About City Hall Marriages

A city hall marriage can be lovely and romantic.

If you want to get married right away and do not want to go to Las Vegas, you could consider a city hall wedding in your town. A city hall ceremony can be as wonderful as any church wedding. It can be accomplished with class, with limited expense and with very little time spent on planning.

Misconceptions

A city hall marriage does not have to be hasty and impersonal. With proper planning, you can invite a roomful of guests and even decorate the space before the ceremony. You can dress as elaborately as you wish. Some towns will allow you to be married on the steps of city hall and most will supply you with an attractive wedding room. After the ceremony, you can throw as lavish or simple a reception as you please.

Risk Factors

Having a city hall marriage often means the wedding will be small and that the guest list will be limited. This can cause hurt feelings among families and friends. Many couples promise to hold a larger ceremony later to alleviate offense.

Benefits

You save the time, expense and headache of planning a traditional wedding. Further, you do not have to wait to get married if you plan a city hall marriage. A city hall marriage is also a great alternative to a religious church wedding.

Time Frame

You must make an appointment for a city hall marriage. They are typically scheduled a week or two out. A city hall ceremony takes approximately 30 minutes.

Significance

Getting married at city hall shows that you are more focused on the long-term marriage than the wedding, which only lasts a day. It shows that you are more interested in the personal relationship between one another than in impressing family and friends.

Expert Insight

When getting married at city hall, remember to bring your marriage license, identification, your rings, flowers and a camera. You will need at least one witness, who must be over 18 years old. You will also need money to pay the marriage officiant for his services. Be sure to be on time. A fitting reception for a city hall marriage is held at a restaurant, where you have reserved a large table or party room, or a home celebration.