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PROVO — These days, a lot of people meet their future spouses online through dating apps or on social media. Now, the path to “I do” is even easier and faster — thanks to an app launched by Utah County officials to streamline the marriage license process.
In the basement of the Utah County Administration Building, you’ll find a department full of computer programmers. The sight doesn’t exactly bring to mind romance or weddings, but that’s where the idea to streamline the marriage license process was born.
“This is where you would fill out all your applicant information — you’re going to be presented with a screen like this and then you take a picture of the front of your ID,” said programmer Mike Perry as he demonstrated the app. “It’s much like you were filling out a marriage license in person.”
The programmers moved what was once an in-person only process online, trying to make things easier for couples looking to tie the knot — especially for couples who have a hard time appearing together in person during normal business hours.
“You can do this at 1 a.m. with your fiancé, in your jammies while you’re binging Netflix,” said Burt Harvey with the Utah County Clerk/Auditor’s Office with a laugh.
The online process even involves the couple taking individual selfies.
“This part needs to (be a picture) from the shoulders up and it should look like your license as much as you can,” Perry said.
It’s also more efficient for county officials.
“We can dramatically increase the number of applications we can process without having to add people or staff or something like that,” Harvey said.
While the app helps with the application process, it’s still not possible to actually get married online in Utah County. You’ll need someone like Utah County Deputy Clerk Ben Frei to perform the ceremony.
“I have five (weddings) today and I’ve already done one so I’ve got four more,” Frei said.
KSL caught up with Frei in between ceremonies, where things were noticeably quieter these days thanks to the online application process.
If you still want to come in and fill out paperwork the old-fashioned way, that works too. However, maybe leave the phone in the car.
“I did have a runaway bride once for a minute because she took a phone call in the middle of the ceremony,” Frei said with a chuckle.
However, if you plan to say, “I do,” Provo and Utah County are ready for you.
Harvey said they are only in phase two of the online rollout — in the future, they hope to add the option for an officiant to simply go online as well and not need hard copy documents.
As of Friday morning, 86 couples had taken advantage of the new streamlined process.
