plan a civil marriage ceremony
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Many people choose a civil wedding ceremony. This may be because of convenience, lack of or conflicting religious traditions or even time constraints. Civil marriages, just like marriages performed by clergy, are contracts between two persons and require actions and agreements between the parties. They can be as formal or informal, sentimental or streamlined as the couple wishes. Once you've decided to use a civil ceremony, there are a number of things that any good wedding planner will tell you to get to work on. Read on to learn what they are.
Things You'll Need
- Patience
- Marriage license fees
- Two documents for identification (valid picture ID's such as driver's licenses and passports are always accepted)
Instructions
1
Get your marriage license. Since civil marriage is regulated by state statute, these are most usually handled by a county clerk. In some states, a town or city clerk may issue marriage licenses. You may find an office at city hall if your city is large or a county seat. Be sure that you meet the residency requirement for the license. A license to marry is always good for a specific period of time and there is generally a period of a few days between issuance and when it becomes valid. Ask questions if you have them. Clerks love to help happy people.
2
Find an officiant. Most clerks can refer you to local judges and court commissioners who will perform ceremonies. They also generally know these people so if you want, say, a ceremony where the officiant will travel to the site of your wedding or special vows, someone in the clerk's office will be usually be able to make some recommendations.
3
Contact the officiant of your choice. Most officiants will expect a fee to travel to perform a wedding. Most states prohibit officiants from asking for a fee to perform a wedding in a courthouse or other public building.
4
Consult with the officiant about your ceremony. Many have a book of ceremonies that they use that can be personalized. If you're doing a courthouse ceremony, the standard "do you take--I now pronounce you" ceremony is fine but if you are doing the ceremony in front of family and friends, make sure that there is inclusive language in the script to involve your guests in the ceremony. Many officiants welcome personal vows to be added to the ceremony.
5
Arrange your venue. After you've got your wedding site chosen and reserved, look it over for arrangement, parking and rest facilities. If you're having your wedding in a reception hall, these facilities often have coordinators who can make sure that the crowd moves smoothly from ceremony to reception. If you're doing your wedding at home, in a park or some other non-traditional place, be sure to check out where the restrooms are (and if they are sufficient for your crowd), parking and public transportation and, finally, where you want to stand. It may be unpleasant for you to stand facing the sunset to say your vows but it is more comfortable for you and the officiant to "cheat" (a stage term that means to look like you're looking one place but actually be facing another) a bit than it is for your audience to squirm and shield their eyes so that they miss your first married kiss.
Tips &- Warnings
Some states still require blood tests for a license to marry. Statutes generally specify a certain minimum age and require that bride and groom be competent to make a contract. The license is valid only for the period issued (some states have licenses good until signed) and within the jurisdiction of the issuing body (usually the state). Always check with your issuing clerk for specifics.
If you add personal vows to your marriage ceremony, keep them short and graceful. The internet is full of personal vow suggestions that are at once grandiose and impersonal. It is better that your personal vows be simple and unique to this moment. After all, you don't have to anticipate every event of your entire married life in your wedding vows.
If you add a clerical blessing to your marriage ceremony, make sure that the cleric and the officiant are both OK with the idea and that there is some communication between them to agree on the placement of the blessing. I've done ceremonies with the blessing after the ceremony and during. One blessing took longer than the ceremony itself.
You can generally find information about marriage licenses on your state's website. Try searching for "vital statistics," "marriage license" or "department of health."
Some officiants love to do weddings--it's the most pleasant part of their jobs. Some consider it a necessary pain that is part of their public duty. Spend enough time to find out what the person's attitude is and always try to invite the first type of officiant to do your wedding.
Don't expect the officiant to organize your wedding unless he's doing it in his own courtroom or office. Judges and commissioners do not sign on to organize a four-hour rehearsal. Most probably won't mind helping out with a little advice (particularly the ones who've done a lot of weddings) but have a good idea of where you want people to stand, whether you've got personal vows, candles, a clerical blessing and other add-ons before you start the rehearsal.
Most states prohibit officiants for charging a fee for ceremonies performed in public buildings as part of their regular duties. Check your state's statutes if you have a question.
Tags: your wedding, marriage ceremony, personal vows, sure that, civil marriage, make sure, make sure thatSource: www.ehow.com
