Contrary to popular opinion, not everyone wants a large church wedding. Some couples prefer to marry in a civil wedding ceremony, which is usually performed by a justice of the peace. There are several reasons why a couple may choose to have a civil ceremony. For example, if neither partner is particularly religious, a civil ceremony may be more appropriate.

A civil wedding ceremony is different from a religious one in that it is officiated by a judge, justice of the peace, or a non-denominational minister. This wedding is only sanctioned by the state – not by any particular religion – but it does give the couple all of the legal rights enjoyed by couples married in traditional religious weddings.

For this reason, many couples choose to have a civil service. The couple may not have any religious preference, or they may have different religions that prevent them from marrying in a particular place of worship. On the other hand, some people just feel uncomfortable with all the rituals and prayers involved in a religious wedding. If you and your soon-to-be-spouse have different religious views and you can’t agree on where to hold your wedding, a civil wedding may be the answer.

When you start looking for an officiant for your wedding, it’s best to begin at the courthouse. Speak with the county clerk, and ask for a listing of officiants that can perform your wedding ceremony. Typically, city or county commissioners and judges at all levels of your state’s judiciary system are able to perform marriage ceremonies. Some may even offer you the option of holding a simple ceremony in the judge chambers.

If the county clerk isn’t able to provide much information, you can check in the phonebook, on the internet, or with friends and family members. As more and more couples continue to move away from traditional thinking, civil officiants are becoming much easier to find. For many years, a civil ceremony was a way to skirt around the church or to elope. Nowadays, the stigma is gone and many couples are much happier with this type of service.

Once you locate an officiant, you’ll need to provide him or her with a few day and time options during which you’d like to get married. Many officiants have full time careers and will have to schedule your wedding into their busy days. Therefore, it’s best to start with those that live closest to where you will be married, and to have a backup choice in case your selected officiant is booked solid.

Be sure to ask if your officiant charges a fee to perform the service. Sometimes, only a donation is requested; but most times there will be a fee. However, if cost is an issue with your wedding plans, you’ll be happy to know that a civil wedding is definitely less expensive than a traditional church wedding. If you have your ceremony at city hall, the price tag for the wedding drops even more.

No matter what reason you have for wanting a civil marriage ceremony, you can still have a beautiful wedding, without all the hustle and bustle that accompanies a religious ceremony. If your wedding will be held at city hall, be sure to inquire about how many people you’ll be able to have to stand up for you, as space may be limited. If there isn’t enough space in the courtroom, consider a public location like a museum or library. Your rental fees will still be cheaper than a traditional reception hall, but you’ll still be able to have all your friends and family members present at your wedding.