My friends did the same thing. And technically when saying the vows it would be a renewal…but since you never had a real wedding ceremony and reception this would be your actual wedding! Since you couldn’t share your moment with your friends and family before, this is your time and they will be super greatful and excited! Make sure to register and everything! THIS IS YOUR WEDDING!
How to have a wedding ceremony after being joined in a courtroom?
I have read that if you get married in a court room, that it would be considered your wedding, and any ceremony after that would be considered renewing your vows. Is this true?
If it is, then would we technically have to get divorced and re-married in order to have a real wedding ceremony? Or would that still not count?
We just want to have a ceremony that means something to the both of us, and our families.
Thank you for your help and answers
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7 comments - add yours
valerie
June 21, 2010
Sarah
June 21, 2010
There’s a lot of people who do this. People that get married overseas usually a week or two before there wedding go to the courthouse and get legally married in the USA and then go to the other country and get married in the other country.
Marie
June 21, 2010
Listen to Valerie and Sarah!
Perse
June 21, 2010
A courthouse wedding is indeed a real wedding and any wedding ceremony that followed it would be a fake wedding.
To have another legitimate wedding, you would have to get divorced first. You can’t get married when you are presently married.
Kelly
June 21, 2010
You can only have 1 wedding per spouse (or per marriage if you divorce then remarry the person). If you are married in a court house, church, park, beach, etc that is your wedding.
If you decide at a later date to have a celebration, you will be having a vow renewal ceremony, not a wedding. It can be as small or as elaborate as you wish. It is similar to a wedding but not actually a wedding since you’re already married.
Some people though, will see it as a redo since you didn’t have a “proper” wedding to begin with. Some will look down on this, most hopefully will be happy to share your joy with you.
If you’re already married and went to the court house, you can have a celebration but its not a wedding ceremony. The reason doesn’t matter.
Good Luck
iloveweddings
June 21, 2010
Kim,
You seem to have misinterpreted some words. Why do you not think the wedding you had in the courtroom was a “real” wedding? When a bride/groom say their vows, it IS a “real” wedding. No matter where that takes place…a courthouse, a beach, or the living room in your house!
Now, you seem to think that “real” wedding is one with all the fluff, poofy dresses, flowers, etc. Yes, that is a wedding, but just one “type” of wedding.
Sorry, but the wedding you had was your wedding. You read correctly. Anything after that is a renewal of vows and most couples do not do that until about their 25th anniversary.
Amanda D
June 21, 2010
Yes, you are right. My husband and I did this exact thing. In May of 2003, we secretly eloped (Nope, I wasn’t pregnant we were just young and stupid lol) and after finally telling everyone, we quickly planned a ceremony and reception for December of that same year. It was a Renewal Of Vows ceremony, but essentially the same thing as the traditional wedding ceremony. Guests said that they couldn’t tell the difference! It was magical! Now every year, we get to celebrate TWO anniversaries! We call the Court Room Wedding our ‘real anniversary’ and our Church Wedding our ‘ceremony anniversary’. It’s a great excuse to get dressed up twice a year and celebrate our love! Just remember: weather it’s a traditional ceremony or a renewal of vows ceremony, it’s going to mean the same to you both. While the court room wedding makes the marriage legal for the state, the ceremony (whether traditional or renewal of vows) makes the marriage legal in the eyes of God. Good luck to you both and I wish you all the same love and happy memories that I have experienced!
