Wedding Officiant in McHenry County, IL
Schwa Potter is a wedding officiant in McHenry County, IL, and he comes to you from Milwaukee.
Quickie or Signature: Your McHenry County Options
Both ceremonies work anywhere in McHenry County, from a Crystal Lake backyard to a riverside spot in McHenry. 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.
McHenry County Marriage License: How It Works
In Illinois, you apply for your license in the county where the wedding happens. Getting married in McHenry County? You both go together, in person, to the McHenry County Clerk in Woodstock. The license takes effect the day after the clerk issues it. McHenry County says it is valid for 60 days after it is issued, and it may not be used in any other county. You cannot marry on the day you apply.
Call ahead, because McHenry County strongly encourages a reservation. If either of you was divorced in the last 6 months, bring a certified copy of the decree. After the wedding, certified copies cost $12 for the first and $4 for each additional.
McHenry County Clerk at a Glance
- ✓ Fee: $30
- ✓ Where: 667 Ware Rd., Suite 107, Woodstock
- ✓ Good to know: Weekdays 8am to 4pm. Reservations strongly encouraged: (815) 334-4242. Cash or card.
- ✓ 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 McHenry 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 McHenry County ceremony, your license comes from the McHenry County Clerk. Pick your spot, book your officiant, then apply.
"I don't think we could have picked a better officiant than Schwa. He brought a vibrant energy to a rainy ceremony & made our day so so magical. The personalized ceremony touched all the guests and the inclusive language was noted and greatly appreciated by our friends."- May Blume, Google Review
"He made sure to inject some fun and levity, and didn't try to add anything religious (which was really important to us)."- Ethan Cecchetti, Google Review
McHenry County Wedding FAQ
How much does a wedding officiant cost in McHenry 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 McHenry County marriage license?
At the McHenry County Clerk, 667 Ware Rd., Suite 107, Woodstock. In Illinois, you apply in the county where the wedding happens, so a McHenry County ceremony needs a McHenry County license. Both partners apply together, in person. The fee is $30, cash or card.
Can we use a Wisconsin marriage license for a wedding in McHenry County?
No. A Wisconsin license covers weddings in Wisconsin only. For a McHenry County ceremony, apply at the McHenry County Clerk in Woodstock.
Can Schwa Potter travel to McHenry County for a wedding?
Yes. Schwa Potter travels from Milwaukee to McHenry 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 McHenry County?
Absolutely. Schwa has married couples of every kind: gay, lesbian, bi, trans, nonbinary, straight, interfaith.
Ready to Get Married in McHenry County?
500+ ceremonies performed. 70 five-star reviews. All couples welcome.
schwa@actingofficiant.com | Schwa responds within 24 hours.