Do We Need Rings or Vows?

Both come from tradition and religious custom, not from Colorado law, which is why the state’s requirement for a valid marriage is so much shorter than most couples expect.

What makes it legal

Self-solemnization has exactly one legal requirement on the ceremony side: both parties sign the marriage license. That’s the act that makes the marriage legally real. Everything else (what you say to each other, whether you exchange rings, whether there’s a ceremony at all beyond the signing) is entirely a personal choice, not a legal one.

So why do most couples still do them?

Rings and vows are tradition, not law. Plenty of couples still choose to write and read vows to each other, or exchange rings, because it makes the moment feel like a wedding rather than a form-signing, and there’s nothing stopping you from doing exactly that. The point is simply that you’re free to skip either or both without putting the marriage’s validity at risk.

If you do want vows or rings, there’s no required format, no required witness to hear them, and no need to register or record them anywhere; they’re just part of your day, not part of the paperwork.

The full list of what’s required

For the legal side of the day, the only real requirements are:

• A valid, unexpired marriage license, signed by both of you.
• Returning that signed license to the county clerk within 63 days so it can be recorded.

See self-solemnizing the ceremony for the full rundown on what that signing moment looks like, and what to do (or not do) about witnesses.