Wedding Officiant in North Augusta, SC: Why Crossing the River Changes the Rules

The drive from downtown Augusta to North Augusta takes one bridge and about as long as a song on the radio. It also moves your wedding into another state, which changes the license, the waiting period, and the law on who may marry you. As a wedding officiant North Augusta SC couples call from both sides of the river, we are licensed in Georgia and South Carolina, and we work under both sets of rules.

What changes when you cross the river?

Same river, different paperwork. Here are the two states side by side.

On the Georgia side

• No waiting period. The license is usually issued the same day.

• No witnesses and no blood test.

• The completed license must be back at the probate court within 30 days of the ceremony.

• A Georgia license must be used in Georgia.

On the South Carolina side

• A 24 hour waiting period after you apply before the license can be issued.

• No blood test and no residency requirement.

• State law limits who may perform the ceremony. More on that below.

• The license comes in three copies, and two of them must be back at the probate court within 15 days.

• A South Carolina license can only be used in South Carolina.

Who is allowed to officiate a wedding in North Augusta?

This is the rule that surprises people. S.C. Code Section 20-1-20 limits who may perform a marriage in South Carolina to ministers, rabbis, officers authorized to administer oaths in the state, and the chief or spiritual leader of a Native American Indian entity recognized by the state's Commission for Minority Affairs.

So a friend or relative generally cannot officiate in North Augusta unless they are one of those. People search wedding officiant North Augusta SC and assume the Georgia rules a coworker told them about still apply. They do not. Any wedding officiant North Augusta SC couples hire has to fit South Carolina's list, and we are licensed to officiate in both states.

If you had your heart set on a friend, give them a reading or a toast, and let the legal part rest with someone the state recognizes.

Where do North Augusta couples get the marriage license?

Most of North Augusta is in Aiken County, and part of it is in Edgefield County. A license from any South Carolina probate court can be used anywhere in the state, so you are not locked to one courthouse.

The Aiken County Probate Court is in the Judicial Center at 109 Park Ave in Aiken, open 8:30 to 4:30 Monday to Friday. The license is $45. Both of you go together and bring ID and your Social Security cards. The court does not take checks, and cards carry a 3 percent fee. Fees and hours here were checked in October 2026 and courts do change them, so call before you drive over.

Mind the 24 hour wait and the weekday hours. For a Saturday wedding, apply by Thursday so you can pick the license up on Friday. Our Aiken County marriage license guide walks through the visit.

What if we already bought a Georgia license?

Then the ceremony has to happen in Georgia. A Richmond County or Columbia County license will not work at a North Augusta venue. Check which state your venue is in before either of you takes a morning off work.

You still have options. You can hold the ceremony on the Georgia side, or apply for a South Carolina license and wait the 24 hours. Couples marrying in Augusta can start with our Richmond County marriage license guide.

Wedding officiant North Augusta SC pricing

Wedding officiant North Augusta SC pricing with us is the same as across the river. North Augusta is part of our home base, so the travel fees we add for Atlanta, Savannah, and Charleston do not apply here.

The Elopement Ceremony is $200. It is a short ceremony with a set script, standard vows, and a ring exchange, for up to 20 guests, with no rehearsal. The Custom Ceremony is $400. We write it from scratch for the two of you, meet once to plan it, and attend your rehearsal.

Payment plans are available on both. Split the cost into as many payments as you like. The $400 Custom Ceremony is about $33 a month over 12 months, about $67 a month over 6, or about $133 a month over 3. Prices are the same all year, and our fees support the Augusta Birth Center, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Need a License Signing with no ceremony on the South Carolina side? Ask us for a quote.

What happens with the license after the ceremony?

You both sign all three copies exactly as your names appear. We complete the officiant lines and the date, then hand all three back to you. You keep the original and return the other two copies to the probate court, in person or by mail, within 15 days.

Ask for certified copies when you return them. Aiken County charges $5 a copy. You will need them for a name change, and military couples need one for DEERS enrollment. Fort Eisenhower couples are a big part of our work, so that question comes up often.

Who are we?

Augusta Officiant is co-owned by Katie and Nick, with Jonathan as our third officiant. We are veteran owned, family run, and a foster family, and we have married more than 1,200 couples across the CSRA. We hold a business license and $2 million in liability insurance, which more venues are asking officiants to show. Ceremonies can be in English or Spanish, and our backup officiant system means a ceremony is never left without an officiant.

If your ceremony is by the river or in a city park, check with the city or park office before you plan on it. And if you want someone to run the timeline that day, we offer day of coordination too. Ask for a quote.

North Augusta wedding officiant FAQ

Can we use a Georgia marriage license in North Augusta?

No. A Georgia license must be used in Georgia, and a South Carolina license can only be used in South Carolina. A North Augusta ceremony needs a South Carolina license.

Can a friend or family member marry us in North Augusta?

Generally not. Section 20-1-20 limits who may perform a marriage in South Carolina to ministers, rabbis, and officers authorized to administer oaths in the state, so a friend or relative cannot officiate unless they are one of those.

How soon can we get married in North Augusta?

South Carolina has a 24 hour waiting period after you apply before the license can be picked up. Once you have the license in hand, the ceremony can happen.

Do you charge a travel fee for North Augusta?

No. North Augusta is part of our home base. The Elopement Ceremony is $200 and the Custom Ceremony is $400, with payment plans on both.

Which county do we go to for the license?

Most of North Augusta is in Aiken County, and the Aiken County Probate Court is at 109 Park Ave in Aiken. A license from any South Carolina probate court can be used anywhere in the state.

Which side of the river are you on?

For a wedding officiant North Augusta SC couples do not have to explain the river to, send us your date and location. Tell us which side of the river the ceremony is on and we will tell you which license you need, what it costs, and how a payment plan would look.

Want to hear from other couples first? Our Google reviews are a good place to start.