Financially, a courthouse wedding with a small reception afterwards, or even a church wedding (if you attend the church they may let you use it as a venue for free) would be the cheapest option. Woman B: Getting the If being the center of attention isnt your thing and all you want is to get married to the person you love without a big show then a courthouse wedding can provide that intimate environment for you. Con; usually it's after traffic court on a random Tuesday. Pro: you're just as married as anyone else, but have $10,000 to $40,000 more in your pocket. Civil ceremonies tend to be more intimate, even while quick and inexpensive. The party after would be your celebration of marriage. With a courthouse wedding, all you really need to do is make an appointment and show up. I'm not sure about everything you had planned for your big day, but if you planned to do it all on that day all of your vendors and venue has to be paid off and such. In Response to : You want the benefits of marriage right now? Saving alot of money! Getting married at the courthouse will still cost you something, but nothing close to what you would pay for a full-on traditional wedding with all the bells and whistles. If this is Taking off of work or taking half days to plan a wedding isn't ideal. You also can't have bridal showers or a bachelorette because you won't be a bride. This is an extremely special occasion, and it is important to be able to look back on the day with photographs or your very own wedding film. Just because you are going to be saving a lot of money by choosing a more intimate courthouse wedding, does not mean that you cannot make it special. While some couples believe they cannot afford a traditional reception, they fail to consider how lovely a cheaper party can be. Im having a tiny courthouse wedding with just my parents and siblings, then the large wedding 3 months later. In Response to : I don't understand what you mean by "consequences." When Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner got married in Vegas in May of 2019, many people thought that'd be the last of the wedding photos we'd see. In fact, the majority of people that choose to have a courthouse ceremony really want to save money. Traditional marriages require the bride to wear a traditional wedding dress and the groom a nice suit. You are not able to get married in court unless you have received your marriage license. Cons. Research the city you live in ahead of time and check the cost. Copyright 2023 DMCA Policy Privacy Policy Terms of Use Log in. For my wedding, I will hire a professional wedding photographer even if it is for two hours. I want to have the traditional wedding and reception with all my family and friends, but I am in the middle of Nursing School, and still work part time, so I just don't have the time to plan such an event, nor the money. Cons- You might regret it later (you might not), *********not enough time to realize you should wait to be getting married.*********. You'll find content for brides of all genders, traditions, religions and colors to help your big day stand out from the crowd. If you and your fianc agree that a smaller, intimate setting suits you best, a simplified civil ceremony might be the choice for you. This is not going to go over well. You could just go to the court house and get legally married. You could even have a courthouse wedding and have a backyard reception BBQ afterwards! Weddings can get extortionately expensive, after all. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Also some of my family members were upset they were not included. Do You Need A Birth Certificate For A Church Wedding? If you're planning a destination wedding in another state, you'll need to check with your state's requirements for transferring a marriage license from state to state. Not exactly a fairy-tale wedding. Courthouse weddings are becoming more popular each day. Required fields are marked *. Though viewpoints on eloping are evolving, your parents may not be there quite yet. Short engagement with A Courthouse Wedding. Even still, you can strike a compromise between the two, as not every courthouse wedding has to be sparse and small. My FH actually just asked about ASR last night! Hopefully you guys can give us some insight since the only ones we know who have had a courthouse wedding were our parents. Then we celebrated. Thats because theres a bureaucratic procedure before the ceremony itself. Do You Need a Witness to Get Married in a Church? Also ties back to the money thing. The reasons we are thinking of going this direction are money, convenience and we kind of got the wedding experience out of our systems. While small courthouse weddings are extremely common these days, theyre still not what many would call traditional. Loved ones dont get to witness your wedding: Weddings are a great time for family and friends to gather together and celebrate their loved ones. It is your special day and if you and your partner want to ride off together into the sunset on your own to honor and celebrate your marriage then you should do just that! After you have said you I Dos and had your moment as a couple, invite everyone round to the pub next door and have a good ol time with all your friends and family. This is completely up to you and your fiance. By doing so, you might be able to look at your wedding as a party with friends and family rather than as a monumental occasion. You can even explore nearby locations for epic shots since you wont be bound to a strict wedding timeline or one location. No one can dictate your life and tell