Getting Married At Courthouse?

[beccafries]

Anybody getting married at courthouse, then having a destination wedding

 

Here is my thought..... I wanna have a DW with only immediate family......but I know some of my family and friends would

really want to celebrate with me....so I was thinking of this plan.

 

Friday- get married at Courthouse

Friday night- have a small gathering at our house and invite some of the family members/friends that I would like to be there.

have like a cocktail hor d type celebration with prob just simple desserts or cupcakes....etc....

 

Then still have my planned DW with immediate family later.

 

What do ya think abt this plan?? 

 

What kind of formal invitation would I mall out for this type of plan? you know a link u can share.

Edited February 21, 2014 by beccafries

[jackshayne0123]

I think that sounds like a lovely plan! If that's what you want, go for it! I must admit, having a DW with a small crowd made it more special, more intimate, more meaningful than a ballroom with 200 people. As for invitation, that's up to you! I was a no muss no fuss girl, we did an email invite first, and then when people booked we had postcard invitations printed, they cost $40 total. They were simple and classy, I wanted some kind of printed invitation for the keepsake. For your small intimiate affair, personally I would do something simple and small, not overly fancy, but that's just my taste.  I think it's up to you, there are no rules!

Good luck, congratulations!

[TAkathy]

It makes a lot of sense (and sometimes lots of CENTS) to due a legally binding ceremony in the US before heading to a Destination wedding outside the US.  The requirements for legal ceremonies vary by country but there are almost always extra fees to pay (translation of the documents into English for ex) and often requirements for the bride and groom to stay extra days in the country in advance of the wedding - as in some states within Mexico. In Aruba, a beach wedding is not considered legal, it is simply symbolic. Couples who choose to have a legal wedding there need to first visit the governmental office that will provide the legally binding ceremony and then go to the beach if that is where they want to have the larger ceremony. These are just a couple of the things that one may encounter if they choose to have a legal ceremony in a foreign country. If you get married first in the US then you would have a "token" or "symbolic" ceremony rather than a legal one. Less paperwork and hassle!

[DRC2014bride]

That's a good plan! I am graduating from dental school 2 weeks before our destination wedding so we decided to get married legally at the courthouse a day after our graduation, take advantage that the closest family members will be in town and have dinner at a local restaurant with a private room to celebrate our legal marriage..then 2 weeks later the real celebration in Mexico I would recommend vistaprint for your invitations (they always have offers), I have ordered so many things from them they should give me a huge discount you can easily create something as formal or as casual as you want. Good luck and congratulations on your wedding!!

[beccafries]

_{Thanks ladies...yes I kinda want the DW to be just immediate family.}

 

_{So, to not hurt  other relatives and some friends feelings.....do a small reception type thing....if I can find something with a private room I will do that or just have something at our home....  our parents live out of town..so they wouldn't be at the courthouse marriage...but a few days later will be joining us at the DW}  

 

_{Do ya have some wording examples for that??}

I think that sounds like a lovely plan! If that's what you want, go for it! I must admit, having a DW with a small crowd made it more special, more intimate, more meaningful than a ballroom with 200 people. As for invitation, that's up to you! I was a no muss no fuss girl, we did an email invite first, and then when people booked we had postcard invitations printed, they cost $40 total. They were simple and classy, I wanted some kind of printed invitation for the keepsake. For your small intimiate affair, personally I would do something simple and small, not overly fancy, but that's just my taste.  I think it's up to you, there are no rules!

Good luck, congratulations!

Im only sending invitations out to the small reception thing in town..thats what I was wanting ideas for??

 

The DW is just immediate family prob 10 guests plus B & G..so very small....

[kellisbaby]

I think your plan sounds really nice.  AND, it's your wedding so whatever you want GOES!! 

 

We're doing a court house wedding before the DW just for legality and convenience.  Getting married in the DR is a ton of work and involves translating documents and  a lot of fees.  Not to mention having to get a judge come to the resort to do the ceremony.  Just too many logistics and things that could go wrong.  We're not telling anyone that the DR isn't legal.  To US that's the ceremony we'll celebrate and consider the begining of our marriage.

 

We are having an AHR a few months after we get back tho, once we get into spring/summer so we can be outside!

[beccafries]

So your anniversary will be the DW wedding date, not the legal date?....im torn with that one....

my FI don't wanna tell no one about the legal at home, he thinks will take away from the DW ceremony.... but should we tell

them later on....so they know what our official real anni date is ( the legal one )

 

Ladies, give me ur thoughts on this please

Kellisbaby, so how soon are u getting married at home before the DW ceremony...within days or months of each other??

[jackshayne0123]

Personally I would keep the legal at home marriage quiet, you're right it takes away from the destination ceremony. I know girls who have done this, and the guest complained they were travelling all that way and spending all that money for a "fake wedding". "If they are already married why are we going? Why are they even having a wedding?" comments from some. I agree with that, and my husband and I didn't want that either, but that was just our personal opinion. I understand getting married legally at home first makes sense, it's easier, cheaper, etc. I say keep quiet, your guests won't know the difference. You could do a mock certificate to sign for the ceremony so people see you signing papers but they don't have to know it's not real. Make your anniversary the date of your DW celebration, why not? That's when it will probably feel real, your guest are there, you're in your dress, that day is extremely special and always will be in your hearts.

 

[beccafries]

I guess u right....we could just use the DW date as our Anni for years to come....makes it easier

[CurlyKristen]

My fiance wants to keep the court house super low key. He told me that he doesn't want to be asked "do you take this woman to be your wife..." because he wants all that saved for our wedding day in Mexico and keep that day very special and not like a vow renewal. I don't know if that is possible but I know I will try to keep it as minimal as possible for him. We're spending all this time planning, all the money making sure things go perfectly in Mexico...I wouldn't want anything to take away from that.

Edited March 1, 2014 by CurlyKristen