Civil Ceremony Question - to make a fuss or not?

caymanianseminole · November 2009

My fiance and I are planning on having a civil ceremony at the local courthouse before he move overseas to join me in the Caribbean (where I currently live and work). We are planning on having a larger religious ceremony/renewal in October 2010. I still want to have our civil ceremony to have the essence of a wedding (wearing a white dress - albeit a MUCH less formal one, taking pictures after the ceremony etc.) but he really doesn't want to make a big deal out of it, and wants the focus to be on the October renewal. While I agree we should focus our resources on the October renewal, I still want us to make the day special for us because it IS our wedding day, and that will be the day we celebrate our anniversaries in the future. Does anyone know what the appropriate attire is for a courthouse wedding? I still want us to look nice and go to park for photos, but he thinks it's going to be over the top for a civil ceremony. Any insight would be GREATLY appreciated!

B'B' Love · November 2009

My husband and I did the same thing. We were marride Sept 9 of this year and are having the ceremony next late summer/early fall... To be honest, we did pretty much what your fiance is talking about, just went in wearing our (nicer) street clothes... I would try for a compromise- maybe "church" clothes (a nice dress for you, slacks for him) and still do the pictures? You could even use the pictures as annoucements/invitation pictures for your ceremony next year if you want to approach it from a financial point... Hope this helped a little...!

Leah&Christian09 · November 2009

I'm at the courthouse all the time because of my job and see courthouse couples a lot. I've seen everything from old jeans to full on puffy formal wedding gowns. If you already have your dress, you may as well wear it.

mbcdefg · November 2009

I thought this was a really pretty outfit (BM dress in white): http://watters.com/wedding.php?weddingid=159You could wear a white dress with a print, that way you still get a white bridal dress but you can re-wear the outfit in the future: http://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/browse/product.jsp?maxRec=42&pageId=1&productId=300114251&viewAll=true&prd=Strapless+Floral+Dress+with+Bow&subCatId=&color=&fromSearch=&inSeam=&posId=8&catId=cat210002&cat=Dresses++Skirts&onSale=&colorFamily=&maxPg=1&size=http://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/browse/product.jsp?maxRec=160&pageId=1&productId=300113612&viewAll=true&prd=TwoTone+Silk+Organza+Dress&subCatId=&color=&fromSearch=true&inSeam=&posId=22&catId=cat4809277&cat=&onSale=true&colorFamily=&maxPg=1&size=

aerinpegadrak · November 2009

I would find it sillier to go out and buy a second dress if you already have a perfectly good one. If you don't already have a wedding gown, then perhaps you could look at ones with more slender silhouettes, or ones that are a bit shorter (ankle or tea length) that would work for the courthouse as well as the renewal.

ldcf11206 · November 2009

I work across the street from my local courthouse, and at least once a month I see couples going to have a civil ceremony, with the bride in a wedding gown. It's your wedding day...wear whatever makes you happy!

caymanianseminole · November 2009

Thanks so much! All of the suggestions have definitely helped!

Civil Ceremony Question - to make a fuss or not?

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