The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Courthouse Wedding

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As more couples shift away from the thought of planning a full-blown wedding with lots of of guests, we’re seeing increasingly courthouse weddings. Although they’re small, we are able to’t help but love when two people care about their love greater than having a celebration, and tie the knot of their local city hall. Nonetheless, while having a courthouse wedding is far simpler than a standard wedding, there’s still lots to know.

Whether you’re choosing this route because of budget constraints or a desire for simplicity, this ultimate guide will assist you plan a memorable courthouse wedding and answer any questions you might have.

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How To Plan a Courthouse Wedding 

Choose the Date and Location

Like every other wedding, step one to planning a courthouse is deciding on the date and placement. Contact your local courthouse (or one which’s in a destination you hope to go to) to inquire about available dates and times for wedding ceremonies. Many courthouses offer weekday and weekend options. 

Budget for Your Courthouse Wedding

Courthouse weddings are sometimes more budget-friendly than traditional ceremonies, but costs can vary depending in your location. Be prepared to budget for marriage license fees, officiant fees, witness fees, and any additional services or decorations you need to include. We’ll get into how much you’ll be able to expect to pay for a courthouse wedding a little bit later.

Obtain a Marriage License

Visit your local courthouse to use for a wedding license. Requirements and waiting periods vary by jurisdiction, so check together with your local government office for specific details. Bring obligatory identification and any required documents (comparable to your driver’s license, state I.D. card, or passport).

Choose Your Guest List

Courthouse weddings are typically smaller affairs, so deciding who you need to invite is essential. Do you wish it to be just the 2 of you with a giant party together with your family and friends afterward? Or do you wish your closest family members there? The alternative is entirely as much as you. Nonetheless, once you may have the courthouse picked out, we recommend seeing what number of witnesses (if any) are required and what the utmost variety of guests is.

Plan Your Vows and Ceremony

Lastly, discuss the ceremony details with the courthouse staff or your chosen officiant. You may write your personal vows or use traditional ones. Whatever you select, make it personal and meaningful to you each. There’s also no pressure to read vows should you don’t need to. That’s the perfect part a few wedding–it’s entirely as much as you and what you’re comfortable with.

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How Does a Courtyard Wedding Work?

So the marriage day has arrived, and also you’re able to say, “I do!” Now, it’s possible you’ll be wondering what that appears like. You’ll arrive on the courthouse on the time of your appointment together with your marriage license and every other required documents, in addition to any witnesses (if obligatory). From there, you’ll exchange rings and vows, sign your license, receive your marriage certificate, and have a good time! Yes, you read that right. It truly is that easy. 

How you can Make a Courthouse Wedding Special

Because a courthouse wedding is such a brief, easy celebration, it will probably be hard to determine ways to make it much more special (because, let’s face it, it already is just by you promising endlessly to your companion). Nonetheless, there are a number of things you’ll be able to do to take things up a notch.

Bring a Bouquet of Your Favorite Flowers

Simply because the marriage is smaller doesn’t mean you don’t deserve some beautiful wedding flowers. Since you don’t necessarily produce other decor to fret about, you’ll be able to create a bouquet that’s unquestionably yours. Include your favorite flowers, color palette, details (disco balls, anyone?), etc. 

Write Your Own Vows

We all know that writing your personal vows isn’t for everybody, nevertheless it’s an easy, free strategy to make your ceremony yours. What’s more special than writing your guarantees straight out of your heart? Then, you’ll be able to re-read them every yr in your anniversary.

Include a Unity Ceremony

Traditional weddings aren’t the one places yow will discover a unity ceremony. Whether you do a sand pouring, light a candle, or a shot of your favorite liquor, a unity ceremony offers a likelihood to personalize your day and offer you a possible keepsake to recollect the day by.

Play your Favorite Songs 

The most effective parts about getting married on the courthouse is that you simply don’t necessarily must worry about guest experience. You don’t must stress out about making the proper cocktails, having a specially curated playlist, or making a menu everyone will enjoy. In case you and your soon-to-be spouse have songs which might be special to your relationship, play them during your ceremony–even in the event that they’re a little bit quirky. There must be laughter on a marriage day, anyway.

Capture the Moments

At Junebug, we’ll at all times be advocates of hiring a marriage photographer–whether you elope or get married in front of 300+ guests. You’ll want to recollect at the present time for years to return, and considered one of the simplest ways to accomplish that is by looking back on photos. Since you’re saving money in other areas, this one is very definitely worth the splurge.

Host an After Party

Whether you made the choice to maintain the ceremony between the 2 of you otherwise you included family and friends, keep the party going with an after-party. This might appear like dinner at your favorite restaurant, a karaoke sesh at a close-by bar, hitting a club for an evening of dancing, or a bonfire.

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What to Wear to a Courthouse Wedding

Although more couples are going the untraditional route for attire at traditional weddings, we’re seeing it much more so at courthouse weddings. These weddings are sometimes more casual, which usually results in more relaxed attire. Nonetheless, at the tip of the day, what you wear should reflect your personal style. If you need to feel and appear like you’ll at a giant wedding, wear that white dress and veil or suit–even should you do feel overdressed. Not one to decorate up? Go for casual attire like a mini dress or button-down shirt and slacks. The chances are countless.

Beneficial Reading: 30 Courthouse Wedding Dresses That Are Easy and Special

How Much Does a Courthouse Wedding Cost?

Courthouse wedding costs can vary depending in your location. Nonetheless, on average, you’ll be able to expect to pay about $120 for a comparatively easy ceremony. In some cities (comparable to San Francisco and Santa Barbara), you’ll be able to rent out space throughout the courthouse to let you have more guests and more time. This may cost anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500, depending on where you’re tying the knot. This will be value looking into should you want greater than ten guests.

How Long Does a Courthouse Wedding Take?

The duration of a courthouse wedding can vary, however the ceremony itself is frequently transient, typically lasting 15-Half-hour. The complete wedding planning process–from applying for a wedding license to the ceremony–can take a number of weeks to a number of months, depending in your location and any waiting periods for the license.

Remember, a courthouse wedding may be just as meaningful and memorable as a standard one. What matters most is your love and commitment to one another. Able to tie the knot to the love of your life at your local courthouse? Still trying to make your mind up what to wear? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered with these 30 wedding dresses which might be easy yet special.

Image by Flora Gibson