Wedding Officiant in Lake County, IL
Schwa Potter is a wedding officiant in Lake County, IL, and he comes to you from Milwaukee.
Quickie or Signature: Your Lake County Options
Both ceremonies work anywhere in Lake County, from a Lake Forest garden to the Waukegan lakefront. The Quickie fits your schedule: Tuesday at noon. Sunday afternoon. 9am before work. The Signature is written from scratch. Your history, your inside jokes, your people. All of it goes in.
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 10 days, as Illinois requires
Signature Ceremony
$950
15-25 minutes | Including tax
- ✓ Written from scratch for you two
- ✓ Questionnaire and planning call
- ✓ Your story woven throughout
- ✓ Personal vows, unity ceremonies
- ✓ Unlimited edits until perfect
- ✓ Religious, spiritual, or secular
Rehearsal available for +$150. Travel is free within 30 miles of Milwaukee. Small travel fee beyond that.
Lake County Marriage License: How It Works
In Illinois, you apply for your license in the county where the wedding happens. Getting married in Lake County? You both go together, in person, to the Lake County Clerk in Waukegan. The license takes effect the day after the clerk issues it and lasts 60 days from that point. You cannot marry on the day you apply.
Lake County asks you to complete and print the application before you arrive. If either of you was divorced in the last 6 months, bring a certified copy of the decree. If either of you does not speak English, bring a third-party interpreter. After the wedding, certified copies cost $10 for the first and $4 for each additional.
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 October 2026. Counties change their fees, so confirm with the clerk before you go.
Every northern Illinois county, side by side, is in the Illinois marriage guide.
Coming From Wisconsin?
A Wisconsin license covers Wisconsin weddings only. For a Lake County ceremony, your license comes from the Lake County Clerk. Pick your spot, book your officiant, then apply.
"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
"His storytelling was incredible. He shared our journey in a way that had our guests laughing, smiling, and even tearing up."- Ryan Smith, Google Review
Lake County Wedding FAQ
How much does a wedding officiant cost in Lake County, IL?
The Quickie Ceremony is $300: 5-7 minutes, nonreligious, at any location, and not available Saturdays after 1pm. The Signature Ceremony is $950: 15-25 minutes, written from scratch for the two of you. Both prices include tax. Travel is free within 30 miles of Milwaukee. Small travel fee beyond that.
Where do we get a Lake County marriage license?
At the Lake County Clerk, 18 N. County St., Room 101, Waukegan. In Illinois, you apply in the county where the wedding happens, so a Lake County ceremony needs a Lake County license. Both partners apply together, in person. The fee is $35.
Can we use a Wisconsin marriage license for a wedding in Lake County?
No. A Wisconsin license covers weddings in Wisconsin only. For a Lake County ceremony, apply at the Lake County Clerk in Waukegan.
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. Travel is free within 30 miles of Milwaukee. Small travel fee beyond that.
Does Schwa Potter officiate LGBTQ+ weddings in Lake County?
Absolutely. Schwa has married couples of every kind: gay, lesbian, bi, trans, nonbinary, straight, interfaith.
Ready to Get Married in Lake County?
500+ ceremonies performed. 70 five-star reviews. All couples welcome.
schwa@actingofficiant.com | Schwa responds within 24 hours.