His family is Catholic and mine is not. This does not bother us, but for respect for those in the family that it would matter to, we want to have a non-church wedding. How does that work? How do I go about finding someone to marry us? And can it be at the same place as the reception? It is a December wedding so outside is not possible. If it is at the same place how do we go about the transition from ceremony to reception? That would for sure help with the budget!
2007-12-30 03:45:42 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
A justice of the peace or an ordained minister can marry you. You can probably get a list from wherever you get your marriage license.
2007-12-30 03:50:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
A nonchurch wedding works the same way a church wedding does. It can be as religious or nonreligious as you want. Religious weddings usually run longer by 30 mins or so. A nonreligious wedding is usually 10-30 mins depending on the contents. Anything longer than 30 mins and guests start to get antsy.
Yes the ceremony and reception can be held in the same location and many couples prefer doing that. You can get a justice of the peace to come to your ceremony site or you can get an officiant. The local chat boards at theknot.com are an excellent resource for finding vendors.
As far as the transition between ceremony and reception, talk to the event coordinator at the reception site. Oftentimes they have an area where the cocktail hour can be held while the room is quickly being made over for the reception. Or you can opt to have the room already set up for the reception without need for any transition if you have chairs set up in one area since everyone can move to another area.
2007-12-30 06:41:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
http://ejcampfield.com/NonReligiousWedding/samples.html
For examples of non-religious ceremonies, check out site above.
You can be married by a judge or a justice of the peace. You can do a search online for humanist officiants in your area.
The wedding can be held in a private home, a garden, a park, the beach, a hotel, a museum, or an historic home or inn. You have many options.
If using the same venue for both ceremony and reception . . .
the transition will depend on the venue. Once attended a wedding where ceremony was held at one end of the hall. Then chairs were moved to tables at the other end of the hall for the reception.
Attended another ceremony, held outdoors at a private home. Couple married in a gazebo. Tables were placed around the gazebo and guests sat at the tables. Food for reception was buffet style, with food tables placed inside a tent. Guests got their food and returned to their original tables to eat.
So transition from ceremony to reception will really depend on what is available at your site.
2007-12-30 05:51:31 · answer #3 · answered by Suz123 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There should be banquet facilities or hotels in your area that could handle setting up for both the wedding and reception indoors. You could get either a Justice of the Peace or minister to perform the ceremony. You can get information on how to contact either one in the phone book or by referral. If his family has a church they regularly attend you may be able to have their minister perform the ceremony at whatever location you choose.
2007-12-30 03:58:34 · answer #4 · answered by Debbie E 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are lots of cool places you can get married such as a museum, a yacht, or a reception hall. This way you combine your wedding ceremony with the reception. When you book one of these venues (or even just visit), they often can suggest an officiate with whom they have worked in the past. I am getting married on a dinner cruise boat and this is what we did for the officiant.
2007-12-30 03:56:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As for being married at your reception site, that will depend on the venue. If you have a reception site in mind, ask them. Many will allow you to be married on site and may have a room for that purpose or have a list of JotP in the area.
If that doesn't work out, try contacting your town or city hall to find out about JotP who conduct weddings. Some townhalls even have wedding "chapels" on site you can book.
2007-12-30 04:12:10 · answer #6 · answered by heartfruitsalad 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just know that the Catholic Church will not recognize your marriage this way. If that's going to be important to your fiance's family, then maybe you should consider having a co-officiated religious ceremony.
2007-12-30 04:42:32 · answer #7 · answered by Trivial One 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We had a non-church wedding in August so it was outdoors. My sister had a non-church wedding in January...the wedding ceremony was outside in the garden (she got married in Southern California so weather was not an issue) and the reception was inside at a women's club. Ours was at the arboretum in Seattle.
You can find an officiant in the yellow pages, I would think, or do a Google search for your city and "wedding officiant". Meet the person ahead of time and talk about what kinds of things you want them to say...they should be able to make suggestions too and help you with your vows if you want. Be sure and talk about what they will wear if it's important to you. I am a big fan of weddings/receptions at the same location because then you can spend more time partying with your guests and not driving from one location to the other. Your officiant and the person at the hall that you rent (or banquet room, or whatever) can help with ideas about the transition from ceremony to reception. Generally I think after the ceremony you take all the family pictures while your guests get a drink and mingle, and then the reception begins for everyone. Have fun! Good luck!
2007-12-31 03:59:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Same as a church wedding but not in a church!
You can get married anywhere you want to.
Look around the area you want to get married for an Officiant.
Ceremony and reception sites can be the same place.
2007-12-31 03:24:11 · answer #9 · answered by Terri 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just go to the court house and get married. You can't get any more non religious than that.
2007-12-30 09:22:39 · answer #10 · answered by MalinaB 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