Organizing a small courthouse wedding with guests
It's interesting:"Even world class comics know what it's like to die on stage, and a wedding ... Nobody wants the soundtrack of their wedding night to be a chorus of loud groans."
The average bride dreams of having a big, elaborate wedding, but these affairs can be very expensive. Many couples are choosing to say their vows in a small courthouse ceremony in order to reduce costs. Courthouse wedding ceremonies provide an intimate setting to pledge your lifelong love and commitment to your future spouse. You can still have a happy and memorable wedding, without all the extravagance and costs associated with a big affair.
Instructions
1
Check your state's marriage license requirements, as you will need this document in order to get married. Some states have a waiting period between the time that you get your marriage license and when you can get married, and others do not.
2
Schedule your wedding date at the court house. You will want to do this about a month in advance, in order to ensure that you can get the specific date and time that you have in mind.
3
Decide whether you want to hire your own officiant, or if you would like to use one provided by the courthouse. You will need to let the courthouse know this information when you schedule your wedding.
4
Find out how many guests are allowed in the room that your ceremony will be performed in. You don't want to invite more people than are allowed in the room.
5
Send invitations out to your guests. Although you are not having a big wedding, you can still follow traditional protocol when inviting your guests to witness your special day.
6
Decide on your wedding attire. Short white dresses are appropriate attire for a courthouse bride, and you can also wear a untraditional color. The groom can wear a suit, or even just a dress shirt and dress pants, if he would prefer.
7
Hire a photographer. Find one that will charge by the hour, since you will need their services for a considerably shorter amount of time than with a traditional wedding assignment. You could also ask one of your guests to take pictures of your ceremony, to save the extra money of hiring a professional.
8
Bring flowers for your special day. Although you will not need to order an abundance of extravagant flower displays, you still need to have a bridal bouquet. Order one from your local florist, or stop and get one from the store on your way to the courthouse.
9
Ask the courthouse if you can decorate the room that your ceremony will be held in. Some do not allow decorations, but others will let you in the room an hour before the ceremony to put some decorations up. This will allow you to make the room more festive and represent your personal style.
10
Celebrate your wedding day! Host a wedding reception at a restaurant or a loved one's home after the ceremony. Invite all your guests to join in the party. Your closest family and friends should all be invited to celebrate, even if space restrictions kept you from inviting them all to the ceremony at the courthouse. You still need to have your loved ones present to celebrate your big day, even though you chose to have a very small wedding.
Tags: will need, your guests, your wedding, small courthouse, that your, your ceremonySource: www.ehow.com
