What is the difference between a marraige license and a marriage certificate?

Marriage licence says you are allowed to get married, marriage certificate is what you get after you are married.What is the difference between a marraige license and a marriage certificate?
The marriage license shows that the couple is legally able to marry each other (of proper age, not currently married to someone else, etc). The marriage certificate shows that the ceremony has been completed and the couple is now, in fact married.





You can apply for and receive a marriage license and decide not to get married. It's legally necessary, but not legally binding.





In many states, the marriage license BECOMES the marriage certificate. The couple signs it before the wedding as a license, the officiant signs it afterward to prove the ceremony takes place, the couple takes it back to the courthouse, and that single document becomes the legal proof that their wedding took place.What is the difference between a marraige license and a marriage certificate?
The marriage license is the legal document you need in order to prove to the officiate who will join you two in matrimony that you both have permission from the State(county) to marry, and that there are no legal impediments as to why you can't....without this document the officiate can not marry you.





Now, the officiate must have this document at the wedding ceremony because immediately afterward (when it's convenient, of course) there is a place for him/her to sign, along with yourselves and two witnesses to indicate that the marriage did take place (exchange of vows) Then the signed marriage license is turned into the county/state where the marriage occured within in a set period of time so it can be registered (if there is no county/state record of a marriage it doesn't legally exist)....you will receive a Certificate of Marriage which is a document that proves you are married...and often you will receive the original marriage license back as well ( I did-NY state) good luck.
The ML precedes the MC.





You file for the ML in your local town hall 30-90 days before the wedding. Requirements vary depending of state (age, residence, etc.) and you have to pay a fee. Then the town hall will issue you a ML.





On your wedding day, bring the ML to your officiant (that must be licensed in the state where you are marrying) and he/she will sign the ML after the ceremony and return it to the town hall.





After receipt, the town hall will produce a marriage certificate, which is the legal document that shows that you are legally married.





Good luck
the license states you are allowed to get married in that state the certificate you get once you are married.
A license allows a couple to legally marry. A certificate proves that they are married.