Sure, we love the pomp and circumstances — and the flowers, cakes, and dresses — that come with a traditional wedding, but when it comes to tying the knot, none of that is really necessary. (And, let`s face it, it`s never necessary if you don`t want it!) To officially say “I want,” all you need is a recognized official, a marriage license, and a few witnesses (and even these aren`t required in every state). And while we often think that a civil wedding means going to town hall, just the two of you, a civil wedding can really take place anywhere and look at whatever you want. Waiting period? The marriage certificate does not take effect until 6 a.m. on the second day after the date of issuance of the permit. No marriage ceremony can take place during the waiting period unless a judge grants special permission (usually for reasons of military service or pregnancy). As with wedding planning, it`s important to remember that your wedding can be anything you want, whether it`s a trip to City Hall, a completely intimate celebration with your families, or a big task. And while civil marriage is probably smaller, that doesn`t mean it has to be any less important. “Whether it`s both of you or your closest family, make it as much a priority as a bigger wedding,” say Julie Bunkley and Courtney Wolf of Invision Events. “You want the moments documented, so hire a photographer, even if it`s just for a short time, get your hair and makeup done, and consider having a bouquet of flowers.” A marriage that does not comply with the rules listed above is considered illegal. The fact that a marriage is considered illegal does not automatically mean that the marriage is invalid (or “void”).
For example, although a person performing a wedding ceremony for an unauthorized couple may be fined, the marriage itself is valid. But whether your service is religious or civil, the ceremony follows the same basic structure: procession, call to order/opening speech, vows, exchange of rings and other gestures of unity, proclamation (“I pronounce you now… “), kissing, closing remarks and recession. With a civil ceremony, there`s more room to personalize it, so feel free to write your own vows and include special readings, musical selection, symbols of unity, and rituals in the process. (For more ways to personalize your ceremony, check out these unique ideas.) There is a schedule, according to California law, the ceremony must take place within 90 days from the date of issuance of the license and must take place in the same state. A civil marriage is simply a non-religious and legal marriage ceremony conducted by an authorized official instead of a religious one. In addition, Darling says that hiring a photographer for the civil wedding has an added benefit: “It`s also an opportunity for your photographer to build a relationship so that you`re close and more relaxed on the big day, which means your photographer can capture the wedding day with ease and you can enjoy it. After the engagement party, all the planning is set in motion; The decision-making process begins and more and more couples are opting for civil marriages instead of religious weddings. But what is a civil marriage? Be sure to check your state`s requirements, as rules for witnesses and documentation vary. Yes, you`ll already be legally married when your wedding takes place, but that doesn`t mean it can`t be that special – especially since the rules no longer apply! Some ideas we like? If the parties do not reside in the district where the marriage is to take place, the clerk of the court must accept an affidavit (written statement confirmed by oath or confirmation) with the same information required in the application instead of an application by one of the parties to marry, and must be issued by a court clerk or other county official, in which the party lives, take an oath.
If your family is less enthusiastic about you having a civil wedding, talk to your official about including some religious rituals in the ceremony to make them happy too. After the ceremony, the person who performed the ceremony sends the marriage certificate, signed with the title of the authorized official celebrating the marriage, within 5 days to the clerk of the court issuing the license to be registered in the district or city registers. Remember that this marriage certificate was attached to the marriage certificate. First of all, you need to know what a civil marriage is before you can start planning, right? A civil wedding doesn`t mean you have to skip the guest list completely, and you may want to bring a few selected people with you. And that`s where those witnesses come in. Some states require two witnesses over the age of 18, while others require no witnesses.