Courthouse weddings?

[Melyssa 0]

I was just wondering about those of you who chose to just get married at the courthouse - were you able to do anything more than signing papers in a boring room? We just realized that we don't know what exactly happens when people get married at a courthouse.

Also, how much do they typically cost, and how do you go about reserving them? (We're not necessarily planning on doing this, but we we were originally...)

Also, how do you manage to get someone to come if you want to have a wedding outside somewhere? I guess it's a different cost depending on who it is but how much would it cost for say a justice of the peace or county clerk?

And, how do you go about obtaining your marriage license? Do you do this in-between when the foreign fiancé enters the country with his/her visa and the wedding day, or is it possible for the USC to obtain it beforehand?

Thanks

[GrenadianCrix 1]

I was just wondering about those of you who chose to just get married at the courthouse - were you able to do anything more than signing papers in a boring room? We just realized that we don't know what exactly happens when people get married at a courthouse.

Also, how much do they typically cost, and how do you go about reserving them? (We're not necessarily planning on doing this, but we we were originally...)

Also, how do you manage to get someone to come if you want to have a wedding outside somewhere? I guess it's a different cost depending on who it is but how much would it cost for say a justice of the peace or county clerk?

And, how do you go about obtaining your marriage license? Do you do this in-between when the foreign fiancé enters the country with his/her visa and the wedding day, or is it possible for the USC to obtain it beforehand?

Thanks

I have not gotten married yet so I only have responses to one of your questions. I am also planning a civil service in City Hall when I reach up home. The proceedure for getting a marriage license varies for each state. In Maine where I am from, the marriage license just requires my SS# and his Visa/Passport. There is a small fee. There are no waiting periods or blood tests required for the license. So we could get the license and get married in the same day. You should call the Town/City offices for where you want to marry and they can give you specific information. Sometimes they will have a website where you can find the information also, just google the city you are looking for.

Good luck on the rest of the information!

Sue

[TimsDaisy 0]

Check the rules in the state where you live. In California, for example (in nearly every county, I believe, and in several other states), practically anyone can become a "Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages" - which entails going to the county clerk or recorder and getting sworn in, paying a small fee, and emerging with the ability to marry a specific couple. That's a way to make a personal ceremony outside of a church or a city hall. You can have your beloved uncle or the best friend who introduced you, etc, conduct the ceremony according to however you want it done instead of some anonymous city official or justice of the peace (can be cheaper than a private "officiant" as well).

I've officiated one couple's wedding and another friend officiated another sets - both were very personal, lovely ceremonies.

Alternatively, if you just want a quickie so you can set your mind at ease on the 90 day requirement and get set to plan your real, big wedding, do some google searching for the county registrar or clerk/recorder for wherever you will be living. Most have clearly explained marriage rules and license procedures on-line.

[Melyssa 0]

Check the rules in the state where you live.

For me it would be ''will live'' since I'm the foreigner !

In California, for example (in nearly every county, I believe, and in several other states), practically anyone can become a "Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages" - which entails going to the county clerk or recorder and getting sworn in, paying a small fee, and emerging with the ability to marry a specific couple.

That's a way to make a personal ceremony outside of a church or a city hall. You can have your beloved uncle or the best friend who introduced you, etc, conduct the ceremony according to however you want it done instead of some anonymous city official or justice of the peace (can be cheaper than a private "officiant" as well).

I did hear about that! That would be awesome, actually. I was just looking up ''officiants'' on google, and no one would seem personal enough - and besides, many of them would be expensive! How much did it cost for you to be an officiant? Also, I think I heard that it's only a one time thing (unless you're a minister, judge, etc.) Is that true, or maybe that also depends on which state you live?

Thanks for telling me about this (and the other stuff.) I'll do some research.

[brnidokiegurl 0]

Depending, you just need call in your area but our court house has a little "chapel" made you can reserve and bring maybe as many as 20 people there to participate. Not like a normal one but your friends can come, just need make it short, for the next group. Sometimes, if you can find a judge not in session, you can find them marrying couples, just depends. Other wise just purchase the license, find a minister and make the arrangements.

Larger of course take alot more, find the proper place you want to be married, set the time, get someone to officiate. Invite who you want, this can get as big or small as you want. What will you wear, (at the courthouse you will see everything from shorts to gowns) many things if you go larger, flowers, music, people in your weding partyif can go on and on.l

[Jasman0717 9]

We did ours at the courthouse here in Santa Ana and they had a nice little area for the ceremony. It was a very pleasent experience.

