Wedding Officiant in Lake County, Illinois
Personalized wedding ceremonies anywhere in Lake County, Illinois. Schwa comes to you from Milwaukee.
What Ceremony Options Are Available in Lake County?
Quickie Ceremony
$300
5-7 minutes | Including tax
Not available Saturdays after 1pm
- ✓ Short, nonreligious ceremony
- ✓ Option to add personal vows
- ✓ Marriage license guidance
- ✓ Script review before the day
- ✓ Performed at any location
- ✓ Paperwork filed within 3 days
Signature Ceremony
$950
15-25 minutes | Including tax
- ✓ Fully customized ceremony
- ✓ Individual partner interviews
- ✓ Love story woven throughout
- ✓ Personal vows, unity ceremonies
- ✓ Unlimited edits until perfect
- ✓ Religious, spiritual, or secular
Rehearsal available for +$150. Travel fee of $1/mile for locations over 30 miles from Milwaukee.
How Do You Get a Marriage License in Lake County?
An Illinois license is meant to be used in the county that issued it. For a Lake County wedding, both partners apply in person at the Lake County Clerk in Waukegan. The license takes effect the day after the clerk issues it and lasts 60 days from that point.
Lake County Clerk at a Glance
- ✓ Fee: $35
- ✓ Where: 18 N. County St., Room 101, Waukegan
- ✓ Good to know: Weekdays 8:30am to 4pm. Print the completed application before you go. A service fee applies to cards.
- ✓ Witnesses: Illinois does not require any.
- ✓ After the ceremony: Schwa returns the signed certificate to the county clerk. Illinois law allows 10 days.
Checked against the Lake County Clerk's website in September 2026. Counties change their fees, so confirm with the clerk before you go.
Full details for every northern Illinois county are in the free Illinois marriage guide.
Book Your Officiant Before You Apply
An Illinois license is meant for the county that issued it. Confirm where your ceremony will happen, book your officiant, and then apply in that county.
"From our very first Zoom meeting, my now-husband said, 'I only want him to marry us.' And he was absolutely right! Our officiant was incredible! He was warm, genuine, and made our ceremony feel so personal and heartfelt."
Jennifer Spenner, Google Review
Google Review
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a wedding officiant cost in Lake County, Illinois?
Schwa Potter offers two ceremony options for Lake County couples. The Quickie Ceremony is $300 (5-7 minutes, nonreligious, any location). The Signature Ceremony is $950 (15-25 minutes, fully customized around your love story). Both prices include tax. A travel fee of $1/mile applies for locations over 30 miles from Milwaukee.
Where do we get a marriage license for a wedding in Lake County?
At the Lake County Clerk in Waukegan. An Illinois license is meant to be used in the county that issued it, so apply in Lake County for a Lake County ceremony. Both partners must appear in person. The fee is $35.
Can Schwa Potter travel to Lake County for a wedding?
Yes. Schwa Potter travels from Milwaukee to Lake County and comes to any location the couple chooses: parks, backyards, venues, restaurants, or anywhere else. A travel fee of $1/mile over 30 miles from Milwaukee applies.
Does Schwa Potter officiate LGBTQ+ weddings in Lake County?
Absolutely. Schwa Potter is an openly LGBTQ+ officiant who welcomes all couples. Straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, interfaith, intercultural. All love is celebrated equally.
Ready to Get Married in Lake County?
300+ ceremonies performed. 63 five-star reviews. All couples welcome.
[email protected] | Schwa responds within 24 hours.