A Virginia wedding reference

Virginia Wedding and Marriage Statistics

A practical, source-linked look at marriage trends and planning facts for Virginia couples.

Updated August 6, 2026

Key figures at a glance

This page brings together the latest available public figures for Virginia marriages, national context and a few state licensing facts. Every number below links to its primary source and identifies the year it represents.

7.2

Virginia marriages per 1,000 residents

Virginia's reported marriage rate in 2023, based on marriages occurring in the state.

Source: CDC/NCHS, 2023

6.1

U.S. marriages per 1,000 residents

The national reported marriage rate in 2023. The federal series excludes several states with unavailable data.

Source: CDC/NCHS, 2023

18%

Above the national reported rate

Virginia's 7.2 rate was about 18% higher than the U.S. reported rate of 6.1 in 2023.

Source: Calculated from CDC/NCHS 2023 rates

28%

Lower than Virginia's 2000 rate

Virginia's reported marriage rate moved from 10.0 per 1,000 residents in 2000 to 7.2 in 2023.

Source: CDC/NCHS, 2000 and 2023

2.4

Virginia divorces per 1,000 residents

Virginia's reported divorce rate in 2023. The federal source notes that divorce figures include annulments.

Source: CDC/NCHS, 2023

60

Days a Virginia marriage license remains valid

Virginia law gives couples 60 days from issuance to solemnize a marriage under the license.

Source: Code of Virginia, current

Marriage rate trend

Virginia's reported marriage rate over time

These rates represent marriages occurring in Virginia per 1,000 residents. They are useful context for understanding a long-term statewide trend, not a count of weddings held at any one type of venue.

Year	Virginia marriage rate	Change from prior listed year
2000	10.0 per 1,000 residents	Baseline
2019	7.7 per 1,000 residents	23% lower than 2000
2020	6.0 per 1,000 residents	22% lower than 2019
2022	7.8 per 1,000 residents	30% higher than 2020
2023	7.2 per 1,000 residents	8% lower than 2022

View the CDC/NCHS state marriage-rate series.

Methodology and sources

How these figures were selected

We use primary public sources where available. The marriage and divorce rates are based on provisional state counts reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. Rates are per 1,000 residents and should be read with the source notes for coverage details.

CDC/NCHS marriage and divorce dataState marriage and divorce rates for 1990, 1995 and 2000 through 2023, plus national reported totals and rates.
Code of Virginia, Section 20-14.1Marriage-license duration, accessed August 6, 2026.
Code of Virginia, Section 20-15Virginia's $20 state marriage-license tax, collected when the license is issued. Local clerk fees may also apply.

Cite this page

Sharing these figures

When referencing a figure, link directly to its statistic above and include the source year shown with it.

Oak Creek Farm Weddings, LLC. "Virginia Wedding and Marriage Statistics." Updated August 6, 2026. https://oakcreekfarmva.com/virginia-wedding-statistics

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