How to Plan a Small Courthouse Wedding

A courthouse wedding might not be the fairytale wedding most girls envision, but it can make for an intimate and affordable wedding option. If you are considering getting married in a courthouse, individual states have different regulations and costs associated with a civil ceremony. A civil ceremony wedding is not without any planning. You will not be able to just walk in and declare you want to get married. A civil ceremony also does not mean you need to skip a reception and honeymoon.

Instructions

1 Obtain a marriage license. You can do this at the courthouse where you plan to get married. Each state has different laws regarding marriage licenses, including required blood tests, costs, waiting periods and duration of license validity. To obtain your marriage license, you will need copies of both partners' birth certificates, photo identification, such as a driver's license, and Social Security number.
2 Book your wedding date. You can do this at the same time you apply for your marriage license. Courthouses are places of business, which means your ceremony will have to be on a weekday during normal business hours. The hours vary from state to state, but are typically between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. While you are booking your date, also ask if the courthouse provides witnesses, how many guests are permitted to watch your ceremony and the fee you will be charged. Besides the marriage license cost, you also will have to pay a fee to hold your ceremony in the courthouse and pay for the officiant. Costs vary from state to state, but expect to pay approximately $25 for a courthouse wedding. Most states require that you have at least two witnesses present to verify that you are of sound mind when you agree to wed.
3 Decide who you want to officiate your wedding. Most states have an officer of the court present to perform your ceremony. However in certain states, if you choose, laypeople are permitted to marry you. An on-day officiant, laypeople or Commissioner for a Day, is a family member or friend that has filed the proper paperwork and paid the fee to be eligible to marry you on your wedding day. Applications must be filed a month before the ceremony date, in some states it is only required to be filed two weeks prior to the ceremony. The fees vary from state to state and this option is not available in every state.
4 Invite guests. If you want and are able to have a small group of friends and family join you in witnessing your union, send out invitations. You can do paper invites or if you want to be cost-conscious you can send electronic invitations. Keep it intimate because room will be limited. If you are planning to have a dinner or party afterward as a reception, you could send out invitations for that. When inviting guests to your wedding, make sure that the time of the wedding will not be an inconvenience to them. If your guest feels obligated to attend but logistically cannot it could create an awkward situation and put your guest in a tough position. Plan your reception or celebration on the weekend so more guests can attend.
5 Decide what you are going to wear on your big day. Just because you are having a civil service does not mean that you don't deserve to look like a blushing bride. You do not have to go out and buy an elaborate gown to feel beautiful. A cute dress you love could work, or buying a simple dress also can save money. If you purchase a new outfit you care wear again, it will be a solid investment and won't collect dust in the back of your closet.
6 Decorate the courthouse to give it a more romantic atmosphere. Many locations allow you to bring in small decorations and items to personalize the room. Usually you can ask to have access to the room approximately one hour prior to the ceremony. If the courthouse is busy or the room is used for other purposes you might not be able to decorate or may only have a couple minutes to do so. Make sure you ask at the time you book your date. Common restrictions are placed on throwing flower petals, rice, bird seed and other items because of the difficulty to clean up quickly. All items you bring must be able to be carried and quickly set-up and taken down.
7 Ask one of your witnesses to take a couple of pictures for you. You can get them developed and framed yourself for a fraction of the cost a professional photographer would charge. You also could ask the witness to hold a video camera and record the ceremony. You could replay it at your reception later and everyone will be able to view your special moment.

Read More

Proposing a Toast at a Wedding or Social Gathering

With holiday office parties coming and weddings and social functions common you may want to brush up on how to propose a toast.

Instructions

1 TIMING: Wait for the appropriate moment. The host or hostess, or someone close like a father or best man, should usually propose the first toast of the evening. If they don't wait until after the main course is done to give them that chance. Make sure you chose a moment when glasses are full. Think through your remarks before you begin so it goes smoothly.
2 The intro: Stand at the table or in a prominent place and get the rooms attention. Introduce yourself briefly, and how you tie in to the person being honored or the company or project if it is a business affair.
3 The lead in: Direct your remarks and attention to the host, hostess, or person being honored. Convey your feelings and compliments. Humor works well if it is not going to cause embarrassment or discomfort. Avoid anything too personal. Express your hopes and wishes for the person or moment being toasted.
4 The Toast: Raise your glass and state "To.... in 3 to 4 words. Be very brief here so people can join in and repeat the phrase.
5 Drink. A small drink is appropriate. Don't down the glass.

