Yes. The church may not perform a marriage ceremony or Nuptial Mass without a civil marriage license. The marriage license must be originated in the state where the wedding takes place and no more than one month in advance, but no less than 72 hours beforehand.
The license is the official document which is validated by the signature of the celebrant and two witnesses. In New Jersey there are four copies of the marriage license. The original and one copy are returned to the Registrar of Vital Statistics in the community where the wedding takes place. The wedding will be recorded there as well as in the marriage register of the parish of the Catholic party. The third copy is given to the couple for their safekeeping. The fourth copy is kept as a permanent record in the Pre-Nuptial Investigation Folder that is retained in the parish of record.