I get this question a lot — especially from couples coming in from out of town for a weekend wedding:
“Can we pick up our TN marriage license on Saturday morning before the ceremony?”
The short answer: maybe, but don’t count on it.
Here’s the deal
In Tennessee, marriage licenses are issued by county clerks, and each county sets its own office hours. That means whether or not you can get one on a Saturday depends entirely on which county you go to.
Most counties — including Davidson (Nashville), Williamson (Franklin), Rutherford (Murfreesboro), and Maury — are strictly Monday through Friday. If your wedding is in one of those areas, you’ll need to get your license during the week.
But there are a few exceptions. Some smaller or more tourist-heavy counties keep limited Saturday hours. For example:
- Sevier County (home to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge) has a clerk’s office open Saturday mornings.
- DeKalb County and Campbell County have short Saturday hours too — typically until around 11:30 a.m.
So yes, it’s possible to get your marriage license on a Saturday — but only in a handful of counties, and usually for just a few hours.
My advice
If you’re planning a weekend wedding and hoping to grab the license that morning, call the county clerk’s office ahead of time and confirm three things:
- Are they open on Saturday?
- What hours do they actually issue licenses (not just open the counter)?
- Do they require an appointment?
And of course, both of you need to bring valid photo ID and know your Social Security numbers.
Bottom line
If you’re getting married anywhere around Nashville or Middle Tennessee, you’ll almost certainly need to pick up your license on a weekday. But if you’re tying the knot in the Smoky Mountains or a smaller county that caters to weekend weddings, you might just get lucky with a Saturday option.
Either way, plan ahead. It’s one of those small details that can save you a lot of stress on the big day.