USANEWSONLINE.COM DESK, NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio and Speaker Corey Johnson today announced “Project Cupid,” a joint effort between the Office of the City Clerk and the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) to transition the marriage licensing process fully online. 

“We need moments of joy now more than ever, and we won’t let a pandemic get in the way of true love,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “To all of the couples looking forward to tying the knot, know that your city is right here with you, throwing rice from afar.”

“Coronavirus has changed the world in so many ways but our ability to love and commit to each other hasn’t wavered. Now couples ready to marry don’t have to wait for the pandemic to end to say ‘I do.’ We deserve some good news and this is definitely wonderful news for all of New York City,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. “We are very excited about the launch of Project Cupid, which will integrate videoconferencing technology into the marriage license process. We appreciate the support of the Mayor’s Office, the Speaker’s Office and the Department of Finance to quickly marshal City resources for this project. A special thanks to DOITT Commissioner Jessica Tisch for her dedication and creativity in making Project Cupid possible. We look forward to bringing some happiness to New Yorkers during these difficult times,” said City Clerk Michael McSweeney. “For the first time in our City's history, New Yorkers will be able to obtain marriage licenses online, and it was our pleasure to build out the technology to enable that,” said Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications Commissioner and Citywide Chief Information Officer Jessica Tisch.

All couples who want to get married in New York State must obtain a Marriage License. Prior to Executive Order No. 202.20, signed by Governor Cuomo, the law required that New Yorkers complete the process of obtaining a marriage license in person. With this requirement waived, the City has been working to expeditiously create new technology to ensure the licensing process can complete the final portion of the process online.

The new system will allow couples to virtually schedule and attend an appointment with the City Clerk's office, securely upload required documents for the marriage license to the City Clerk's office, and upload the signed license for submission to the City Clerk once the ceremony is complete. 

The site will be available in 11 languages and Language Line will be available to provide on-demand translation services to any couple in need of translation services. Couples will be able to electronically pay their fee using the City's secure electronic payment service, CityPay.

The system is expected to go live in the first week of May. New Yorkers who would like to obtain a marriage license will soon be able to do so by visiting nyc.gov/Cupid or cityclerk.nyc.gov. Press Release.