Courthouse wedding....possibly...??

Yes definitely!

@Celia, ny sounds really cool! But if we do go the resturaunt way, we will probably get my FFIL to marry us as he's the pastor of our church. As for the courthouse, they charge a couple hundred for anytime after 4:30 on fridays and sat or sun. Mon-friday til 4:30 they only charge $40. crazy difference

If that is what you want then I say go for it! Believe me planning this huge wedding for over 200 people has sucked and I'm miserable! Mostly because I didn't get to plan my wedding, my Mom planned it and then moaned and b*tched about the cost of it ...

We are having our reception at a restaurant and they offered to let us do the wedding there but we cant to get married in the Catholic Church. But we picked this restaurant b/c 1...it was where we had our first official date. 2...they aren't charging us anything to have the whole restaurant for the night as long as we use them for our food/drink for the night (which is saving us a TON) and 3. it is a smaller, one man non chain restaurant on the intercoastal water way and he is extremely flexible about doing what WE want to do. So restaurant's are doable if you look into it...

Its what works best for each couple

The ceremonies at the courthouse during the week are super quick. It's literally like herding cattle... Couple 1- Do you? Yep. Do you? Yep. Now kiss. Get out. Next!

You can totally do a ceremony at the restaurant. You'll wnat to so a later lunch on a Saturday or Sunday (think 2pmish)- but there are plenty of places.

I've done quite a few meetings at various restaurants- so I'm happy to give you some suggestions.

Yeah, you're right it's quite a drive to Austin. The downtown Houston courthouse looks really pretty http://www.jp.hctx.net/1-1/default.htm

I bet you could get some awesome pics in this building in your long wedding dress!!!

@soontobemrsD, i know that must suck. My mom really isnt hard and heavy into my planning, she just goes along with whatever I decide. @Michelle F., that sounds pretty fantastic. I didn't really know resturaunts did that. @Meghan, yea I kind of figured that....the lady told me that the 'ceremony' would be about five minutes or so but i do need to schedule it, i can't just show up. As for doing the ceremony at the resturaunt, wouldnt they charge extra for that? Or what would i be paying for really?? But we were thinking of probably 4p or 5p so people can have time to make it from work. And i would love the suggestions! =)

I actually did this in Houston, about 10 years ago (since divorced..but not the weddings fault!) we went downtown and stumbled upon a judge who was between cases it happened to be the oldest court in Houston so we got a little keepsake booklet all about it...he performed our ceremony and we went to a swanky little Jazz diner that was brand new we'd been dying to try I wore my Sunday best cuz we were young and broke. I have since helped brides who did this, to set up bridal shoots afterwards so the fancy dress still gets worn without having to walk all through downtown in a ballgown, unless you have a destination dress then that's a different story. FYI....Some venues offer Elopement packages, you have to go on a weekday but you can wear the fancy dress in a beautiful environment and it's a deeply reduced rate for you your fiancee and photographer I've seen them as low as a couple hundred bucks...have a Happy Wedding!

I have officiated weddings in restaurants, museums, historical sites, botanical gardens, on boats, in parks, backyards, living rooms, country clubs, and even my hubby's antique shop!

Let your imagination run wild!