Does spending more money on a wedding signify that you are more in love than the couple who

decides to spend less? There are plenty of alternative options for weddings nowadays. One ideal

type of wedding that most people have been turning to are City Hall Weddings! There are A

LOT of benefits to having a City Hall wedding. First of all, you won’t have to worry about

paying for a wedding venue which also relieves the stress of spending months trying to find one.

Second, you’ll either be eliminating or cutting down any other wedding expenses by way more

than half. Here’s something to think about. You may hire a wedding photography package that

typically cost $4,000, but while hiring the same photographer for a couple of hours instead could

save you close to $3,000. That’s a huge save! And chances are you’ll get just as many wedding

album-worthy shots than you would have if you had a larger wedding.

Like any other woman getting married, you want to be prepared! I mean it is still you and your

partner special day, don’t forget. Prepare yourself with a timeline, fees, and ultimately how you

want to organize the day so you don’t head into any major surprises. Here’s a guide on how you

can start to plan a City Hall wedding you’ll remember forever.

Congrats! You’re in engaged! The first thing you’ll want to figure out is what kind of experience

you want it to be. Whether you’ve always known you wanted a City Hall wedding or not. Even

though weddings can be extremely romantic, it definitely involves some complicated decisions.

With that said, eloping can be just as romantic and intimate but just make sure to communicate

with your closest friends and family if this becomes a serious thought.

Of course you’ll want to invite your closest family and friends, which is amazing, but can also

make it extremely hard to cut down your guest list. The first thing you’ll want to figure out is if

you want to invite your closest family and friends to your actual Civil Ceremony, or if you want

them to congratulate you outside as you all make your way to a nearby restaurant or house. But

before you send out the invites, find out how many guests you are allowed to have with you at

City Hall. A little reminder, if you’re hiring a wedding photographer they might count them as

one of your guests.

One of the most important things to remember when planning your City Hall wedding is that you

will need to have a valid marriage license BEFORE you can get married(same as if you were

having a larger wedding), and many states require a waiting period after getting one, which can

be as long as a couple of days. Some cities allow you to make a reservation up to 90 days in

advance of your Civil Ceremony, while others (like New York) do not accept reservations and

you can just walk in during their operating hours and take a number. Tip: If you are getting

married at a City Hall that does not take reservations, I recommend going EARLY to avoid the

crowds.

The great thing about City Hall weddings is that they are a fool-proof way to have a destination

wedding/honeymoon in the same spot. Most major cities do not require that you be a resident to

get married there, which means you can fly to Boston, New Orleans, San Francisco or New York

City on a Monday, get married on a Wednesday, and spend the rest of week exploring your new

favorite anniversary spot.

Staying in town? Once you decide when you’re going to tie the knot and who you’re going to

invite, you’ll want to figure out what your plans are after the ceremony. Do you want to go to

your favorite restaurant with a group of family and friends? Or maybe you want a small get-

together at your house after…or maybe you want to go to a romantic dinner or lunch, just you

and your new spouse? Whatever you choose the earlier you can make reservations and get the

wheels in motion, the better!

As soon as you get all your plans in stone, start your search for the perfect wedding photographer

who can capture your magnificent City Hall wedding. Having a wedding photographer is

something you’ll most likely never regret, whereas not having any photos might definitely bum

you out later on. Depending on what your plans are for the whole day, you can inquire about

half-day or full-day packages. Also thinking about getting an amazing wedding bouquet? If you

didn’t know already, some City Hall locations will have flowers available on site!

I love the idea of simplicity and I have to admit that I’m kind of jealous of all the amazing

fashion choices open to City Hall brides. While you can wear a white jumpsuit to a wedding

anywhere, it just seems to fit in so chicly at a City Hall wedding. I suggest you go for something

unique and amazing…a dress or pantsuit that you would definitely feel comfortable wearing on

the subway or cab or restaurant afterwards. As for the groom? They have it easy! A suit, tux, or

even a jacket with a nice pair of jeans will always do the trick.

Most importantly, make sure you have all necessary documentation (license, birth certificate,

proof of divorce, etc.) before you go to City Hall or hop into that plane/train/or car! All that’s left

to do after that is bring your partner, your rings, and a smile, knowing you’re about to marry the

love of your life AND save a ton of money! Booyah!

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