Getting Married At The JP Office

You would have to contact the office and talk to them about their numbers and limits

there are a lot of reasons not to do a second ceremony later, and i'm fairly certain those comments are coming so brace yourself.

Lol okay thanks.

You need to call them. Every state is different; in NJ we don't even have them.

You can have a reception later, if you want to, just be honest with all your guests (don't pretend you aren't married yet) and don't do a second ceremony.

Caveat; if you wait 10 years or something and do a true vow renewal, a ceremony is appropriate. A re-enactment of the original ceremony at a party like 3 months later is weird. I've seen one - it was the stupidest thing I ever heard and I read the entire Sweet Valley High series.

Congrats and have a lovely time!

Argh, not this same, old silly argument again. Really don't know why all these drama queens care so much about how other people choose to wed. Read this to get a more normal perspective on the situation - http://www.brevardminister.com/blog/legal-marriage-then-social-wedding-no-its-not-a-fake-wedding

Nice link ! Thank you for sharing

Call them and ask.

If your municipality doesn't allow that many people at the JP's office, see if you can do it in a nearby garden or by a lobby fountain, where there is more space - i wouldn't think they would care. My German friends did this in the US, because this is what they do in Germany: like the article says, they marry legally in a civil wedding, and have a separate church wedding ceremony later, followed by a cake-and-punch reception.

There is a huge distinction between a civil marriage and a religious wedding ceremony. In the first, you are legally joined, but it could be anything from 5 minutes, to 10 minutes, and it could be a few words about your commitment to each other, to a non-religious version of wedding vows.

By contrast, a religious wedding serves to put your commitment to each other into a completely different context, of committing to living a certain type of life together, and making a commitment in the presence of God, and asking for God's blessing. For that reason I do not see a contradiction.

As for what to do later, we are marrying in a church on Saturday with only immediate family, and then Sunday we are inviting both larger families to join us for a wedding *celebration*. We are making clear on the invitation something like "following a small church wedding with their immediate families on Saturday, June 6th, you are invited to join in celebrating their vows at a wedding celebration on Sunday, June 7th. ..." We do not want to hide the fact we are marrying ahead of time - so I think as long as you frame it properly, it's fine.

The other option is that some religions offer a "marriage blessing" ceremony, which is designed for people who had a civil ceremony and want to have a blessing, though you can also request a full wedding ceremony as well. Depends on the rules for your affiliated religion, and local clergy.

Addie, you have options to do a lovely wedding and dinner reception with 20 people. I've told this story so many times that if you've heard it before, feel free to ignore.

My father was going to have a private courthouse wedding, take his bride to lunch, and call it legal. I begged him to do something that we could share in. Well, he did. They went to their favorite restaurant, held a small ceremony in the back with an officiant (yes, you can wear a gown if you want). After that, about 30 of us were led into a private dining room for a fantastic dinner, drinks, and a wedding cake. The guest list included their nearest and dearest, and there was no doubt that this was a wedding celebration to be remembered, and the photos prove it. Consider your options.

I find the blog posted by @augustbride to be funny. The author is an officiant; of course she is going to advocate more ceremonies because it means more money for her!!!

Who cares if she does a second ceremony!! The religious ceremony sometimes holds more meanings that the jop ceremony does not. To each his own and why do you care so much. I'm with augustbride

Addie, definitely contact the office and confirm if there is a maximum number of people who can witness your ceremony.

As for your second ceremony, do what you want. People will always find fault when someone does something they don't agree with. We are getting married December 26 2014 with just our mother's present. We are having a traditional church ceremony and reception next year.

Sorrynotsorry, I just got invited to a vow renewal for a couple who has been married for almost 2 years. I'd be much happier attending a party. I have no desire to sit through a wedding redo if it is just a vow renewal.

Not sure on the limit at the courthouse. but we are doing something similar. We are going to the JOP next June and then taking off to our honeymoon. We will have a reception for about 50 when we return to celebrate.

So that we don't miss out on dressing up & capturing our vows we are having an elopement photo shoot in our wedding attire right after the elopement downtown & at the beach. We will have the elopement photos put in an album to share with friends/family at our reception.

There are so many options now a days. You can tailor your ceremony to make it work perfectly for you and your FH.

If you have to 'sit through' a wedding, they picked the wrong officiant.

If you have to 'sit through' a wedding, they picked the wrong officiant.