A tiny guest list is best when you’re marrying in a civic building, since the ceremonies often take place in tight quarters. If you’re eloping or only bringing a few family and friends, though, the small space can be so sweet! You won’t have to worry about the room feeling empty, like it might in a large church or private venue.

That tiny ceremony space isn’t always glamourous — though some cities, including New York City, have done a lot to beautify their City Hall chapels in recent years. But, once you’ve exchanged “I do’s”, you can use the grand public spaces in the building to stage gorgeous and unique wedding photos, accented by carved marble or dramatic, vaulted ceilings, like those found in San Francisco’s beautiful City Hall. 

Of course, one of the biggest benefits to marrying in a municipal building is the very low cost and the very quick speed. Often a civil ceremony costs less than your last parking ticket, and is finished in the blink of an eye. A courthouse wedding will leave you with plenty of time and cash to spend on the more exciting parts of your wedding day.

Photo One: Bespoke Wedding Photography; Photo Two: Heather Waraksa;  Photo Three: Elle Jae;  Photo Four: Jacqueline Campbell

Marie runs the wedding favors blog Favor Craver.

Giving your guests something to do while they wait is always a good idea. Combining it with a wedding program fan? Genius! These DIY fans include Mad Libs, fill-in-the-blanks, and word search. Learn how to make these DIY program fans.

These fans have fabulous color and lettering. I love the wording: “Welcome to the marriage of Katie and Tim.” Very sweet.

Using a photo is great because it makes it that much more likely that your guests will bring the fans home as a keepsake. The photo was from this couples engagement shoot and the bride hand wrote noteworthy family members as a thank you on the back.

The handwriting and flowers are precious on this wedding fan, swirly writing and peonies will get me every time!

Another gorgeous fan from the same company as the peony fan is this one. I love everything about this fan, but especially how all of the wedding party and participants are all featured on the back!

At this wedding guests had several differently designed fans to chose from. Each fan features the program on the back, and a different photo of the couple on the front. Naturally, I love that they’re displayed in a vintage suitcase too!

It seems that most wedding fans are playful and fun, and while this one is still incredible, it is by far the most sophisticated wedding fan I’ve seen! The simple colors and vintage inspired designs make this a perfect fan for a more elegantly styled wedding.

I love that this fan is different from all the rest, in that it’s a little edgy. One of the best things about this fan is that you can see how personal it is, not only are there actual human heart illustrations on it, but there is also a gorgeous letter pressed picado banner across the front. Amazing.

Photo One: IW; Photo Two: rocknrollbride.com; Photo Three: oncewed.com; Photos Four and Five: riflemade.squarespace.com; Photo Six: ruffledblog.com; Photo Seven: papermadedesign.com; Photo Eight: elizabethannedesigns.com/blog

Rebekah is a DIY obsessed,wedding design wizard who loves hunting her bay area homeland for      clever   craft ideas, vintage gems, bargain buys, and blogging inspiration. She and her husband live  and  write   in Oakland. Read her blog.

The circle symbolizes eternity and oneness, which make it a natural fit for a wedding ceremony.

Circular seating during the wedding ceremony adds a level of intimacy that  is perfect for a small guest list – as well as a large one. Outdoor settings are ideal for ceremonies in the round. Some indoor venues might not be suited to this style of ceremony.

Here are some beautiful examples of ceremonies in the round:

Photo One: Nairobi Weddings; Photo Two: Impressions by Nudrat;  Photo Three: Godkin Photo; Photo Four: Niche White; Photo Five: Luster Studios: Photo Six: Phoenix Bride and Groom

By Jennifer Cox

My parents were married in Montreal at Loyola Chapel, which now sits on the campus of Concordia University, in 1979. Decades later, when I started studying Journalism at Concordia, I loved walking by the chapel and looking at the front steps where all of my family, including grandparents who were no longer with us, had walked, stopping to pose for pictures in front of the big wooden doors. I was never the little girl who dreamed about her wedding, but when I saw the chapel in person, I knew that that was the one thing I wanted for my own special day: to get married at the same chapel as my parents.

And we did. Just two weeks after they celebrated their thirty-year anniversary, my husband and I got married in front of the same altar, with our guests lined in the same pews, surrounded by many of the people who had witnessed my own parents tie the knot.

To really remember the significance of getting married at the chapel, I met with our photographers (the incredible davina + daniel) months before and gave them some of the pictures from my parent’s wedding. They were clever enough to photograph them so, on our wedding day, they were able to refer to the pics and then “recreate” the same photos. It worked beautifully – we had about a dozen shots that looked like mirror images from my own parent’s wedding. I later put them in side-by-side frames for my mom and dad.

Jennifer Cox is a Montreal based freelance journalist who loves everything from weddings to foodie news, photography & candy!

Photos of Jennifer’s wedding: Davina + Daniel

It was the against the rules of the church that Darin and I got married in to have confetti or rose petals thrown as a wedding send-off because of the mess. Your church or ceremony venue might have similar rules. If this is the case, here are some charming alternatives:

Wedding sparklers are fun and make for great photos. (I love this photo by kabloomstudios!) It would make a great painting!

