Wyoming Vital Records: Marriage

WSA WED-9, Polish wedding in Sheridan, Wyoming, 1950s

Though the State of Wyoming did not begin to keep track of marriages until 1941, they have been registered at the county level since 1869. 

• County Clerk Marriage Records: From organization of the county to present. Available on-site at the clerk's office. Pre-1965 registers are also available on microfilm at the Wyoming State Archives.

• Underage brides or grooms required parental permission. These statements can be found in the county register books.

• Looking for bride's 2nd (or 3rd +) marriage? Try both their maiden and all previous married names

• Can't find them in the county they lived? Try neighboring counties, homes of parents or family, neighboring major cities or even states 

Did the marriage happen UNDER 50 years ago? 

The state-issued certificate is not yet an open public record. Contact Wyoming Vital Statistics. Or contact the County Clerk's office for a county issued certificate.

Did the marriage happen OVER 50 years ago? 

The certificate is an open public record. Contact or visit the Wyoming State Archives.

Are they available online?

No, not at this time.

County marriage record for Ernest Hemingway and his third wife, Martha Gellhorn, married in Cheyenne on November 21, 1940. (Laramie County Marriage Record book 34 page 153)

Not all county marriage records are the same and many of the forms varied over the years. In general, these records include:

• Name of Bride
• Name of Groom
• Hometowns of both parties (or at least where they were currently living)
• Age of both parties (sometimes full date of birth, sometimes only that they were over 21 years old)
• Parents names of both parties
• Witnesses
• Officiant
• Date of application for license
• Date of marriage ceremony
• Date of filing of/for certificate

County marriage records may also include: 

• Statements from parents giving permission for underage marriages
• Number of prior marriages and divorces
• Location of marriage

Marriage certificate for Floyd A. and Dorothy Bauman, married April 8, 1946 in Rawlins, Carbon County, Wyoming. (Wyoming Vital Records marriage certificate #798, 1946)

In general, State-issued certificates include:

• Name of Bride
• Name of Groom
• Hometowns of both parties (or at least where they were currently living)
• Birthplace of both parties
• Age of both parties (sometimes full date of birth, sometimes only that they were over 21 years old)
• Race of both parties
• Previous marital status of both parties
• Occupation of both parties
• Parents names of both parties, including mother's maiden name
• Witnesses
• Officiant
• Date of marriage ceremony
• Date of filing of/for certificate

For more information on a marriage, or to find corroborating records, look for:

• Engagement and marriage announcements in the local newspaper

• Marriage records at the family church

• Family bibles

Marriage certificates and the information they contain is very useful to identity thieves. To better protect Wyomingites, the Wyoming Department of Health has restricted these state-issued records for 50 years and require an application and proof of identity to view those created less than 50 years ago. After that time has passed, the certificates become open public records, available to anyone without an application. The county-issued records are open public records available through the local county clerk's office.

Yes. Marriage records were created at the time of the marriage and the information was provided by the individuals themselves (1st hand account). But that does not mean that everyone provided accurate information, especially if they were under age or eloping!

Citations are an important part of documenting your search and add credibility (and reliability) to your research.

[Name of person], [year/certificate number or book and page], marriage [certificate/record], [creating agency], [repository]

For Example:

Floyd A. and Dorothy Bauman, #798/1946, marriage certificate, Vital Statistics Unit, Wyoming Department of Health.

Ernest Hemingway and Martha Gellhorn, Book 34 Page 153, marriage record, Laramie County Clerk, as on file at the Wyoming State Archives.