you what you can and cant do. We do want kids in the future, have a home and a good support system. Costs of Getting Married at The Courthouse, Get the latest wedding inspiration ideas & planning advice, Wedding Decorations on a Budget: Tips and Tricks, How to Choose a Color Scheme for Your Wedding, The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Wedding Decorations, The Benefits of Sending Digital Wedding Invitations. Thanks for sticking with us for a full year. Instead of feeling sad about the loss, turn the day into a celebration. Even a backyard wedding. Good luck!!!! A helpful place to plan your wedding with other Wedditors! The primary reason is that youre almost never the only couple waiting to be married there on that day. Can somebody list out the pros and Cons of going to the courthouse to get married? Open to any idea we have. Mary, I noticed you're only at 4 stars. These ceremonies are formal and include the reading of bible verses, hymns, and prayers. So, what exactly is a courthouse or civil wedding? Typically, a marriage license expires after 90 days so your courthouse wedding needs to happen before the license expires. Getting legally married, then doing a ceremony and a reception later? I was living together with my ex, before we got married and his and my parents are Christians. A lot of courthouses still have COVID limits in places, so you might be limited to just a handful of people. The average courthouse wedding, just for the application, will cost from $30150. Mary- I thought you were waiting a while? Here are the wedding, 18 Late-Night Wedding Snacks to Keep the Party Going, 15 Ways to Go Above and Beyond for Your Wedding Guests, How Wedding Pros Plan Their Own Weddings (and Ideas You. This is your and your partners day. There is no one-size-fits-all for weddings. WebHere's how to plan one in 10 simple steps. The paper work can be found at your local courthouse or online. Then go ahead and submit the paper work, documents and pay your fees! What Do You Have To Do To Get Married At A Courthouse? WebAs stated by PP's, as an adult you are making a choice and all choices have consequences- Genysis esp pay attention- but there are GOOD consequences and BAD ones. Bear in mind that there is often a waiting period between the time that the marriage license is issued and when is it active so there is only a certain time frame in which to get officially married. Are you sticking with the 10/29 date? The advantages of marriage and the disadvantages of marriage will apply to common law marriage as long as the couple is together. Do what you want to do, and if someone doesnt want to come celebrate with yougreat! Youll have to pay a flat marriage license fee in many states, and naturally, the price varies by state and county. Sometimes it can even take a few months to find a slot. Tell us about it below! Are you looking for a photographer or videographer to capture your courthouse wedding? Remember to Take Photos or A Video of the Ceremony, DIY vs. Professional Wedding Invitations: Pros and Cons. But with a smaller affair comes less stress making an overall more enjoyable experience for the two of you. Then you forgoe the big, white wedding in a year. Thinking about wedding pictures, with city halls being in generally built-up areas you can get some really cool urban wedding pics that arent going to be what everyone else has. Con No. But please read my post.. it might shed some light onto your situation. You can check out my free budget guide if you sign up for my newsletter. This way there is no politics and no stress involved as most people will understand that the courthouse will not allow more than a certain number of people to attend your wedding. Your wedding is what you make it, and you can turn a courthouse ceremony into just as big of an event as any church wedding. If the social aspects of a wedding are important to you, the smaller scale of an elopement may not deliver on the memories youre hoping to make. The Ultimate Guide Wedding planning can be overwhelming. On June 26, 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage is a right protected by the US Constitution in all 50 states. Its your life. Everyone knew we had already been married, this was just a day for us to reaffirm our marriage in front of friends and family (to bad he didn't uphold any of it! bride, want the wedding of your dreams. Are you and your significant other looking to get married but arent sure about doing a big party? The best way to do this? Who's to say it has to all happen on the same day? And they have amazing memories of their wedding days as well as every day married thereafter. Con: weddings and funerals are the two times you can count on friends and family really getting together, and you won't know who comes to your funeral. So check out your local laws before booking the appointment.