BILL TO CUT DOWN WAITING PERIOD TO GET MARRIED HEADS TO BE SIGNED BY CHRISTIE

Legislation that could help the wedding industry in the state is heading to Gov. Chris Christie to sign. The measure would eliminate the mandatory 72-hour waiting period for issuance of a marriage or civil union license after an application is made, giving New Jersey a competitive edge over neighboring states. The current waiting period makes it cumbersome for out-of-state consumers to plan weddings at New Jersey’s many tourism destinations, depriving local economies of needed tourism dollars. By eliminating the waiting period, the measure will make New Jersey more competitive with neighboring states, including Pennsylvania (72 hour waiting period), New York (24 hours), Delaware (24 hours), and Maryland (48 hours).