait begins after you apply in person at the Clerk of the Circuit Court. For example, if you apply on a Thursday, your license will not be valid until Monday. You cannot get married the same weekend you apply. This is a massive roadblock for last-minute elopements or couples who planned to get their license a day or two before the ceremony.
Note: The 3-day waiting period only applies to Florida residents. If both individuals are out-of-state residents, there is no waiting period, but you are still subject to the full standard fee.
2. You Pay the Full $86.00 Marriage License Fee
Without a premarital course certificate, the standard Florida marriage license fee is $86.00.
The Benefits of Taking a Florida Premarital Course
Taking an approved course isn’t just a hoop to jump through—it is actively incentivized by the State of Florida. Here is how you benefit:
Instant Marriage License (Skip the Wait)
When you present your official certificate of completion to the county clerk, the 3-day waiting period is instantly waived. Your marriage license is valid the exact same day you apply, allowing you to get married immediately if you choose.
Save $25 on Your Application
To encourage couples to prepare for marriage, Florida reduces the standard $86.00 marriage license fee down to just $61.00 when you provide your certificate.
The “Cadenza Math”: It Pays for Itself
Many couples worry about the cost of a counseling course, but the math is heavily in your favor.
Our fully online, state-approved Florida Premarital Course costs just $14.49. Since you save $25 at the courthouse, taking our course actually puts you $10.51 ahead. It effectively pays for itself, while giving you valuable relationship tools and saving you a 3-day wait.
Who Actually Has to Take It?
To qualify for the waived waiting period and the fee discount, there are a few rules you must follow:
- Both partners must participate: The state requires both individuals to read the course material together to qualify for the certificate.
- It must be an approved provider: You cannot take just any relationship quiz online. The course must be administered by a registered provider. Cadenza Counseling is an officially registered and accepted provider across all 67 Florida counties.
- Non-residents: Out-of-state couples do not have a waiting period in Florida, but they also do not qualify for the $25 discount.
How Long Does the Online Course Take?
Florida statutes require the premarital preparation course to be exactly 4 hours long.
However, unlike traditional in-person counseling that requires scheduling appointments weeks in advance, our online format is completely self-paced.
There are no confusing tests to pass, no clinical interviews, and no forced Zoom calls. You simply read through expert-designed material based on proven clinical frameworks—like the Gottman Method, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS)—at your own speed. Once you hit the 4-hour mark, your official certificate is instantly available to download and print.
Ready to Skip the Wait and Save $25?
Don’t let the 3-day waiting period disrupt your wedding week timeline.
Register for our official $14.49 Florida Premarital Course today. It is completely self-paced, instantly downloadable upon completion, designed by a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and guaranteed to be accepted by your specific county clerk.
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