Courthouse marriage

[Corny Noob]

I always find you guys to be a good source to go to when it comes to life experiences that I have not yet graced.
I was wondering if any of you have had a courthouse marriage and what if anything you could tell me about it?

My boyfriend and I have been doing everything completely bass akwards in terms of following the traditional steps to starting your life together and then having a family. So at this point we're starting to think for our own benifits why not get married now, and then once things have settled down with the baby, I'm ready to get back into a dress etc.

So far I've found out that the fee for a marriage license is $28, that you have to wait at least 72hrs to get it, no blood test is required and it expires in 30 days. I've also sent out an email to the muncipality to see if they could give me any information on it.

 

[Nanci]

The first time (of two) I got married, we got married at the courthouse, on my mother's birthday, as a surprise, as an impulse. We each asked our best friend to stand up for us. The Justice of the Peace that married us seemed to enjoy performing marriage ceremonies, and had a very nice service planned out. We saved a ton of money and it was very meaningful.

The second time I got married was in a church, the whole shebang. It cost a lot. I don't think we looked at the hundreds of dollars of pics very often. I rented the dress for $800. It was cool getting wrapped up in everything- picking the music, the vows, the readings from the bible, the flowers- but, in the end, each was just as special as the other.

I should have just stayed married the first time, but what do kids know...

 

[cassandra]

Marriage licenses differ from state to state and even county to county. The county you live in should have a website which has information on how marriage licenses and marriage in court works as well as fees. =)

 

[dionythicus]

We had a small ceremony in someone's backard. We went to the county bldg to get the license, looked online for someone who was licensed to officiate in the manner we wanted, and decorated the yard ourselves. We didn't have a reception so much as a potluck. The whole affair lasted 3 hours. We got our cakes (one chocolate sheet cake with autumn flowers and one white cake with our picture on it) from Safeway as well as my bouquet. I picked out a pretty autumn-coloured ready-made bouquet for $12.99 and a friend redid it and added ribbon. We got married on a Friday evening and we didn't realise that it was also a full moon. It was beautiful.

In my opinion, it's more important to be married than to get married.

 

[Corny Noob]

Marriage licenses differ from state to state and even county to county. The county you live in should have a website which has information on how marriage licenses and marriage in court works as well as fees. =)

The info I got was already from our county court house, other than the info I mentioned (and also what forms of ID we need) but other than that I couldn't find anything else which is why I contacted them for more info.

The way I see it right now I would be happy if we all just wore something nice and both sets of our parents were there.

 

[The Nothing]

Got married just a few months ago
we had a local "new life church" minister (and local comic writer) marry us in a local park rose garden. Would have cost us $300 just to rent the park! We just bombed in, said our "I dos" and went to lunch.
lil bit classier than a judges chambers

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

My husband and I got married via Courthouse in June. Jeans and T-shirts!

We were backwards for sure...Had the reception (outdoor picnic-type with a couple of kegs) 3 days before we got married. Wasn't planned that way...Was supposed to get married the Friday before but the idiot at the JP wrote us in for the wrong date...But hey, it's a funny story to tell!

The "ceremony" was pretty cut and dry. Went into a court room, judge came in said some words (I laughed through the whole thing, it was weird) and took our picture. Done!

 

[Corny Noob]

So now of course even though courthouse marriage now, real one in the future was also what my mom suggested she's wondering if she can bang out a little wedding before I'm due :rofl: poor mom.

 

[whatisntseen]

I'm neither married nor have any plans to get married anytime soon, but my dad is a judge. He's married a few people before, at ceremonies as well as in our living room. As a matter of fact, I think we've had maybe 3 or 4 couples get married in our living room, one of which was my cousin. I don't see much of a problem with it, though I'm sure I'll end up with a full fledged wedding when I'm committed to someone.

 

[Nanci]

When my daughter called to tell me she was getting married, the first thing I said was "Why, are you pregnant?" (I don't believe she'd mentioned the fiance before- in fact she was a very poor communicator for quite a few years). She said "Yes, but that's not why!" I think they're coming up on their fourth anniversary, my son-in-law is perfect- I couldn't have picked a better one. Now she calls all the time- I think having a baby does that to you. Anyway, just a comment on pregnant brides. Hey, have you seen Kill Bill 1 & 2???