Read More

Vital Pieces Of Finance a Wedding

Reports show that less than a third of couples who plan a wedding that costs more than $10,000 save more than a couple of thousand dollars toward paying for it. Yet weddings today can cost an average of $20,000 or more for the reception hall, caterer, flowers, decorations, wedding gown, rings, and dont forget the honeymoon. So how do you pay for all this extravagance? Read on to learn how to finance a wedding.

Instructions

1 Save for your wedding. Certificates of Deposit (CDs) offer one option for short-term savings that offers higher returns on the initial investment. Having a regular savings plan to save as much unrestricted income as possible in the months preceding your wedding can help you to accumulate as little debt as possible. Saving coins and $1 bills in the months leading up to your wedding can add up, too, perhaps contributing a decent down payment toward the honeymoon.
2 Talk to a representative from your financial institution. Many banks offer free advice to couples about budgeting, saving and purchasing a home. Inquire about a home equity line of credit to help cover wedding expenses. For engaged couples who may already own a home either individually or together, a home equity line of credit provides a flexible option for financing along with low interest rates.
3 Set a realistic budget. Be careful of hidden costs. Dont make the mistake of going over budget. Be prepared as a couple to compromise on many of the details. Consider using a combination of savings, paying out-of-pocket, home equity and credit cards to finance the cost of your wedding.
4 Pay as you go in order not to incur debt. Even if you dont have a lot of excess cash, you can pay off many of the bills related to the wedding beforehand. Most vendors who provide wedding services require a 50 percent deposit at the time that you place the order. This gets you halfway there from the start. And remember, all costs are negotiable.

Read More

Finding the Ideal Wedding Officiant

You need just the right person to make taking your marriage vows truly memorable--an officiant willing to create the perfect ceremony that captures your personalities and beliefs.

Instructions

1 Find someone whose beliefs resonate with yours and who can speak eloquently on your behalf. You'll want to meet several times to discuss the ceremony and come to a mutual accord. Officiants can suggest vows or help you fine-tune your own.
2 Choose from a wide pool of possible religious officiants: priests, rabbis, Catholic scholars, theologians and cantors. If you hold a religious ceremony in a church or synagogue, you may need to use their officiant.
3 A judge or justice of the peace can do the honors, as can a mayor, governor, county clerk, notary, legally ordained minister or anyone who is deputized to perform a one-time ceremony.
4 Have a friend become a minister. At the Universal Life Church (ulc.com) you can fill out an online form, pay $12, and voila! You're an ordained minister. (Check laws in your state.)
5 Budget the officiant's fees into your overall cost of the wedding. Traditionally paid for by the groom, they can run from $100 to $300 or more, with travel and facility costs extra.

Read More

Become a Wedding Crasher

Wedding crashers as a rule get a bad rap, but they are not the mountebanks that most people think they are. The wedding crasher can add life and vigor to an otherwise dull wedding. Most weddings are staid and stuffy affairs that should welcome the wedding crasher with open arms. To be a wedding crasher, a person must follow some basic rules to not sully the reputations of reputable wedding crashers everywhere.

Instructions

1 Make sure to dance with as many people as you can. The main focus of the wedding crasher should be to dance with as many unattached wedding attendees as possible. Do not dance with attendees that have significant others at the wedding because that could result in a confrontation.
2 Bring a nice gift to the wedding. Just because you are crashing the wedding does not mean you should not bring a considerate gift. The bigger the gift you bring the better, because a large box is always impressive even if an inexpensive gift. Be sure that your cover story is solid because the big gift will attract a lot of attention.
3 Concoct a believable cover story. It is usually best that you are a friend of a friend or long lost relative that forgot their invitation. You also use another guest as a cover story if you make a wedding crasher connection early on during the crash. You can just say I came with Cousin Bob or Aunt Margie if they are amenable to going along with the story.
4 Be as polite as possible. Drinking and rudeness are not permissible behavior from any respectable wedding crasher. Despite being an uninvited guest you show always maintain proper decorum and treat others with respect. Finally, do not get too drunk when crashing the wedding or you could face social embarrassment or worse.

