Secretary of State David M. Scanlan has announced the launch of a new contest to find an original heirloom marriage certificate design.

The winning design, which should capture both the joy of marriage and the beauty of New Hampshire, will become the official heirloom marriage certificate issued by the state. The contest is being coordinated by State Registrar and Vital Records Director Kristin Martino.

Ms. Martino was inspired to create the contest after discovering a decorative marriage certificate from 1886 while antique shopping. Moved by the certificate’s intricate design, which commemorated the marriage of a young couple from Salisbury, she initiated the contest to find a modern, original design for New Hampshire’s first heirloom marriage certificate.

Pictured: The 1886 marriage certificate that inspired the contest. The license was issued to Frank Gookin and Alice Batchelder of Salisbury, NH.

The contest opens on June 6, marking the 139th wedding anniversary of the Salisbury couple, and closes on September 5. Any New Hampshire resident aged 18 or older may enter by submitting a design through the Secretary of State’s website.

Designs must be secular (non-religious), appropriate for all audiences, and should emphasize New Hampshire’s character and natural beauty.

A panel of local judges will select one winner from a pool of finalists chosen by the Secretary of State’s Office and its Vital Records Division. The winning design will be formatted to fit 11” x 14” and will be available for purchase for $25, beginning January 1, 2026, for any marriage that occurred in the State of New Hampshire.

Kristin Martino, Vital Records Director and State Registrar, said, “New Hampshire’s mountains, lakes, forests, coastline, bustling cities, and charming small towns provide the perfect backdrop for any love story. I look forward to our talented state artists translating this beauty into our first heirloom marriage certificate.”