So, you and your sweetheart are finally engaged. Congratulations! It?s time to begin your beautiful life together?and start it with a massive party for everyone you know. Of course, a great big wedding might not be something you want. Maybe you?d rather have a low-key, intimate event. If that?s the case, you?re in good company; even public figures like Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell, Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso, and Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio all opted for a small marriage ceremony. How did they pull it off" They got married at city hall, and you can too! Here are a few tips to help you plan a city hall wedding.
Pick a Date
Whether you?re getting married at city hall, your childhood home, or a lavish hotel ballroom, the first step is always the same: decide on the wedding date. If you don?t have a date set in stone, you won?t be able to make any other plans! Picking a date for a city hall wedding is easier than at a standard wedding venue; city hall performs many ceremonies each day, so you aren?t competing with other couples for one spot on the calendar. However, it is important that you check on the city?s rules for securing your spot. In San Francisco, for example, you can reserve your wedding date up to 90 days in advance but in New York, city hall weddings are first come, first serve. If you have your heart set on a certain day, it?s best to get there early to beat the crowds!
Also, remember to look into the city?s laws regarding marriage licenses. Some cit...