How To Plan To Get Married By The Justice Of The Peace

In this post, you will get ideas on:

 EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COURTHOUSE WEDDING

"Can you have a Civil Ceremony now and then a Traditional Wedding later?"

Yes, you can! 

With the COVID-19 pandemic, and social distancing pushing everyone online to do everything - TIK-TOK🙌... Why not look  into having a civil wedding virtually and celebrate after the pandemic? The plus here, you will be married on your special day and it can be done virtually ✔✔ See what you need below 👇

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More and more couples have decided to leave the traditional wedding behind for a civil/courthouse wedding. This has financial benefits and cuts down on wedding planning responsibilities and you can plan your reception later when you can afford to.

Please note that many aspects of a courthouse wedding will depend on the state you live in. The best thing to do is call ahead to inquire about various aspects of your courthouse wedding.

In this post, you will get ideas on:

How To Plan To Get Married By The JOP

1. When And How To Get Your Marriage License

2. When To Book With The Court

3. What Will You Need

4. How Much Will It Cost?

5. Other Things To Remember

Here are some of the basics:   

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW  ABOUT COURTHOUSE WEDDING

1. WHEN AND HOW TO GET YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE

The process for getting your marriage license is relatively simple but does, as previously mentioned, vary by state. Here is what you need for your wedding license in most cases birth certificate, parental consent if you are under the age of 18, photo ID, social security number, proof of citizenship, and documents if you are divorced or widowed.

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The validity of the license will vary upon your location. In some states, it can be valid for only 30 days but can be valid for up to a year in others. So, depending on the day you want to get married, you will need to call or visit your courthouse to find out how quickly your license will expire. The fee for your license will also vary by state laws, but they can range between $10 and $115.

Related:  Philadelphia Marriage Applications

2. WHEN TO BOOK WITH THE COURT

When to book your wedding will usually depend on the largeness of your county. The more people who live in the county, the more will come to the court for their wedding. This is one of those things you will need to call about well in advance to your desired date. A courthouse wedding takes roughly about 20 to 30 minutes based on what experts are saying so this is not too long for a ceremony.  

3. WHAT YOU WILL NEED 

On the day of your wedding, you will usually need to bring photo IDs as well as your marriage license. You will also need to bring witnesses who will sign your license after you say “I Do.” Your witnesses is usually a close friend or family member. 

Be sure you remember your wedding-day staples like your bouquet and other accessories.  Your dress can vary from traditional dress to simple streetwear or you can opt for depending on the season, a simple sheath, or sundress. 

**And, if you still want that big wedding, you can have a reception and invite your friends and families at a later date. By then you will have put aside enough for the type of wedding you want. 

4. HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

One of the most important things to do when planning your wedding is to know how much it will cost. You can expect to pay between $50 and $100 to get married by the Justice of the Peace. This is a lot more affordable when you consider that the average traditional wedding can cost more than $30,000 depending on your state.

5. The THER THINGS TO REMEMBER

Aside from what’s already been covered, y ou can celebrate to mark the occasion by going out to dinner or having a small party with the people (witnesses) you invited.  Also,  hire a photographer if you’d like to capture the moment. Be sure to call ahead well in advance to ask about their fees and dates so you don’t miss anything. 

Related:  How many guests can you invite?  | Questions to ask the photographer

Now you know everything you need to know about planning your courthouse wedding. Best of luck to you!

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Meet Keren Michele! She's the creative force behind the content you see daily. A certified wedding planner and lead planner of K’Mich Event Planning & Consulting, she excels at crafting memorable weddings and events. Let her expert guidance make your dream day a reality.

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