5 Tips for Planning a Successful Civil Wedding

Sharing is caring!

A couple ready to get married.

When we hear the word wedding, all that comes to mind is a white wedding dress, a tiered cake, and a vibrant bridal party. However, none of that pomp and color is actually necessary when two lovebirds intend to tie the knot. Modern couples opt for civil weddings, which require a marriage license, a qualified officiant, and a few witnesses. After all, you could always carry on with the civil wedding and do a traditional white wedding later. As simple as they may be, civil weddings are just as crucial as conventional weddings and require adequate planning. Stick around to learn a few tips to help you plan a successful civil wedding.

Choose your venue

There are two options when planning a civil wedding. You could tie the knot in a courtroom or select a suitable location and have the judge come to you. If you want the judge to go to your preferred venue, it will help to determine whether the state regulations will allow the judge to move away from their workplace.

Draft your guest list

The number of guests you invite to your civil wedding will depend on the state laws. Some states require the couple to come with two witnesses over 18 years old, while others don’t require you to bring witnesses to the ceremony. Ensure you invite the people closest to you to sign your marriage certificates, such as your parents or siblings.

Decide on an officiant

According to a top Edmonton family lawyer, you need a legal official to preside over your wedding. This official could be a court clerk, a judge, a justice of the peace, or a magistrate. It would help to check against the requirements in your state to determine which official you need to approach to conduct the wedding. However, the authorities will provide a suitable date and official date for you if you go to city hall.

Find ways to personalize the ceremony

Ideally, a civil wedding lasts somewhere between fifteen to twenty minutes. Despite this short time, you can still add a personal touch to your wedding to ensure it remains etched in the memories of everyone in attendance. For instance, you could play a sentimental song as the bride and groom enter and leave the room or ask some family members to share a few kind words.

Hire a wedding photographer

Last but not least, you wouldn’t want your special day to lapse before you get a chance to capture some special moments with your spouse and your loved ones. Sure, you can take photos on your smartphone. However, it would be wise to bring in a professional wedding photographer to help you tell the touching story of your special day.

Wrapping up

Civil weddings are excellent for non-religious couples, inter-faith couples who prefer to compromise, or individuals on a tight budget. Your wedding can be anything you want it to be. All that matters is that you get to say I do to the love of your life and share this precious moment with your friends and family. We hope this article has been insightful.

Sharing is caring!

Speak Your Mind

*