The winning design will be the official heirloom marriage certificate issued by the state’s Vital Records Division.
CONCORD, NH (June 3, 2025): Secretary of State David M. Scanlan announces the launch of a new contest to find an original heirloom marriage certificate design. The winning design, which should combine the joy of marriage with the beauty of New Hampshire, will be the official heirloom marriage certificate issued by the state. The contest is being executed by State Registrar and Vital Records Director Kristin Martino.
Ms. Martino drew inspiration for the contest from an 1886 decorative marriage certificate she found while searching for antiques. Drawn to the intricate design of the certificate, which commemorated the marriage of a young Salisbury couple, Ms. Martino was moved to start a contest in New Hampshire to find an original design for the state’s first heirloom marriage certificate.
How to Enter
The contest will open on June 6, the 139th wedding anniversary of the Salisbury couple, and close on September 5. Any New Hampshire resident who is 18 or older can enter the contest on the Secretary of State’s website. Designs must be non-secular with a focus on New Hampshire and cannot be inappropriate or offensive.
A panel of local judges will choose 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 starting January 1, 2026, for any marriage that occurred in the State of New Hampshire.
Kristin Martino, Vital Records Director and State Registrar: “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.”
New Hampshire already has an heirloom birth certificate designed by Karen Holman of East Andover, NH in 2003.