Fiancée and I are from NJ and really want a nice, intimate, down-to-earth wedding ceremony and small reception here in NJ. We feel strongly that with marriage now legal in my birthplace of NYC, we'd like to exercise our right to get legally married vs civil unioned.
Here's what we are weighing--just get married at NYC city hall (will take up 2 weekdays due to waiting period) and don't get dressed up in our fancy duds? Then have a ceremony and party back home during which i will wear the dress; she will wear the tux?
Or, pay a wedding officiant and perhaps photographer to do an "elopement" for just the 2 of us in Central Park? In that case we are torn about what to wear, as it means my butch would need tux rental twice. Central Park is a beautiful venue and we won't have to pay for it since its just the 2 of us doing it on the fly.
Those of you doing both--what kind of ceremony did you have at home? Did you hire an officiant even though legally you wouldn't need one if your legal marriage was conducted elsewhere? Or did you have a friend conduct the ceremony? How did you handle your vows since you were already legally married elsewhere or were to legally marry elsewhere afterwards?