Do you find the extravagance and grandeur that form inextricable parts of traditional wedding ceremonies rather unnecessary? Are you from a different religion and/or ethnic background from your partner? If yes, you can easily opt to have a neat and systematic civil marriage. Such a quiet, to-the-point ceremony also finds uniform favor among couples who have busy professional lives, and cannot really spend days preparing for the ceremony. However, there is no reason to assume that civil marriages necessarily have to be dull, boring affairs. In fact, you can make it as informal, sophisticated and stylish as you want!
Just like its conventional counterpart, a civil marriage ceremony also requires careful planning. Given below are a few tips that can make your civil marriage convenient and completely hassle-free:
Get a valid marriage license You cannot get married without a proper, valid license, irrespective of whether you prefer civil marriages or traditional ceremonies. In particular, if you are indeed going in for a civil ceremony, get in touch with the relevant clerks and/or other authorities, who will issue the license. You also need to make sure that no residency requirements are being violated either.
Select a qualified marriage officiant Once you have got the marriage license, you need to get in touch with a wedding commissioner, who would be presiding over the ceremony. You can ask for references from friends, relatives or colleagues, and can even ask for recommendations from clerks. Find out if you need to pay any extra fee to the officiant.
Arrange for a themed civil wedding Just because you are not having a traditional marriage ceremony does not mean that your wedding has to be bland. You can pick a classy theme for the ceremony, which would determine how everyone presents at the occasion, including the bride and the groom, would be dressed.
Choose your vows The exchange of matrimonial vows is probably the most magical component during any wedding ceremony. You and your partner can add a personal touch to the occasion, by preparing your own vows, and reading them on the day of marriage. Alternatively, you can, of course, settle for the regular courthouse vows.
Design attractive invitation cards With the number of guests at a civil wedding being much lower than that in a conventional ceremony, you have ample scope for showcasing your creativity while designing the invitation cards. Send customized invitations to the people who will be present at your wedding, and wow them with the design patterns that you incorporate in them!
Select your wedding venue with care You can choose to have the civil marriage at the office of the registrar itself, or can host the reception ceremony at a separate, carefully chosen, venue. If you are indeed opting for the latter option, check the facilities and services that are available at the concerned venue. You can even arrange for the wedding function to be held at your (or your partners) home.
Arrange for audiovisual displays You can easily add a distinct touch of romance to the overall civil marriage ceremony, by arranging for presentations displaying you and your partner in a few cute, intimate moments. Ideally, such presentations can be set to some melodious music as well. Pictures of the two of you can also be placed at strategic locations in the venue.
A civil marriage ceremony is the ideal option for couples who wish to keep their wedding short and quick, without compromising on any of the magic of the matrimonial function. If any Marriage Legal Requirements required, you can also consult a wedding planner to make your civil wedding all the more beautiful.