Courthouse wedding worries!!!!

Will you include family & friends or will it be just you and your fiance?

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It will just be small amount of our families.

You can also see if nice hotels, resorts, wineries will offer a small wedding package. Usually it’s Sun-Thur night and includes some services (1-hour photographer, officiant, bouquet). That way you can still enjoy a beautiful ceremony venue then treat your guests to a meal at an on-site restaurant. 👍

I would look up elopements. I know where I am there are photographers who team up with a minister and have basically a mini wedding, and you actually get photos. Where I am the courthouse is in the jail so you can’t take photos which is why it’s so popular here. I believe average price is $500. Just an idea

Pinterest had some cute ideas for courthouse weddings and how to make them special. We considered it but ultimately found a venue for 20 people close to us in Northern California that works out better. I would suggest starting with finding a dress you can put on yourself and that is easy to transport. When I went to David's Bridal I told them we were eloping and I wanted a dress I could put in a suitcase and put on myself. I was not disappointed. Do some traditions like something old, new, borrowed and blue. Find a good restaurant that can host your reception. Get a photographer and have fun! We don't have a DJ, I made playlists on Amazon music. Just an idea for the reception. You don't have to have a first dance, bouquet toss or garter toss. It's still a wedding without those things. My bouquet is being made by a local high school FFA floral program, and I bought my wedding accessories (garter belt, bracelets, veil, barrette) on Etsy.
Best of luck with planning it all, it will be special no matter what you do. It's your wedding, do what makes you happy and don't go broke doing it!

Thanks everyone for the advice

There are definitely ways to make a courthouse wedding special! Since you don't care about a big wedding I personally would suggest eloping. You could spend money on a nice photographer and there are so many beautiful places that have amazing elopement packages. Something I have also considered is just getting legally married at a courthouse and have a small gathering to do a 'ceremony' in a special place and have a close friend 'marry' you guys without them having to get ordained.

This is what we went through, as well. I really started to dread the idea of planning, the money-bleeding, the stress of coordinating 85% of our people being from out of town, etc. etc. We planned a court-house, but ultimately found a place that offered an "elopement package", which offered a low-cost for under 20 people and even lower for during the week celebrations. It's just an area for us to say our vows in front of family and then a dining room. I don't even need to decorate.

You can each still dress nicely at a courthouse (heck, even a full on gown if you want), get a little bouquet from a grocer, and reserve a large table at a nice restaurant (even better if it has a private room for large parties) for everyone.

View Quoted Comment I am here for the replies! Thanks so much for this comment. It really put my mind at ease.