Alabama Destination Wedding
Destination weddings are popular for various reasons. One being, maybe the bride or groom grew up somewhere else, or a majority of their family lives elsewhere. Another reason is the location may have special significance to the couple. Either way, if you are thinking of holding your wedding in Alabama there are a couple of things to take into consideration.
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Marriage License
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You do not have to be a resident of Alabama to obtain a marriage license there. You do need to supply proper identification, typically your driver's license, birth certificate and Social Security number. The fee varies from county to county but ranges from $28 to $41. You'll want to obtain your marriage license a few weeks in advance, however you'll need to keep in mind it is only valid for 30 days once issued. There is no waiting period to get married once you have your marriage license.
Location
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Choosing the location for your Alabama destination wedding is crucial to having the ceremony you dream about. Take into consideration the season and time of day you are going to have your ceremony. You'll also need to choose a place that can accommodate all of your guests. Do you want to get married on the white sand beaches or in the woods? Once you decide what part of Alabama, decide on an indoor wedding, or outdoors to narrow down your options. Choose what kind of setting you'd like, are you looking for a hall, hotel, church or chapel?
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Getting Help
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Once you decide on your location, you should be able to find a wedding planner local to the town you hold your wedding in if the location does not offer its own or recommend one. While wedding planners are not always necessary, this will cut down on a lot of stress for you because they are local and better equipped to know where to acquire what you desire.
Season
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The peak wedding season is late spring through summer, or May through August. Booking your wedding during this time may include premium rates, less flexibility from your vendors or less options. When planning a peak season wedding in Alabama, begin as far in advance as possible to secure the date, location and vendors of your choice. Last-minute weddings can be planned, although your options will be limited. Keep in mind Alabama does experience hurricanes, tornadoes, and many thunderstorms. Spring typically delivers the most severe weather, although Alabama is one of the few places that sees a secondary tornado season in November and December.
Popular Wedding Sites
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Because of Alabama's rich land, culture and history, destination wedding sites are nearly endless. The public white sand beaches along the Gulf Coast are among the most popular places to exchange vows. Of course, there are many churches and wedding chapels, but Alabama offers a bit more. You can wed at a number of plantations, such as the White Oak Plantation or the Mitchell Plantation. There are manors and mansions that also host weddings, such as the Hermitage Rippy Mansion, Historic Rucker Place or Mathews Manor. The Mobile Museum of Art, Richards DAR House Museum, and the Birmingham Museum of Art are also popular wedding locations.
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References
- Photo Credit lucianvenutian courtesy of creativecommons.org