 

[Silvergrin]

Congrats!

I'm fine with the idea of *being* married, but the thought of *getting* married terrifies me... both my family and my boyfriend want a Wedding, I hate much attention and girly crap D:
A courthouse marriage sounds great, and you seem to have things covered, good luck!

 

[Cegninedorf]

Of my Oma's 4 grandchildren -- who are all females (of which I'm one...!) -- I'm the only one my Oma ("grandmother" auf Deutsch) has realistically anticipated getting married at any point in her life. I worried that she'd want for me to have the whole gala affair -- and while it's nice for some couples -- it's not my idea of a "wedding". However, imagine my relief when she told me that we should just do a city hall wedding & then come visit her (as she can no longer travel) & we'll have a nice family dinner.

Now, we plan to wait -- *if* I can bring myself to do it! -- until we finally move to Charlotte, and then my Oma can be my witness. (And, as my boyfriend's parents live in Villa Juarez, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, we'll go there for a honeymoon-trip... Naturally, with a layover by the beach... )

The marriage ceremony is for *you* & your fiance, with the vows made between you & your fiance. Let the decision be yours together, and not anyone else's. The pomp & decorations & all of the rest is for the guests...one colleague of mine told me that while she doesn't regret her wedding this past summer, she wouldn't do it again -- it was too much for nothing, especially considering the cost & what she otherwise could have done with the money!

 

[Jessicat]

Hey, have you seen Kill Bill 1 & 2???

I don't think anyone can expect to look quite as good as Uma Thurman pregnant in a wedding dress. And really, you'd probably have to have one custom made, or at least tailored a lot.

I've never been married, so I can't really speak from experience, but this is my parent's wedding photo. I don't have the other one on my computer, but it's the whole family sitting on a bench outside. My parents got married in a park.

I don't think I'm going to be into having a big planned out expensive wedding when/if I get married. If you can't be happy without all the shenanigans you shouldn't get married. My friends Dylan and Delaina got married by the courthouse. Are you sure you can't get married permanently that way? It seems really weird to be married till death do us part for a month..

 

[Silvergrin]

The license is for permission to get married, it is not the legal marriage itself. The logic these days is that it makes people wait a little bit to think things over, I believe, as well as for records (and to generate a bit of revenue I'm sure ).

 

[Cegninedorf]

I've never been married, so I can't really speak from experience, but this is my parent's wedding photo. I don't have the other one on my computer, but it's the whole family sitting on a bench outside. My parents got married in a park.

Jessicat, that's a beautiful photo of your parents' wedding, and the both look genuinely happy & as if they'll actually remember the day, versus it being a blur of tulle & satin & champagne & going here and there & making small talk with people they haven't seen in years -- and most likely won't see again. Lovely.

 

[bsr8129]

hmmm shotgun i think would be just right

 

[Corny Noob]

The license is for permission to get married, it is not the legal marriage itself. The logic these days is that it makes people wait a little bit to think things over, I believe, as well as for records (and to generate a bit of revenue I'm sure ).

Well to take to the wedding, but once it's been signedby the officiant and appropriatley filed then you are married.

 

[susang]

Well in my vast knowledge with myself, daughters and grand-daughter. The odds that you would have a big wedding after you have the baby is pretty slim. There is never enough money after the baby to do that. Were I you I would plan a small wedding at your parents home or someones home, there are probably plenty of ministers who will marry outside of the actual churchh. Make the reception pot luck. There are many wedding dresses that look stunnng on a pregnant woman. I was shocked when we went with my grand-daughter they even have fake tummies for trying on the dress so you will know how it fits for the wedding.
Get someone you know to play music, decorate from the dollar store and Christmas lights everywhere. Dance like a fool have fun, this is your time. Really my grand-daughters wedding was amazing, and magical. She refused to take her dress off for the reception and danced from the first song to the last. It was 3 times more fun then either of my daughters fancy, expensive weddings. It was summer and the best man Dad and grand-dad wore tux type suits, brides made wroe a really nice dress and flip flops the ushers and flower girls (cousins and sisters) wore kacki short or skirts and flip flops.
So all-in-all get married now make it the biggest cheap deal you can and have fun. susang