Couples get married at the courthouse for numerous reasons-limited funds, military obligations, lack of interest in the glitz and glam of the big wedding, and much more. While it may not be as festive as the big ballroom wedding that's taken a year's time to plan, there's no reason to treat it any less exciting and momentous. After all, the ultimate goal is all the same: to get married!
But before you head straight to the courthouse, there are some things that you need to know. Yes, even a civil ceremony requires a little bit of planning beforehand. Here are some details and suggestions on celebrating the rest of your life with the one that you love the budget friendly way.
Figure Out the Logistics
Just like any other wedding, you will need to obtain a marriage license to be able to legally tie the knot. Fill out the required paperwork provided by the court (usually found online) and return it with the proper fees (ours was sixty-five dollars) and appropriate identification documents (photo I.D., social security card, etc.). The turn around time is different from place to place, some taking less than a minute to produce, and others taking a month so be sure to check with your local courthouse. In Reno there is no waiting period, so if need be, you can obtain the license all the way up until the day of!
Plan the Ceremony
First, contact your local court to figure out what days are available in order to choose your perfect date. Ours only performed ceremonies on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2-4pm. They are also done by appointment only, which can be scheduled out up to six weeks prior to the intended date. Once you have the time and date set, feel free to ask any burning desire questions that you may have. I would suggest asking what you need to bring (photo I.D. and marriage license), how many guests are allowed (at least two, no more than four with the exception of children), if outside flowers are allowed, etc.
Now that you have the basics all sorted out, here comes the fun stuff-picking out the flowers, choosing the witnesses, finding rings, and choosing your outfits. And know that just because you aren't having a traditional wedding, it doesn't mean that you can't wear your dream dress! Nothing makes you feel more like a bride than a white dress. So no matter what nuptials you take, it's the iconic symbol that can still be obtained. And it is your prerogative to dress as YOU want on YOUR wedding day!
Include Post-Ceremony Activities
The celebration doesn't have to end once you exchange your vows. Meet with family and friends at a restaurant, host a party at your house, or even have a full-blown reception. The whole point to a wedding is to let the people in your life wish your marriage well and make the two of you feel special on your day.
What to Expect
I'm not gonna sugar coat it. The courthouse is bland and depressing, after all it is a governmental building! So don't expect any glamour. In all honesty, it is a room with no decorations with a sign posted "no food or drinks allowed" right outside it's door. But the trick is to find the humor in it because ultimately the day is about the two of you, not all of the crazy extras.
Also expect some judgement. From both family and friends. They may ask "why, whats wrong?", " "why not wait?", and "what, are you pregnant?". But the truth is that, for the most part, they are just offended that you are choosing to marry without them, so just ignore the naysayers. figure out what is important to the both of you, trust your instinct, and roll with it. In the end, your wedding is only one day and what really matters is ever day following it.
Our Wedding Day
On September 28, 2018, Marc and I married through the courts to make a bigger commitment to not only each other, but also our family. The decision was quick and easy for us. It provided a more intimate affair with just both of our moms, his grandparents, our son, and my best friend. We also loved that it's a "no rules" party. Meaning that we had the ultimate freedom. There was no long list to be tied to and stressed over. We only had to remember the three essentials: marriage license, witnesses, and identification. Everything else was merely a matter of personal choice. We also chose it for the budget friendly aspect. Excluding our outfits, we spent a total of one hundred and seventy dollars on our wedding (sixty-five on the marriage license, seventy-five for the ceremony to be performed, and thirty for the certified copy of the marriage certificate). As far as our outfits, we were both more than excited to go simple. I wore a short lace dress and tan heels, and he wore a white button-up with jeans and cowboy boots. And afterwards we celebrated with foods and drinks at Famous Daves with our closest family and friends. Sure it was only a five minute ceremony and a messy bbq dinner, but it was our day and it was absolutely perfect!
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