Ribbon wands are another charming (and colorful) wedding send-off! 

Photo: Elizabeth Anne Designs

Photo: Style Me Pretty

Photo: pink posh

Bubbles are magical, and once again make for fabulous photos.

Photo: Red Lotus Photography

Photo: Caroline Ghetes

Check out this fancy bubble wand.

If you go to church, there’s a good chance you’ve already figured out the officiant part.

If you’re not a church-goer, choosing an officiant can be a tad challenging – even nerve wracking.

The officiant is a big deal. S/he sets the tone for the ceremony – and can really add (or detract) a great deal from the ceremony.

Many of the couples I featured in the real weddings section cited something the officiant said or did as the highlight of the ceremony.

Kaitlin and Chris said the highlight of their ceremony was the officiant telling the story of their life together.

“My husband and I have been together for fourteen years {before getting married} and it so beautiful and amazing to hear someone tell that story,” says Kaitlin.

Elizabeth and Hedi’s officiant also made the ceremony extra special for the couple.

“Our officiant has known me since birth. He has been like a father/mentor figure ever since I can remember and to have him officiate our ceremony and give us his unwavering blessing and joyous part in our ceremony was incredible,” says Elizabeth.

So, how do you choose the right officiant if you are not a church-goer?

Some couples choose to get married where their parents or grandparents were married, which, needless to say, makes it much easier. Other couples might choose a church merely for it’s aesthetic appeal, and take whichever officiant comes along with the church. For these couples, the physical structure of the building is more important than the man or woman behind the pulpit.

Although aesthetics definitely played a role for Darin and I, we also wanted an officiant that made us feel comfortable. We visited several churches before deciding on a local Presbyterian church. (Ironically, neither Darin or are Presbyterians.) Not only was the officiant friendly, the church’s size was perfect for an intimate ceremony – and it was beautiful.

If you’re looking for an officiant, start visiting local churches, or simply go through the Yellow Pages or search the net. It’s best to start your search as soon as possible to ensure availability.

Another option that will make your wedding even more personalized is to have a friend or loved one act as your wedding officiant, like several of the couples featured in the real weddings section of Intimate Weddings.

Sherry and Jon had a relative perform their ceremony.

“[The ceremony] was performed by John’s cousin and good friend who got certified just for us,” says Sherry, who adds that this made it more personal.

Becoming certified as an officiant is quite simple. The Universal Life Church, a non-denominational church, offers free ordination to anyone that requests it. Ordination can be done online are via snail mail.

It’s important to check out the laws in your state to see if this type of ordination is recognized; in some states it is not.

Photo: McKenzie and Jeremy’s Real Wedding photographed by Embrace Life Photography

By Jennifer Cox

A recent trend in wedding ceremonies is the ringwarming ceremony. The idea is simple enough: have someone make an announcement prior to the start of the wedding to explain that the wedding bands will be passed around to each guest during the ceremony. Just prior to the ring exchange, guests are invited to hold the ring and to silently offer a blessing or wish for the newlyweds, then pass them on to next guest. Once everyone has had a turn, the rings are returned to the officiant for the ring exchange.

This modern tradition is much easier to pull off at smaller weddings; larger affairs increase the risk of having the ring dropped, lost or making the ceremony drag out too long.

If you’re worried about passing out your wedding bands and losing sight of them, you could ask someone if they would “administer” the process and supervise things so that nothing gets lost. Another great idea is to attach the rings to something, like a ringbearer bowl or even your ringbearer pillow, so something larger is being passed around.

The ringwarming tradition is a unique way to make your guests to feel close to you and also to feel like they are part of your ceremony. However, since this trend is fairly new and somewhat non-traditional, there’s a good chance not all of your guests will understand it. You might want to consider adding a blurb in your wedding program about how the ringwarming ceremony works and why it is important to you.

Read about this real wedding which had a ringwarming ceremony.

Photo One: Hazelnut Photography; Photo Two: Palomasnest

Jennifer Cox is a Montreal based freelance journalist who loves everything from weddings to foodie news, photography & candy!

By Kathleen Raine

Yours is the face that the earth turns to me,
Continuous beyond its human features lie
The mountain forms that rest against the sky.
With your eyes, the reflecting rainbow, the sun’s light
Sees me; forest and flower, bird and beast
Know and hold me forever in the world’s thought,
Creation’s deep untroubled retrospect.

When your hand touches mine it is the earth
That takes me–the green grass,
And rocks and rivers; the green graves,
And children still unborn, and ancestors,
In love passed down from hand to hand from God.
Your love comes from the creation of the world,
From those paternal fingers, streaming through the clouds
That break with light the surface of the sea.

Here, where I trace your body with my hand,
Love’s presence has no end;
For these, your arms that hold me, are the world’s.
In us, the continents, clouds and oceans meet
Our arbitrary selves, extensive with the night,
Lost, in the heart’s worship, and the body’s sleep.

You’ve fallen hard for the vintage look and you envision yourself wearing a vintage wedding dress. You’ve seen some vintage wedding dresses online that make your heart sing, but you still haven’t pressed the “Buy” button.

