Court House Wedding?

mykaela

I posted a couple months ago about how I should handle telling my parents the good news....that being said Hi again .

I now have a whole other list of problems...that aren't big but no one I know really knows the answer. We had been planning on getting married next August, but we moved it up to April so I could PCS with him in June and not have to wait here for him....we started planning a nice church wedding in his home town. We found out a few days before he deployed that they will be gone during some unknow time, for an unknown period between April and June..............................we plan on moving in june and have to be married before then. So I came up with March 17th a date that we have a 85% chance of actually making. We decided to have the wedding in Port Orchard, WA rather than go back to MD and we decided to have a court wedding.

I just don't know how to plan a court wedding...I went to the court house and they sent me in a huge circle. The said I have to have the lisence before I can set a date, but the lisence is only good for 60 days. We want to invite our families but they need a definite day so they can start planning too.

Did I miss something? Is there anyway I can guantee a day with out having to get a marriage lisence right now....because if definitely wont be any good when the day comes.No one can give me any answers but maybe you ladies can help me out. I'm very lost at the moment.

PS I know I have lots of time to plan but with FI gone and me working and finishing school I have very little time to myself.

calindi

You could do a justice of the peace in a garden or something.  That way you could book it well ahead of time, and it would still be pretty simple to plan and intimate.  Check out your local board for Washington State to find specific ideas and laws related to your area.

In some states, a loved one can become "ordained" online (Universal Life Church - www.themonastery.org/) for free and can officiate your ceremony.  It's totally legal, though it seems a bit weird at first (at least it did to me).  We were going to do this, but I found out on my local board that the state where we're getting married doesn't allow it, so we're just going to have a Justice of the Peace come for the afternoon and witness our vows and sign the marriage certificate - meanwhile, our family friend will still officiate the ceremony.  We're very excited that we were able to find this compromise to make our marriage both legal but also very personalized!

LetsHikeToday

We had a JOP to come our building. That could be an option for you. Contact the court house and they should give you a list of JOPs that will marry people.

SarahP787

Are you set on having the ceremony at the courthouse? I can understand that, as otherwise you'd need to figure out another venue, but as PPs have mentioned if you have another venue (outdoor, someone's house, reception hall, etc) there are officiant options available.

I don't know a lot about courthouse weddings, but I am wondering if they simply don't take bookings far in advance because they don't fill up very fast? Maybe you could ask the courthouse how far in advance dates fill up, and how likely you are to be able to get yours 60 days out. If they rarely have people getting married there, it could be that you could just plan on your date and not have it officially booked until you get your licence. Maybe.

It really seems like you need to keep trying the courthouse and hoping for someone to give you a straight answer!

Also just wondering, what made you decide the wedding had to be before June? Will you not be able to move wherever he's going without being married..?

SamiJoeB

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_court-house-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:a6286612-5e0c-49f7-ae2b-394b21c1f0d5Post:442f9d57-cd38-4d4b-b9f5-f37060231f63">Re: Court House Wedding?</a>:
[QUOTE]Are you set on having the ceremony at the courthouse? I can understand that, as otherwise you'd need to figure out another venue, but as PPs have mentioned if you have another venue (outdoor, someone's house, reception hall, etc) there are officiant options available. I don't know a lot about courthouse weddings, but I am wondering if they simply don't take bookings far in advance because they don't fill up very fast? Maybe you could ask the courthouse how far in advance dates fill up, and how likely you are to be able to get yours 60 days out. If they rarely have people getting married there, it could be that you could just plan on your date and not have it officially booked until you get your licence. Maybe. It really seems like you need to keep trying the courthouse and hoping for someone to give you a straight answer! <strong>Also just wondering, what made you decide the wedding had to be before June? Will you not be able to move wherever he's going without being married..?</strong>
Posted by SarahP787[/QUOTE]


I'm totally just guessing here, but probably it's so that she'll be on his orders when they cut orders for him to PCS.  And this is just our experience but, we got orders in June for our PCS in Feb.  So if that's the case, even a March wedding for a June PCS might be even too late at that point. Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, I'm just saying you still have some other factors to consider, IF a PCS is why you're getting married when you are.. 

That being said I think the PP's gave you some excellent advice on a JOP/Officiate.  HTH!!

calindi

Sami, my understanding is that even if you aren't on the PCS orders, they will reimburse you later when you get to the new duty station if you were married before the move.  So it would still make sense for them, though there are more costs up front.  I could be wrong...?

mob2689

I love the idea of the J.O.P. at a garden/park wedding, court houses are ok(I had mine there) but since ours was in Feb. in the North outdoors wasn't an option.

Wow Sami! June orders for a Feb. move? Nice!  DD and Hubby have 3 months and it's a LONG/Far  PCS. They knew it was coming but they just got the "orders" 3 weeks ago to be at their new destination in Sept. They own a house and all they have to get ready. They are down to 8 days now befor the movers come. They took the car down to get shipped not too long ago. The branch he is in usually doesn;t work like this but these are unusual times tho. Candi you are correct they will reimburse you.

mykaela

Thank you ladies for all your advice. When he got his orders last year he didn't get them until april then he moved in June. I don't really know what's happening with that. I  remember when my dad would move around with the AF we would get our orders seven months ahead of time. I don't understand wh the navy is so difficult. I know he can pick orders in december, but he wont find out until later. This is his last year of sea duty if that makes a difference.