Read More

How to Plan a Cheap Beach Wedding

Beach weddings or destination weddings have grown in popularity recently. They offer a very special way to celebrate a marriage with a select group or friends and family in a location that can be elegant and beautiful naturally. A beach wedding doesn't have to be unduly expensive either. Here are suggestions for planning the ideal cheap beach wedding.

Instructions

1 Locale. There are miles of beachfront in the US alone. A public beachfront park is a free venue but you will need to check rules regarding food and drink if you hold the reception there as well. You might consider asking a private property owner if they would consider allowing you access for your wedding. Small resorts or hotels are always options but may incur costs associated with their use. If you are not close to a beach, a lovely lakeside setting may be just as nice.
2 Travel. Before planning a destination wedding, ask those you simply have to have at your wedding for their thoughts. Nothing says you have to finance their travel arrangements but you do not want to impose a hardship on anyone either. A beach wedding may be your dream but perhaps a lovely lake setting would work just as well and be one you can easily drive to. If you absolutely must travel long distances to reach the beach of your dreams, consider how many guests you can afford to include if you have to pick up the entire tab.
3 Guest List. The number of guests you invite to your wedding will determine the amount of money spent, particularly if food and drink are supplied. As awful as it may sound, make A, B and C lists. Your A list should include required family members, friends and your wedding party. Your B list will include others that you would like to invite if your budget allows. Your C list would be guests that perhaps your mother would like to include but would not be upset about if they weren't invited. You can always move them to your wedding announcements list if you need to. Not everyone you invite will be able to attend but by knowing a projected head count you can more easily set a budget.
4 Invitations. Beach wedding invitations have become so popular that they now rate a category all their own. From embossed seashells to charming sandcastles,beach wedding invitations set just the right tone for your special beach wedding. You can see many affordable beach wedding invitations online at a company called 1st-class-wedding-invitations.com. Remember to include a map for those unfamiliar with the location.
5 Decorations, food and drink. Beach weddings are affordable in that they are casual to begin with. Decorations are really not necessary as the natural surroundings are decorative enough. Food can be as casual as cold appetizers or barbeque. Drinks should be cold or frozen and colorful but don't necessarily have to contain alcohol. Often beaches are breezy so don't forget to add weight to your serving table and the items on it. You wouldn't want your home made wedding cake taking flight!

Read More

Tips on How to Get Wrinkles Out of a Wedding Dress

When a wedding dress is riddled with wrinkles it is a great idea to take the dress to the dry cleaners for a professional steam. Many times, however, it is not possible to use a professional steam-cleaning service. Luckily it is quite simple to get wrinkles out of a wedding dress--for free--at home. Since wedding dresses are frequently very light in color and are assembled from very delicate materials, it is important to use this method to avoid any stains or burns in the fabric.

Instructions

1 Hang the wedding dress on the back of a bathroom door, adjusting it so that it lies as flat as possible.
2 Close the bathroom door and run a steaming-hot tub. The idea is that the bathroom should be filled with a thick blanket of steam.
3 Grab the two towels and cover your exposed arms completely. This will prevent any sweat from being passed on to the wedding dress.
4 Flatten out the wrinkles with your towel-covered hands. Tug slightly at the hems to soften large wrinkles. Run hands over the smaller wrinkles repeatedly until all the wrinkles disappear.
5 Check for any additional wrinkles on all sides of the wedding dress. Once the wrinkles are gone, drain the tub.
6 Hang the dress neatly from a cloth hanger and away from all other items to prevent any additional wrinkles.

Read More

Wedding Slideshow Creation Guides

Having a photo slideshow at your wedding is a wonderful way to give wedding guests a glimpse into the lives of you and your fianc. A slideshow can also be a funny and entertaining moment at your reception. It isn't hard to create a wedding slideshow on your own if you have the right software and a little bit of free time.

