My fiance and I have said "to hell" with all of the extravagance and decided to elope instead. On 11-14 we will go down to the county courthouse...my question is this...
What is the ceremony like? Is it the traditional vows of love, honor, cherish, obey, etc. OR is it like in the movies where he'll say "do you take this man, do you take this woman? I now pronounce you man and wife?". Thanks guys!
2007-09-11 08:09:28 · 13 answers · asked by Leigh 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
I'm not asking your opinion on what type of wedding I'm having. The reason for going to the courthouse is we have on family to MAKE it a big affair.
2007-09-11 08:18:16 · update #1
I'm not asking your opinion on what type of wedding I'm having. The reason for going to the courthouse is we have no family to MAKE it a big affair.
2007-09-11 08:18:31 · update #2
I got married by a JP, it was both of ours second wedding and we did not want a big ceremony. We had an opportunity to say our own vows if we wanted. The JP was great, he gave a short but lovely speech about marriage and love. My family was there, then we went to a local hotel for a small reception. I enjoyed the whole thing. It saved a TON of money and I would do it again. My only regret is that I bought a nice suit to wear at the ceremony. I wish I had dressed up more, maybe a really nice dress instead. If this is your first marriage, the other people answering may be right about having a big ceremony. If you just want a small ceremony, this could be the right thing for you. Also, the JPs will perform ceremonies in other places besides the courthouse. You just have to pay a bit more.
2007-09-11 08:22:11 · answer #1 · answered by Don Drapers woman 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I got married at the courthouse 33 years ago. The vows were pretty straightforward. I don't recall "obey" and there was no mention of deity at all (which is why we went to the courthouse.) My sister and her husband and my best friend went with us. Then they went back home and hubby and I went on the honeymoon! We didn't elope, though. Our friends and family knew we were getting married. No regrets, except I wish we had done a cake cutting, even if it was just us.
I see some couples dress up and others get married on lunch break. My mother made my dress (just a regular length dress in blue) and hubby wore a suit. We wore a corsage and boutonniere, no decor other than that. We may have an anniversary party for 34 or 35, if so, our grandchildren will escort us and we will cut a cake!
2007-09-11 14:22:39 · answer #2 · answered by Ara57 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We eloped too! I'm so glad we got married at the courthouse! The ceremony was short and sweet, all of maybe 20 minutes. The vows were pretty traditional, with the love, honor, cherish stuff. Then since we had rings, he did a short ring ceremony. Then it was "I now pronouce you man and wife! kiss the bride" and we were out the door! There was no religious stuff, anything like that involved.
2007-09-12 08:16:20 · answer #3 · answered by adhafera23 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By brother did something that may suit you better than eloping.
He called everyone on a Tuesday and said "I'm getting married Saturday. If you can make it, I'd love to see you, but I know it is short notice so if you can't be there I understand." He had two friends who were noticably absent, but the rest of his tight friends and close family made it.
He and his wife had the ceremony in a JP's (rather nice, couple acre) backyard. Then it was on to a nice local restaraunt (that was happy to have such a large lunch reservation--it was a rural area) where all the guests had a meal and dad picked up the check. A lovely wedding with almost everyone you really need to invite, no 'extra' people you are almost forced to invite, and the whole bill including the ceremony, the meal that replaced the reception and the dress came in around $2500.
2007-09-11 08:18:12 · answer #4 · answered by wayfaroutthere 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I was married by a Justice of the Peace. My husband and I wrote our own wedding vows and said them to each other in the JP's presence. If you like the traditional vows, you can find them on line and ask the JP to allow you to say the traditional vows to each other. YOU can make the day special. Go to a spa for a facial and massage. Wear a pretty new dress in beige silk or lace. (White is such a silly color after Labor Day.) Buy shoes to match. Buy yourself some fresh flowers and wrap the stems in a wide ribbon or get a florist to make you a bouquet. Pin a flower to your husband's label. Eat lunch in the nicest restaurant in town. Spend the night in an expensive hotel. Wear a silk night gown. Light candles. Drink a lot of champagne (once you are in for the night) that you've snuck in with your luggage. Do one or all of these things, and you'll feel like a bride. And best wishes on your new life together.
2007-09-11 08:30:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anne M 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, marriage wouldn't be the same without (golden) wedding rings RE: When you get married at the justice of peace do have to have wedding rings? When you go to your local courthouse to get married do you have to have wedding rings to get married?
2016-05-17 07:27:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i got married at the courthouse, and they go over all the traditional vows that you would have at a formal wedding. i had my friend be my maid of honor, and another friend was my husband's best man. no one got dressed up like at a reg. wedding, but they were there to sign papers as witnesses to our marriage.
2007-09-11 08:15:52 · answer #7 · answered by hinderbaby 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I got married at the courthouse in december.. I dont really remember what all was said except i do.. lol sorry.. I was sick and so was he.. I know their was love and all that stuff in their but I can not remember what exactly..
2007-09-11 09:33:07 · answer #8 · answered by harleigh_brat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got married in the JoPs backyard...I don't know that 'obey' is still in vows but I wouldn't allow it in mine. "love, honor, cherish" and if I recall it was the traditional vow spiel, not just "do you take..." and then you're done.
2007-09-11 08:13:24 · answer #9 · answered by . 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the big wedding before and if I ever marry again..I, too will do so at the court house.
2007-09-11 08:13:11 · answer #10 · answered by Mean Carleen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