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'loudbride_com-box-4','ezslot_7',165,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-loudbride_com-box-4-0'); Another reason you want to plan at least some weeks before your courthouse wedding is the available dates of your local city hall or courthouse. If youre a more chilled person that doesnt want to be bogged down by details, this might be a great option for you. My pregnant niece and her fianc just got married in a park. IF you have the reception the same day/week. Tel: 647-546-7999 / 647-995-3689 You would be married and get all the benefits of being married as far as insurance, taxes, property etc. $65 Dollars. A domestic asset protection trust is a type of trust that protects an estates assets from lawsuits, creditors and other legal action. Different states have different laws: What happens in one state may not be recognized in another. Pros- Save money, Dont have to deal with family's "ideas", dont have to wait, you really can do what you want. Pros- your just as married as big wedding, don't have to miss out on all the BS. Civil unions are less expensive but sometimes we want to be married without the extra fluff. This heightened sense of privacy and romance is perfect for those who havent spent their lives dreaming of a lavish, large wedding. I posted this over in r/relationships and r/askmen. It might not be for everyone but it is no less of a wedding expense. The Best Places To Get Married Abroad Around The World! Less cost and pomp are just some of the reasons many couples decide to get married in a courthouse. Going to the Chapel and were going to get married!. What has changed? Cons: As you may have guessed, a macro wedding is the most expensive, most big weddings of this size are upward of $30,000. Up to six guests are usually allowed to participate in the proceedings. Another pro is that it can be less stressful than planning a Extremely close family and friends? The requirements and cost pose the most substantial differences between a traditional wedding and a courthouse wedding. In this article, Ill explain why courthouse weddings are so short and for how long you usually need to plan one. There is typically a fee associated with one. The 2019 HOH standard deduction is $18,350 while the deduction for filing single is $12,200 for a total of $30,550. Once you have everything, you can go ahead and fill out the necessary paper work. It's no secret that weddings are stressful occasions, but sometimes the stress level can be taken down a notch by getting the emotion out of the way first. The great thing about a courthouse wedding is youll get all the classic shots like a first kiss but have extra time to take portraits afterward. I'm curious, too- have plans changed? Generally at courthouse weddings, its just you, your partner, the officiant and two witnesses. Fair warning. You Value Your Friendships Press J to jump to the feed. I want to have a ceremony because I'm a little sad we didn't have something more special. So, the whole ceremony part lasts about five minutes total but can go up to ten minutes. Wedding guests Share with your guests to collect your wedding photos Venues You will also need a few documents in order to get your marriage license! It's a great party and if you want to have one, by all means you do you. Do whatever makes you comfortable and happy. Ill also mention some things you should know before you have your own courthouse ceremony.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'loudbride_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_12',164,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-loudbride_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Unlike expensive wedding ceremonies in religious institutions, such as a Church, that can take hours, courthouse weddings are more informal, take less time, and are super cheap. How do I word the invitations. You can treat your celebration of marriage like your wedding in terms of budget, etc. Many of the people you love will thus not be present on your big day. Unmarried couples can get together, and break up, without all the formalities (and court hearings) required for married couples. Pros: cheaper, smaller group, less stress in planning. Need help budgeting for your wedding? Personally, I can't really understand throwing a big party later when you're already married- I feel like a wedding is supposed to celebrate a couple getting married at that time, and I would not go to a vow renewal that wasn't a milestone. Just don't tell anyone and do it like a normal wedding. I want it to be meaningful and fun! Remember to also ask the city hall that you are going to be applying at if they accept cards or cash. Phone a few days before to confirm your appointment at the courthouse. Many couples choose to get officially married before the big day, and it's more common than ever in light of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world right now. 8 Ways to Plan A Spa Bridal Shower At Home, Wedding Planning from The Brides Perspective. But big weddings arent for everyone. It can be just the two of you and only a handful of guests if any at all and what can really be more romantic than that. Instead, you can plan a complete courthouse wedding in a matter of days. Having a second party is not a wedding, which is why you don't get a bridal party or bachelorette or shower; you are not a bride or a bachelorette- you are a married woman. It is quite important to make an appointment for the impending ceremony way in advance. Cut out the stress by having a simple courthouse wedding. While marriage is great, the act of wedlock can overload your stress markers. Why Do You Need Witnesses to Sign Your Marriage License? By the way, if youre interested in Church weddings and the duration of ceremonies there, you might want to take a look at my other article about how long a Church ceremony is. Legal Cons of Getting Married Formalities Marriage, for all its pros and cons, requires that certain formalities be performed, which may or may not be what you want. We just didn't tell anyone, no particular reason, it was spur of the moment. I did it all. Here are some steps to help you plan a beautifully intimate, elegant, and memorable courthouse wedding: Some City Halls are better than others with one of the best being in San