Before you click that button, make sure you read this excellent Q & A with one of our sponsors, Paula Cooperman from the The Mill Crest Vintage Boutique, Lambertville, NJ.

What You Need to Know Before Buying a Vintage Wedding Dress

How is the sizing different from regular street clothes? (If I’m a size 10, for instance, what size wedding gown would I need?)

Vintage sizing does not correspond to today’s sizing and with each era, you can expect a different interpretation of size and cut.  This is why we give the measurements of our garments to all of our clientele who shop with us online. What we typically recommend to all of our brides is to get an accurate measurement of their own bodies (bust, waist, hip and length) and use these numbers as a guide when choosing a wedding gown.  Another thing to consider, is that any good seamstress can make alterations to achieve a custom fit.

If a bride purchases a gown that has yellowed over time, will it become white if it is professionally cleaned?

Depending upon the type of fabric and it’s quality, the natural discoloration in most gowns can be easily remedied by a professional dry cleaner and can even be brought back to it’s original state.  Interestingly, we have found that many brides like the “aged” look of a vintage gown and prefer not to have it professionally cleaned.  In these cases, spot cleaning and pressing is typically done.

Do most brides professionally clean their vintage gowns after purchasing them? If so, what’s usually the cost for this service? Can stains usually be removed with professional cleaning?

Depending on the gown, we sometimes will have it professionally cleaned.  However, due to the fact that some brides prefer to have the gown show some age, we leave that option for the bride.  We recommend that brides bring their gowns, whether vintage or just second hand, to a dry cleaner that specializes in bridal attire or specialty garments.  I cannot speak for every cleaner, but anyone worth their salt, will be able to remove almost any stain.  Prices will likely vary depending on location, but a bride should not spend more than $100 to have her gown professionally cleaned.

Can these gowns be altered, just like a regular wedding gown? (if they are too big, or too small?)

Absolutely!  Alterations can be made in just about every area of a gown to achieve a custom fit.  Even if a gown is too small, gussets and panels can always be added to create expansion without taking away from the style and integrity of the gown.

What time period are most of your gowns from?

In the 31 years we have been in the vintage business, we have worked toward putting together a comprehensive collection that is representative of the last 100 years of fashion.  It has been our experience that the 20′s and 30′s are the most difficult to come by, at least when it comes to finding something that is both beautiful and wearable.  The 50′s through the 70′s seem to be a bit easier to find, especially in terms of variety and quality.   The key however, is quality.  This is the area where we are most particular when deciding to add any garment our vintage collection.

Vintage is really hot right now. Do you think this trend has staying power? How has this trend affected your business?

Vintage has been hot for a few years as an overall style.  However, when it comes to bridal, vintage is really making it’s mark.  I think it may be more than just a trend.  Brides today are very savvy.  For some, it’s about individuality or putting a personal mark on a very special day when the bride is really the center of attention.  For others, it’s all about reducing their carbon footprint by essentially buying something that has been recycled.  No matter the reason, we think that vintage will always have a place in bridal fashion, whether it be for inspiration for up and coming designers or for the brides themselves.  Of course, this is great news for those of us who cater to the bride who wants vintage.  As a side note, we have noticed that many designers and retailers have added bridal to their repertoire.  What has been most interesting is the vintage inspired designs they are showing.  Just another reason why we believe that vintage will have a strong hold on bridal fashion for a long time.

What’s the best advice you have for brides considering purchasing a vintage gown?

Buying a gown for the one day in a bride’s life when the spot light is shining directly on her is nerve racking at best.   The most important advice we give to any bride considering vintage for their gown is really no different than a bride looking for a more current style.  Go with what feels the most comfortable and makes you, the bride, feel the most beautiful. It really is as simple as that.  A bride may find that she gravitates toward one particular style or another (50′s, 70′s mermaid, bias cut and so on), which is a great start.  From there, it really comes down to how the particular style of a gown feels when worn and the wedding venue (garden, black tie, etc…) which may very well determine the fabric choice.

Photo: Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

You want an outdoor summer wedding. It might be hot. Really hot. How will you guests keep their cool?

There are several ways to keep your guests from melting in the heat.

Wedding fans are  practical and pretty for an outdoor ceremony. I love the idea of DIY program fans, but there are other alternatives.

Wanderluster over at Rambling Renovators headed out to her local Chinatown and purchased sandalwood fans for her August wedding. She wrapped the ends with wrapping paper from Paper Source and attached coordinating ribbons.

After the ceremony, the guests headed over to the cocktail area and were greeted by servers with cold “oshibori”, which are wet towels you often see in Japanese restaurants. Wanderluster bought the oshibori from The Oshibori Company in what she describes as a “a yummy peach mango scent.”

“It was a great way to help our guests freshen up after sitting in the sun!” she writes.

Another way to keep your guests cool is to offer cold water or other beverages like lemonade at the entrance area where the ceremony will be taking place.

If you have elderly guests and your region is prone to extreme heat, make sure that there is seating in a shaded area during the ceremony. The last thing you want is a bad case of heat stroke at your wedding!

Photo One: Natalie Moser; Photo Two, Three, Four: Rambling Renovators; Photo Five: Getmarried.com