How to Elope Without Leaving Town
Whether your plan is to get married in secrecy or want to have an impromptu or intimate wedding, you do not have to fly to Vegas to elope. You can get married in the town where you reside, quickly and easily. Here are instructions on how to elope without leaving town.
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Things You'll Need
- Birth certificates
- Citizenship information
- Blood test (in some states)
- Photo ID
Instructions
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How to Elopse Locally
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1
Decide how secret you want your elopement to be. You will need at least one or two witnesses. You can invite anywhere from two to 20 people to attend your elopement wedding. Since the wedding is so small, you can tell people by mouth, but remember to tell them to keep it a secret so that it does not turn into something bigger than you want.
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2
Get your marriage license. Contact your local county clerk’s office to find out where to go for a wedding license and what you need to bring with you. They will also let you know if a blood test is required. (Most states no longer require a blood test.) If your state or locality has an amount of time you must wait before you get married, they will let you know when you apply for the license.
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3
Find a judge or other person who can marry you. Ask your county clerk for a list of judges who perform weddings You can also go on-line to find wedding officiates in your city. Contact them for availability and fees.
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4
Decide where you will get married. Judges, who perform weddings, will allow you to get married in a courtroom which actually makes a very nice setting. Another choice is in a home, in a park, or other public area. Before getting married in a public area, you must check with groundskeepers (such as the city) to make sure it is okay.
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5
Go shopping for wedding rings and a nice outfit to get married in. Wear whatever makes you feel special.
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6
Have someone take a few photos. Provide a camera or two to your witnesses.
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7
Head off to your honeymoon! Use all of that money you saved on the wedding to go the honeymoon. While you are away, take the time to write and mail wedding announcements to let everyone know that you tied the knot.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have just a few witnesses, it might be nice to have a restaurant meal together after the wedding ceremony.
Be ready to deal with angry friends and relatives when you get home.
- Photo Credit creative commons image by flickr member firemedic58