Francisco. You will regret not having the wedding you want, if you settle for having a court house wedding, for his sake. Im starting my own company while working one and she's an NICU nurse. If you were just going to do the court house it would be less things to pay for. A courthouse wedding takes a lot less time to organize but this is not to say that you should not afford yourself enough time in which to finalize the details and make sure of your specific states requirements. This is one of the biggest benefits of having a courthouse wedding. Courthouse weddings can be just as romantic as their large-scale counterparts, and they allow you to spend more money on the reception while still saving overall. The ceremony is really the celebration for the families to come together in spiritual union. When I did, I got completely bashed upon on the only opinion that matters on what should happen is yours, your fiancees, and your families- not random strangers on the internet they are not the ones attending your ceremony. You can then spend those savings on an epic honeymoon or a huge reception later! This witness has to be over 18 years old for the marriage to go ahead. My girlfriend and I have been bouncing the idea around of getting married at the courthouse. My fiance and I are planning on getting legal married before our wedding day for some financial reasons. Hopefully some of your stories can open up the part of our brains we haven't yet. (my cousin did this and I never got to feel a part of her wedding because they court housed with the parents, and there has yet to be a party. This will make the ceremony so intimate and romantic. Con: Restricting guest list can be difficult Youll have to make some difficult, potentially stressful, decisions and risk offending some people who arent invited. 1. There is a lot of different angles to view this from. But there should still be cake. WebCourthouse wedding : weddingplanning Give me all the pros and cons of doing a courthouse wedding. You can still wear a beautiful dress if that's what you want, too! We only use cookies on this Site for particular features to work, the cookies do not collect and/or store any personal information about you. In the U.S., couples can expect to spend around $35,000, on average, on their weddings (before they even plan their honeymoon). Our wedding photographers have the low down on the advantages and disadvantages of getting hitched at the courthouse. She got married in 2017 in Geneseo, NY and designed her own wedding invitations and programs for the occasion. Make Sure That You Have Done All of Your Research, 4. You need to prepare some paperwork which may take you a few days. There can be confusion over My niece and her spouse are living with his parents because they can,t afford the apartment they were renting because of their impending child and payments on two new cars. You can think of them as setting up an offshore bank account but with less protection and far fewer administrative costs.. A courthouse wedding is just as valid a choice as a huge dream ceremony and reception. Share with your guests to collect your wedding photos. Weddings are expensive. I worked, paid bills, and paid taxes as a single person. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'loudbride_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',182,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-loudbride_com-banner-1-0'); Therefore, ceremonies in courthouse weddings are extremely short and informal. Why two weddings? One of the most obvious benefits is that you get to share your home and life with someone you love and like to be around because you love the person and not because of legality binding you. I'm sorry you feel that way. I think youre idea was great and Im actually now doing the same thing due to the COVID-19 and not wanting to wait to be legally married, Me and My husband had to get married at the courthouse due to having a baby and financial reason but now that we are ok we are finally having our wedding even though Im already married I am bride to me I will have a bachelorette party! Just because youre not having a big lavish wedding doesnt mean you miss out on the celebrations. Opting for a courthouse wedding allows you and your fianc to save money while simultaneously simplifying the wedding planning process. link to Best places for a cheap wedding reception, Boundless: How to Set Up a Courthouse Wedding, Stilt: How to Set Up a Courthouse Wedding, mywalletjoy: What You Need to Know About Having a Courthouse Wedding, U.S. They usually last up to 10 minutes and dont require huge fees or a long guest list. Adorable sweetheart tables to share with your special person. I also know that I personally would have different priorities for my money after I was married. Do it as long as you plan on being honest to your family about it and you have LEGIT reasons to do so. Are you having a courthouse wedding? However, planning a wedding can be stressful and even overwhelming, primarily because of how much it costs. So, how do you choose between a courthouse wedding vs. traditional wedding? Sign up for yourFREE wedding planning checklist here! My husband and I got married in Dec/2018, and not everyone knows we are married. You can, however, check with your local courthouse to see if they can accommodate you over the weekend. I hope I was able to help give some insight! The things you can't do (file taxes jointly, etc). Marriage in the courthouse doesnt take much time to join the couples. Make sure that you have researched the requirements of the city that you have chosen