How is the Civil Wedding done at the US?

[cEzYcHiC 0]

Hello All!

Just wanna ask any VJ members who already got married on a civil wedding at the US..

How is it done? What are the requirements?

Is it necessary for me to wear a bridal gown and my man on his tuxedo?

I am just wondering because me and my fiance are planning to have a V-day wedding and since that we didn't have much time to prepare everything,

we thought that getting married with a Justice of the Peace officiant would be possible.

Hope anyone out there can share some insights. I would love to hear from you guys!

[Ban Hammer 12,897]

moved from pi regional to Moving Here and Your New Life In America

to answer the questions:

- how it's done and requirements - check with your county courthouse, each state may vary.

- Is it necessary for me to wear a bridal gown and my man on his tuxedo? - not that i'm aware of.

- we thought that getting married with a Justice of the Peace officiant would be possible. - that is what nessa and i did, due to time and budget constraints.

Edited January 27, 2009 by charles!

[payxibka 10,044]

Hello All!

Just wanna ask any VJ members who already got married on a civil wedding at the US..

How is it done? What are the requirements?

Is it necessary for me to wear a bridal gown and my man on his tuxedo?

I am just wondering because me and my fiance are planning to have a V-day wedding and since that we didn't have much time to prepare everything,

we thought that getting married with a Justice of the Peace officiant would be possible.

Hope anyone out there can share some insights. I would love to hear from you guys!

From a legal perspective it is done the same

Get your marriage license and find a registered officiant to perform the ceremony

dress is participants choice... gown and tuxes are optional. if you want to get married on a beach and wear a bikini or other swimwear then so be it. If you want to get married in a hot air ballon then so be it. If you want an Elvis impersonator to marry you then so be it (as long as he is a registered officiant).

[raymaga 25]

We were married by a Judge, and we needed to get our marriage licence three days before the wedding date.

We could have worn whatever we wanted... we chose to wear "wedding apparel", but it wasn't necessary. The Judge came to the restaurant where we were having our reception and performed the service before the meal.

[Lyuba 0]

We had a civil ceremony. I just wore a pretty ivory gown and my hubby wore a suit. It was nice and intimate.

[Jack and Barbara 0]

we reigstered for the marriage license and had a wedding reception separately with friends and family.

If timing is an issue, I suggets apply for the license and get married (possible at the courthouse in most cases) and then plan a reception (if wanted) when you have more time.

[ExSaffer 0]

Planning your cermony is all going to come down to the state/city/even county you are going to get married in. Here in San Francisco, we got our marriage licence 5 minutes before we were married. In case you didnt realize Valentines day falls on a Saturday this year, and so most if not all govt offices will be closed, so if you are set on getting married on that day you are going to get someone who is a registered officiant who will be able to marry you wherever you choose. As for what to wear, what ever you feel most comfy in.

Good luck

[HighwayStar 0]

We got a marriage license, then some days later contacted a registered officiant (who was a very nice black woman), and got married in a VERY simple ceremony - there were just the two of us. I was wearing nice clothes, and so was my hubby, but this was something I might have worn for a family meal back in Italy. That said, I've never been interested in having a traditional wedding, and I was very happy with the way things went.

[Yoink 7]

We went into town hall and applied together for the license. It was given to us immediately and was good for use in 24 hours. We called 2 judges, the local town judge was available and able to marry us on the day we chose at the town hall for $100.

Thats what we did simply put

[yahyah 0]

I am from Los Angeles. I found a chapel that does a civil wedding with package ( with photos, flowers, marriage license, and 4 guest). The requirements are just valid I.D like driver's license or passport. You can wear whatever you want. Fo my wedding i 'll just going to wear a cocktail dress and suit for my man. My reception will be the following week at our home with just a few friends and Champagne toast! (like a coctail party)

Congratulations to you!

Hello All!

Just wanna ask any VJ members who already got married on a civil wedding at the US..

How is it done? What are the requirements?

Is it necessary for me to wear a bridal gown and my man on his tuxedo?

I am just wondering because me and my fiance are planning to have a V-day wedding and since that we didn't have much time to prepare everything,

we thought that getting married with a Justice of the Peace officiant would be possible.

Hope anyone out there can share some insights. I would love to hear from you guys!

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Search the internet for your town or one close by right now and schedule an officiant. Valentines Day will be very popular, especially falling on Saturday. They may all be booked up. Research the laws in your state. Some have a waiting period and some do not. Make sure you buy the license in advance, especially if there's a 3 day waiting time.

We married on a friends patio. I asked a District Judge who was a childhood friend to perform the ceremony. I wrote his script of what I wanted him to say and we wrote some simple vows. We dressed casually with a dozen or so friends there. There are no rules of dress or vows at a civil ceremony.

Las Vegas would be a good choice...no waiting period, chapels everywhere, but may need a reservation on Valentines Day.

Forgot to say: In the US people get married on horseback, underwater in scuba gear, in a hot air baloon. Anything goes as long as the officiant is allowed to perform a wedding in that state and you have a license.

Edited January 28, 2009 by Nich-Nick

[Jasman0717 8]

We showed up at the courthouse here in Santa Ana. We paid for the license and presto antifreeze, they married us.

[felb 0]

we got married in las vegas, at the marriage commisioner's office. it was the cheapest and simplest way to get married in the wedding capital of the US. i wore a cocktail dress and my groom wore a formal jacket and jeans! our reception was at a buffet, paid for by his family. total cost = $125, including the license and 2 copies of the marriage certificate.

[pRetTy_aNgeL 1]

Thank you for posting this.. Got an idea..

Thanks to VJ members too!!!

[rheanick 42]

Hi,

Please verify your place for the procedure.

Where are you in pennsylvania? My hubby's siblings are in pennsylvania. Would definitely be coming there soon to visit them.

Go STEELERS!!!

Hello All!

Just wanna ask any VJ members who already got married on a civil wedding at the US..

How is it done? What are the requirements?

Is it necessary for me to wear a bridal gown and my man on his tuxedo?

I am just wondering because me and my fiance are planning to have a V-day wedding and since that we didn't have much time to prepare everything,

we thought that getting married with a Justice of the Peace officiant would be possible.

Hope anyone out there can share some insights. I would love to hear from you guys!