Marriage Ceremony

Bond your love or Renew your commitment at Poughkeepsie Pride

Why a Marriage Ceremony?

For many queer couples, choosing to marry at a public Pride event like Poughkeepsie Pride is both a personal celebration and a public affirmation of equality. Pride gatherings commemorate decades of struggle for LGBTQ+ visibility, legal recognition, and social acceptance, making them a meaningful setting for couples to mark a milestone once denied to them by law and custom.

Public marriage ceremonies at Pride also allow couples to celebrate within a supportive community of friends, family, and allies, while symbolizing the connection between individual love stories and the broader movement for civil rights.

For some, the decision reflects joy and visibility rather than protest: a way of saying that their relationships deserve the same recognition, dignity, and communal celebration as any other marriage.

Cost

While the City of Poughkeepsie charges a fee to obtain the marriage license, Dutchess County Pride Center is holding the Poughkeepsie Pride Marriage Ceremony at no cost to any participant.

Prior registration with DCPC is required.

Legal Requirements

In order to be a part of the public Poughkeepsie Pride Marriage Ceremony, and for the marriage to be legally valid, each couple must obtain a marriage license through the City of Poughkeepsie Chamberlain’s Office, and hold said license for at least 24 hours prior to the ceremony.

According to the City of Poughkeepsie: Forms and complete instructions can be found on the City Chamberlain’s website. Here is a general overview:

In order to process your request for marriage certificates, please visit the Forms & Applications page, print the application of the document you are requesting and return the completed form to the Chamberlain’s office via any of these methods:

  • Email: City Chamberlain

  • Mail or Drop Off:

    • Attn: City Chamberlain’s Office
      62 Civic Center Plaza
      Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

  • Fax: 845-451-4239

Marriage Licenses are processed by appointment only. Please visit the City Chamberlain’s Appointment Scheduling page to make an appointment. Licenses are done each day at four specific times:

  • Two Morning Appointments: 10:00am & 11:00am

  • Two Afternoon Appointments: 1:00pm & 2:30pm

Required Documents: 

  • Government/State Issued ID

  • Certified copy of birth certificate with parent's names. 

  • Certified copy of divorce decree or death certificate for each previous marriage

Notice: If any document is not in English, a certified translation of those documents must be brought to the appointment as well.

Dutchess County Pride Center (DCPC) reserves the right to change or alter any of the above information without advance notice. If changes are necessary, DCPC will make every available effort to communicate those as soon as possible. Please contact us directly if you have any further questions.

Crowd Notice/Release: Please be aware that by entering this area (2026 Poughkeepsie Pride March & Festival), you consent to your voice, name, and/or likeness being used, without compensation, in films and tapes for use in any and all media, whether now known or hereafter devised, for eternity, and you release Dutchess County Pride Center and its successors, assigns and licensees from any liability whatsoever of any nature. Do not enter this area (2026 Poughkeepsie Pride March & Festival) if you do not wish to be subject to the foregoing.