to tie the knot in. Many partners are wondering, though: how long is a courthouse wedding anyway? Cons: Not all courthouses are pretty, may not feel as BIG of a day as a full-day wedding. She loves drinking coffee and taking her dog for a walk. At the end of the day, your wedding day is about you. Financially, a courthouse wedding with a small reception afterwards, or even a church wedding (if you attend the church they may let you use it as a venue for free) Coast Designs LLC also participates in affiliate programs with CJ and other sites. Some people might call that a renewing of vows rather than a wedding, but it really depends on how you present it. If you're one to worry about all the things that could go wrong during your wedding ceremony, especially in front of a big crowd of friends and family, getting married beforehand is a great option to minimize your what-if fears. The characters written do not match the verification word. You can implement many traditional wedding elements and personal touches in a courthouse wedding, including groomsmen and bridesmaids, preparing personalized vows, and wearing a one-of-a-kind wedding dress. She, her husband, their parents, siblings, and a photographer went to the courthouse followed by a nice dinner. Court clerks provide administrative and legal assistance to courts of law. Becoming legally married. By far, the biggest bonus of saying I do at the courthouse is all the money you save. Share with your guests to collect your wedding photos. Your email address will not be published. @SeptMrsV said it all. But after I met FI, and we got serious, we waited to get married when we could do it the way we wanted. Sure if youve dreamed of having a big wedding with a fairy tale romantic setting then maybe a courthouse isnt the right choice for you. The best thing about having a courthouse ceremony before your wedding is that no one even has to know about it. Loud Bride celebrates brides of different strides. at the end of the day you will be married to one another. #happyanniversary #7yearstogether #gettingmarried #wedding #love #bettertogether #hubbyandwifey #loveofmylife #foreverandalways #courthousewedding #flashback #flashbackfriday #fbf #JuliaAndEnoch, A post shared by Julia (@chokurate) on Oct 18, 2019 at 2:53pm PDT. The reasons for this phenomenon can be due to either personal or financial circumstances or preference but at the end of the day, a courthouse wedding can save a couple who want to get married a lot of time, stress, and money! How much does it cost to get married at the courthouse? Flashback time! link to How Much Does a 300 Person Wedding Cost? Struggling with pre-wedding jitters? I agree with almost everyone here; this is offensive on many levels. The bride and groom sometimes must attend marriage classes, and typically they should be married in a church they belong to or are connected to it somehow. If youre considering a courthouse wedding, here are some of the common pros and cons I found from talking to other brides and Finances really aren't the issue- it doesn't matter to me because it's none of my business. Its like the fairy godmother of numbers. One con is that the wedding will have to be during The characters written do not match the verification word. Yup, pros stress about planning their own weddings, too! With many wedding venues charging into the thousands, a courthouse wedding can start from as little as $75! However, bigger isnt always better. Financially it is different than doing it all on the same day because on that day, you have more than just the license to worry about. I know some brides that have even held a wedding bouquet! Pro. WebAdvantages of Marriage Increased level of security Socially accepted You can build wealth together You can support each other in difficult situations in life Necessary in many Some couples decide to have a small, less expensive courthouse wedding, even if they receive financial support from their families. The best thing about having a courthouse ceremony before your wedding is that no one even has to know about it. Mary is a wedding blogger with 10 years experience. October 17, 2022. Since you would be legally married the vows would be different and honestly only you can decide if this would be the best for both of you. I was told you guys might be able to give me a little more insight. Unfortunately, not many courthouses operate on a weekend so a Saturday courthouse wedding will be quite hard to secure. Lots of other prefer and are thrilled they had a courthouse wedding. So we don't care about it. Get tips on how to save money, planning ideas, how to create your own vows and so much more delivered straight to your inbox! It was super quick only a few people were there. Your decision needs to be what the two of you want not what your family or his family wants. With some creativity and panache, you can craft a personalized wedding even one with a more extensive guest list. So the longer you wait, the more money, the better the party and or honeymoon! Pro: Less expensive For the most part, the fewer the guests, the less expensive your wedding will be. If you are considering having a courthouse wedding, you need to be aware of the positives and the negatives that it entails. Well maybe not completely stress-free, its still a wedding. Once you have done your research it is then time to officially apply for your marriage license. If you can tie the knot at City Hall, invite your parents or closest relatives for an intimate celebration; should that not be an option, look into the legalities around virtual ceremonies in your state.