Non religious venues: Where did you get married?

Check out different venues and see their options for a location for you to marry and then have a reception. I'm having both my reception and ceremony in one location. As for officiants check the vendor section or when you book your venue ask the manager who they have seen officiate for weddings. This was how I found our officiant.

We aren't very religious as well and a church was never even a thought. I just started searching All-Inclusive venues. As for Officiants, you can have a judge marry you, an officer, justice of the piece and so on. We are having my FBIL's best friend marry us. He knows we are not super religious and will plan accordingly.

The vendor section doesn't like our small town Shame, because the reviews would be sooooo helpful. there are one or two places around town that might have ceremony options, but I'm just not sure where to start looking. Also, without the vendor section on this site, how do you go about finding an officiant?

For Judges, or JOP's or officers (military?) where do you find these people? We don't want to be married at the courthouse, will they come out and be wherever you want them to be? I would assume that they have some experience with this type of thing, but how do you get in contact with them?

How far from home are you willing to travel for your wedding? We've put our furthest travel point to Las Vegas, we live in OC, Cali. It offers much more of a selection if you are willing to travel. Doesn't have to be far. Even an hr opens so many more doors. As for the Officiant, you can contact your local courthouse, or ask any friends or family if they know someone. Even some of the venues you get in touch with, they should know as well.

Our reception venue has an outdoor ceremony garden with a gazebo. We're getting married there. Not because we're non-religious but because I've always wanted an outdoor ceremony. We actually have a cross to mount on the gazebo. My cousin is officiating. He's a Pastor.

My dad is severely handicapped and travelling even 20 minutes is REALLY hard for him, so we're trying to stay as close to home as possible. The nearest big city is about an hour away, and he just doesn't think that he can make it. Not only does he have to get there, but he still has to be able to make the walk down the isle, and hopefully 30 seconds or so of a first dance, so we're trying to keep everything in town.

I just used this website to find an officiant.

http://www.decidio.com/

Great site for searching for vendors. For example click on officiant on the left side, put in your city and state... You will get a list... if you see one that you would like to contact you, click on their name/picture, then hit the free price quote... Then it pulls up the survey on what to answer about your day, put in your budget, size of event, and it has notes for you to type a little something if you like... and leave the "Also request quotes from competing Officiants" box checked... that is how I got 5 others contact me and then just signed the best priced one. 3 contacted me within the first 5 hrs! Got mine for $200.

Hayley, I gave it a try, but 0 officients in my area

Would it possible to have a good friend go through the officiant process?

Sorry to hear about your dad. If you cannot find any one through your local courthouse, then I think the next best thing is to try out The Future M.'s idea maybe. We thought about asking one of our friends that is actually really into becoming an Officiant already, but when FBIL said he talked to his BFF about it, we were pretty set on that.

For officiants try Celebrant USA, (they are on here) For venues; try parks, museums, galleries, libraries, your reception venue, women's clubs.

Where are you?

We found the place we wanted our reception and they have a non-denominational chapel that we're using (less travel- also a plus for your dad!)

Like some other people have said before, once you pick the location they typically have suggestions for JOPs

Last evening's wedding was moved from beach to a house because of impending rain. I've also officiated at botanical gardens, historical homes, museums, garden club, restaurants, reception halls, clubhouses, hotel banquet rooms, parks, on boats, etc.

Find out what "civil officiants" can do weddings in your state/county/city (your county courthouse should be able to tell you). Might be judge, magistrate, justice of the peace, etc.

I'm getting married at a historical renovated mansion that has a beautiful gazebo it the back with 2 walk ways; one for the guests to come in and be seated and a second for me and my dad to walk down. No church here....

If you don't want to have the ceremony at a religious institution, your best option is typically to have it at the same venue where you have your reception.

As far as officiants go, you can check with your local marriage license bureau. If you find a reception venue, the people there may have a list of local officiants. Or you can do an officiant search at any of the places recommended above, but expand the geographical area. A lot of officiants will travel, although you typically end up paying a higher fee if they need to do so.

I'm a Christian but I'm getting married at an all-inclusive venue, Trump National Philadelphia. I'll have my wedding outside and my reception inside. It's not that I didn't want to get married in a church, it was more that I believe God is everywhere and the all-inclusive venue is easier on me, the wedding party, and my guests. Plus, I save on limos.

Fh and I both believe in God and he is a Catholic (A buffet Catholic, he jokes..as he "picks and chooses" aspects of the religion to follow.) However, I am not catholic and to get married in the church or by a catholic officiant outside of the church is a pain (Marriage classes (which we did anyway), natural family planning and you have to interview with a preist to get his approval and then have the diocese of AZ approve it. No thanks! It wasn't important to us, and as yardiegirl stated: God is everywhere.

We are getting married at having our reception at a country club. Less trouble, imo! We are getting married by a family friend that is a judge. Which is great! He knows us and he offered to do it for us. Like a few others before me said, ask around and see if you have someone that help you out! Good luck!

Courtney: I like that buffet religion style. I guess you can say I am the same way then. I've just never assigned myself to a religion because I do not believe in the entire thing. So, I guess you can I too am a 'buffet' kind of religious person.

Tami, your chapel is beautiful!