5 Reasons To Say I Do At The Courthouse

Thinking about jumping the broom, but not so sure if you want a big wedding? Keep reading to learn more about our 5 reasons to say “I Do” at the courthouse.

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• Focus on intimacy
• Reduced anxiety
• Extended honeymoon
• Ceremony vs. reception needs
• Costs

1. Intimacy

Since childhood, some brides have longed to invite all of their relatives, friends, acquaintances, coworkers, neighbors, and even their mailman to see them walking down the aisle.

While there’s absolutely nothing wrong in sharing such a magical moment with the world, if that’s not you, that is also okay! You can savor the moment at city hall with just you and your spouse-to-be or with a few friends in attendance.

This is really about how you and your spouse are looking to say “I Do” – the real moment of the day, where and when nothing else matters.

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2. Reduced Anxiety

With a smaller guest list, you can have a better chance of avoiding wedding anxiety – you know the sweaty palms and your bridal party rushing to your aid for reassurance.

According to Harper’s Bazaar writer, Marie Claire Chappet, during her wedding, she “had never felt so on edge”. The constant thoughts of what all of the attendees would think about every detail from the rehearsal dinner to the food selection just may be a bit much. Philly Mag even suggests limiting the spotlight to reduce wedding jitters.

With a courthouse wedding, you may find the perfect balance of being at the center of attention and feeling comfortable. If so, you can take the groom and that intimate group of yours down to your local Superior Court.

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3. Extended Honeymoon

Continuing with putting anxiety and stress on the back burner, you get to treat yourself to an immediate vacation – your honeymoon!

Imagine packing your bags in the morning, tying the knot in the afternoon, and flying to your getaway before dinner. Forbes explains that some countries, like the United States, do not have a legally guaranteed paid time off requirement, however, the USA also has an average paid vacation time of a whopping 11 days.

With time off being a gift to most of the workforce, it’s important to make proper use of it. With a courthouse wedding, you reduce time on planning, ceremonial activities, and even the entire reception if desired. Then, you can make the most of your limited time off to enjoy your honeymoon with your honey!

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4. Ceremony Vs. Reception Needs

The big day is here but what is the big day exactly?

Well, a wedding is broken into two separate moments – your ceremony and then your reception. Your ceremony is where your marriage is made official. On the other hand, your reception is where you get to celebrate your nuptials. If you still want to party after exchanging vows, the sky’s the limit.

With a courthouse wedding, you’ll have a ceremony at city hall, but your reception is up to you as newlyweds. Maybe you want to meet your friends at the pub where you first met your soulmate or maybe you want to sit at the beach around a bonfire. Check out Greenvelope’s guide on hosting your reception-only wedding here.

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5. Costs

Finally, let’s get down to the numbers. Without any research, we can all assume that a wedding will be a major expense, but just how much will the happy couple be invoiced?

Wedding costs are constantly on the rise and, per the Wedding Report, in 2022 they peaked at $29,000. This amount adds up to everything from invitations to catering to venues, gowns, dresses, suits, and more. You can remove any dread of obligation to growing debt or reduced savings, by swapping to an effortless courthouse wedding.

A courthouse wedding includes both the wedding license and the actual appointment costs. It’s important to note that these costs can vary by state, city, and county. The average USA marriage license cost is $100 and the civil (nonreligious or city hall) ceremony fee averages out to $150. You could save a minimum of $28,000 with a courthouse wedding, which could go towards purchasing your first home, a new car, investments, and even getting started on your kid’s college savings account.

If you don’t mind the big ticket – then go for a big wedding, but if you really want to save, apply for a marriage license and then make a civil ceremony appointment request, right away!

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You will still get to hyphen or change your last name.

With so much to consider, if you decide to have a courthouse wedding, keep in mind that it will be no less official or valuable than a traditional wedding. When you have your vows officiated by your local Justice of the Peace, all you need is to sign your marriage license, bring a witness, and commit to the one you adore! Next, you’ll leave with a marriage certificate and head to your reception or drive straight to the dock where you’ll board your 12-day cruise.

Now that you’ve finished reading our 5 Reasons to Say I Do at The Courthouse, you have more tools to carefully decide on how to create your dream wedding.

Happy Planning!

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