Instructions

1 Determine a theme for your photo slideshow. At a wedding, you could show childhood pictures of you and your fianc, pictures of you as a couple, pictures of your families or pictures of you with your guests, for example.
2 Choose images for your slideshow. Slideshow images should be of good picture quality and have some variety. Rather than showing many pictures from a few events, show a few pictures from many events.
3 Scan hard-copy photos onto your hard drive or have them scanned onto a disk and load them onto your hard drive.
4 Create a soundtrack for your slideshow by downloading songs you like or uploading them from a CD. Choose songs that mean something to you and your fianc. You can either choose 1 to 3 whole songs to use sequentially, or you can create a music montage with clips from a number of songs.
5 Buy photo slideshow software for your personal computer to create your slideshow. You can compare a number of different software options and read reviews of these products at TopTenReviews.com (see Resources below).
6 Input your photo and song choices into the software. Many software choices have pre-made templates you can choose from that allow you to simply drag and drop your photos into place.
7 Edit your slideshow with the transitions and effects you want. Using smooth transitions and other special effects makes your slideshow more interesting.
8 Burn your slideshow onto a DVD. DVDs are the easiest format to use, because your reception hall may already be set up to play DVDs through its audiovisual system. Alternatively, you can hook your computer directly up to a projector.

Read More

How to Remove the Garter at a Wedding

The removal of the garter is one of the oldest standing wedding traditions. Modern brides can be thankful that the garter is now just fabric and elastic to make removal easier. They can be even more grateful that the tradition no longer mandates that the male wedding guests rush the bride to remove the garter forcefully, hence resulting in many a ruined dress and, one would garner, a ruined wedding. Today, removing the garter has evolved into a much more couth practice that brings little more than a blush and good-natured ribbing.

Instructions

1 Couples should discuss the removal of the wedding garter several weeks before the wedding. If you are exchanging vows in a religious ceremony and celebrating the reception in a house of worship, this custom may be frowned upon. Check with the clergy to make sure it is permissible.
2 If the removal of the wedding garter will take place, decide at what point during the reception it will occur and, more specifically, where. It is customary for a special seat of honor to be given to the bride in the center of the room for this occasion. It normally takes place after the meal, cutting of the cake and most of the evening's festivities have passed.
3 The garter is usually placed on the left thigh. If the bride isn't comfortable with exposing this much flesh during the reception, or if there are elderly guests who may find this offensive, she can lower the garter to just above her knee.
4 The groom should kneel on one knee at the feet of the bride, gently taking her calf in his hand while she raises her dress, ever so slightly, to tease him. This will generally draw some cat calls from the men in the audience. The groom then slips his hand up the bride's dress until he locates the garter, which he then slowly removes, making sure not to raise her leg too high or to show undo impropriety.
5 Once the groom has removed the garter, the bride is to remain seated. The groom may tease the guys with the garter by twirling it in his hand for all to see his trophy. He then slings the garter toward all of bachelors who hope to catch the garter, a symbol of good luck and fertility.

Read More

How to Crash a Wedding

Weddings and their receptions make for wonderful parties. Food and drink are usually abundant. The partygoers are typically in a good mood and don't always know all of the guests. Either as a hobby or for a one-time event, crashing a wedding can be a fun challenge.

Instructions

1 Dress for the occasion. If you want to fit in unnoticed, then do a little homework and find out who the wedding couple is before you try to crash their party.
2 Stand at the end of a reception line and shake hands with all the guests. They will pretend to know you most of the time. People are very often embarrassed about forgetting a face and will not ask who you are.
3 Prepare an innocuous answer to questions about yourself. "I've not been around that long to know everyone in their lives," or "We're all friends here."
4 Pose as a distant relative who heard about the happy couple's wedding and brings best wishes from all the other relatives who couldn't make the blessed occasion.
5 Offer to dance with someone who looks like they could use the company. Dance well and you will have a line of potential partners - and official party acceptance.
6 Compliment everyone and everything. No one thinks badly of someone who is full of praise of the party.

Read More