[Melyssa 0]

Check the rules in the state where you live. In California, for example (in nearly every county, I believe, and in several other states), practically anyone can become a "Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages" - which entails going to the county clerk or recorder and getting sworn in, paying a small fee, and emerging with the ability to marry a specific couple. That's a way to make a personal ceremony outside of a church or a city hall. You can have your beloved uncle or the best friend who introduced you, etc, conduct the ceremony according to however you want it done instead of some anonymous city official or justice of the peace (can be cheaper than a private "officiant" as well).

I've officiated one couple's wedding and another friend officiated another sets - both were very personal, lovely ceremonies.

I'm having trouble coming up with anything for New Jersey

[TimsDaisy 0]

well, you can always come get married in CA!

it cost about $25 as i recall. took about 20 min at the county offices. and yes, it was a one-shot deal. i think people can still go the universalist church route on-line and be good to go for more than just once.

What county in New Jersey?

Also - check bigger cities/counties around you. you don't HAVE to get married in the specific place where you will live. no matter where you get hitched in the US, it counts the same in all states and US jurisdictions.

Edited March 5, 2007 by TimsDaisy

[GrenadianCrix 1]

[quote

I'm having trouble coming up with anything for New Jersey

try this link for License infor

http://www.state.nj.us/wedlic.html

or

http://marriage.about.com/cs/marriagelicen...p/newjersey.htm

Sue

[brnidokiegurl 0]

http://www.weddingvendors.com/marriage-lic...tes/new-jersey/

[klea 0]

Check the rules in the state where you live. In California, for example (in nearly every county, I believe, and in several other states), practically anyone can become a "Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages" - which entails going to the county clerk or recorder and getting sworn in, paying a small fee, and emerging with the ability to marry a specific couple. That's a way to make a personal ceremony outside of a church or a city hall. You can have your beloved uncle or the best friend who introduced you, etc, conduct the ceremony according to however you want it done instead of some anonymous city official or justice of the peace (can be cheaper than a private "officiant" as well).

I've officiated one couple's wedding and another friend officiated another sets - both were very personal, lovely ceremonies.

I'm having trouble coming up with anything for New Jersey

I think this can help to you and others...you can also chose any state...

http://www.wedalert.com/content/articles/married_nj.asp

Cheers

[Melyssa 0]

well, you can always come get married in CA!

CA is too far unfortunately! Hmm, in a way, it could be a possibility though, since we do have some close friends there. New York would be our next option, I guess, and if not New York, then Maryland. Other than those States though I can't think of anywhere else we'd want to get married, except Canada, but we're going with the U.S. version of the K1

Churches are kind of out of the question for us.

And in NJ - Essex County, but we were looking at the Morris County courthouse, based on a recommendation from a friend...so, we haven't decided anything yet!

Also - check bigger cities/counties around you. you don't HAVE to get married in the specific place where you will live. no matter where you get hitched in the US, it counts the same in all states and US jurisdictions.

We were sort of thinking New York before but not really... so getting married in another state wouldn't make things more complicated/take longer???

[Melyssa 0]

Thanks everyone for the links regarding obtaining a license in New Jersey, they were helpful!

I can't seem to figure out if it's legal to have someone do one of those one time officiant things in New Jersey though. (Or New York, or possibly Maryland [not as likely.]) BUT preferrably northern NJ [Essex County]... I don't think we want to do a lot of driving to get home on our wedding day. LOL!

[TimsDaisy 0]

You might be able to call the county without too much trouble if it's a smaller county (I don't know my NJ counties, though my mom was born in one of the counties you mention).

Marriages cross statelines (well, hetero-marriages, anyway) - which means a marriage in Florida is as valid in Texas as a Texas marriage is valid in Texas, etc. It wouldn't make things more complicated at the federal level (for AOS, etc), though it is possible one state may take longer to process licenses than another, etc. There's a reason Nevada used to be the destination for quickie weddings (Vegas, Reno, etc), but these days, many states are just as quick with same-day service. With some research ahead of time, you can marry anywhere within the 50 states without worrying that it will mess up your AOS (unless you waited until day 89 or whatever on your K1 - but that would be pushing it even for your own state, probably).

[athena_ny 1]

I got married in Clearwater Beach, at the courthouse there. The room was small, we signed the papers outside the room though . It was outfitted to look like something other than a regular office etc. There were flowers, nice decorations on the wall, but the room wouldn't have fit any more than the 8 of us in there. My family and his family were taking pictures, and the lobby of the courthouse is super nice so we got some great pictures. I got all dressed up (well, it was a bright red dress ), and it was not like the cheesy "lets go get married in our pajamas" scene I'd previously envisioned in a courthouse.

In Florida, it cost us 93.50 for the license, and another 30.00 to be married at the courthouse.