SamiJoeB

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_court-house-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:a6286612-5e0c-49f7-ae2b-394b21c1f0d5Post:7e7c816c-b1b6-4704-a2e2-e25760269180">Re: Court House Wedding?</a>:
[QUOTE]Sami, my understanding is that even if you aren't on the PCS orders, they will reimburse you later when you get to the new duty station if you were married before the move.  So it would still make sense for them, though there are more costs up front.  I could be wrong...?
Posted by calindi[/QUOTE]


Oh! I totally meant to add that in there.. I was distracted because I was cooking and knoting at the same time.. Thanks for catching that C!

My BFF and her H JOP'd after his orders were cut, he went to his duty station first checked in and all that jazz.  He went to TMO(?) and they told him everything he had to do.  They paid for everything, his plane ticket home, gas for the car, hotels along the way, but were then reimbursed. I think they had some trouble getting her on base because she wasn't in DEERS and had no dependant id as well as her car insurance info wasn't up to date.  I think they had to wait 2 months while paperwork and stuff was processed, but I mean, it's totally do-able. Keep in mind my experience is limited to Navy and Marine Corps with some AF sprinkled in for fun (My BFF's H is AD AF). So your experience could be completely different!

SamiJoeB

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_court-house-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:a6286612-5e0c-49f7-ae2b-394b21c1f0d5Post:19791276-9bac-4a6d-9aa4-ff9c6581f248">Re: Court House Wedding?</a>:
[QUOTE]I love the idea of the J.O.P. at a garden/park wedding, court houses are ok(I had mine there) but since ours was in Feb. in the North outdoors wasn't an option. Wow Sami! June orders for a Feb. move? Nice!  DD and Hubby have 3 months and it's a LONG/Far  PCS. They knew it was coming but they just got the "orders" 3 weeks ago to be at their new destination in Sept. They own a house and all they have to get ready. They are down to 8 days now befor the movers come. They took the car down to get shipped not too long ago. The branch he is in usually doesn;t work like this but these are unusual times tho. Candi you are correct they will reimburse you.
Posted by mob2689[/QUOTE]

I was shocked when H told me! We gave them our 3 choices and found out like maybe 2 weeks later? I was worried because I know other couples who are like your DD and her H, with less than a month. I was fairly certain that we would find out in Dec or Jan! I'm super glad it's worked out this way though! We've already found our apartment and stuff, I'm going down there in a few weeks and I'm super excited!!

AliceDavis112088

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_court-house-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:a6286612-5e0c-49f7-ae2b-394b21c1f0d5Post:bc03ba69-96d4-494b-843b-c212672a7616">Re: Court House Wedding?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Court House Wedding? : I'm totally just guessing here, but probably it's so that she'll be on his orders when they cut orders for him to PCS.  And this is just our experience but, we got orders in June for our PCS in Feb.  So if that's the case, even a March wedding for a June PCS might be even too late at that point. Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, I'm just saying you still have some other factors to consider, IF a PCS is why you're getting married when you are..  That being said I think the PP's gave you some excellent advice on a JOP/Officiate.  HTH!!
Posted by SamiJoeB[/QUOTE]


My FH had his orders already, and idk if this is for every branch but in the usmc, you don't get your orders in hand until you check out.  and changes can be made up until you do.  thats why we are getting married before we check out of here.  gives us time to get our marriage license and enroll me in deers.  hes admin, and he was so sure i would say yes, that he retyped his orders for approval the day before he asked me to marry him... lol... he has to retype them again because he didn't change my last name!!!! that silly goose!!!

SamiJoeB

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_court-house-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:a6286612-5e0c-49f7-ae2b-394b21c1f0d5Post:c6001971-0eda-461f-9002-90b9a2e0e8ee">Re: Court House Wedding?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Court House Wedding? : My FH had his orders already, and idk if this is for every branch but in the usmc, you don't get your orders in hand until you check out.  and changes can be made up until you do.  thats why we are getting married before we check out of here.  gives us time to get our marriage license and enroll me in deers.  hes admin, and he was so sure i would say yes, that he retyped his orders for approval the day before he asked me to marry him... lol... he has to retype them again because he didn't change my last name!!!! that silly goose!!!
Posted by AliceDavis112088[/QUOTE]

We have orders, but not hard copy orders.  You're right, you only get those when you check out of a command.  I know that orders can be changed up until they are printed out, but I also know how long it can take to get something like that done. Just getting my last name changed in the Navy would have taken up to 3 months, so I opted not to bother with it since I was getting out anyway..Your FI is lucky that he has acess to his own orders like that because most SM would have to contact their CoC and Detailer to get anything changed on orders..