Courthouse Weddings

[Caitlin Kennedy 67]

Hi- Asking for some experience here... once my fiance gets to Chicago, we will obviously need to do the courthouse wedding within 90 days. We are hoping to save giving each other the rings until the actual wedding we want to plan with our family and friends a year later. I assume you dont need the rings at the courthouse ceremony to have it be done? Any recent experience with courthouse weddings/process? We are looking at more of a paperwork/formality

Edited January 18, 2020 by Caitlin Kennedy

[Boiler 45,525]

You do not need rings at all.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

11 hours ago, Caitlin Kennedy said:

Hi- Asking for some experience here... once my fiance gets to Chicago, we will obviously need to do the courthouse wedding within 90 days. We are hoping to save giving each other the rings until the actual wedding we want to plan with our family and friends a year later. I assume you dont need the rings at the courthouse ceremony to have it be done? Any recent experience with courthouse weddings/process? We are looking at more of a paperwork/formality

We got married by a judge friend at another friend’s house with a handful of folks there. Dressed casually. Made up our own vows. You don’t have to marry inside a courthouse. You can make a fun little event out of it at a restaurant or picnic at a park. There’s lots of people that can perform marriages anywhere you like. We never did get rings.  All you need for immigration is a marriage license signed off by the officiant and turned in to get registered by the county. The country will issue your marriage certificate once they enter it in the county records. Take photos of the event, even if just selfies with the judge. Nice evidence to show at AOS interview of the day you married.

[Caitlin Kennedy 67]

11 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

We got married by a judge friend at another friend’s house with a handful of folks there. Dressed casually. Made up our own vows. You don’t have to marry inside a courthouse. You can make a fun little event out of it at a restaurant or picnic at a park. There’s lots of people that can perform marriages anywhere you like. We never did get rings.  All you need for immigration is a marriage license signed off by the officiant and turned in to get registered by the county. The country will issue your marriage certificate once they enter it in the county records. Take photos of the event, even if just selfies with the judge. Nice evidence to show at AOS interview of the day you married.

Sounded lovely, thank you

[Just Paul 4,595]

For a judicial wedding the clerk will often ask if there is anything special like vows or rings that you want to do.   The judge or magistrate often will ask each party some basic questions and then bam you are married!   I've seen a bunch of them for friends.  You can get all dressed up of come in nice clothes.

 

We had a court wedding in Hong Kong and the commissioner sat at the head and we sat on one side any our 2 witnesses  (my parents) on the other.  The commissioner said a few words, signed the certificate and then we stood up and took a few pictures.  Mary had a little black and white dress and I wore a suit (the only time that year).   As we were leaving the next wedding party was coming in and they we all super formal with about 100 people.

 

Take a few photos and enjoy the day.