It’s easy to forget that the place where you go to buy your dog license can also be a beautiful wedding venue, but many city halls and courthouses are the crown jewel of their city’s architectural heritage, built with the same reverence and design ingenuity that went into the most breathtaking churches and private wedding venues. If you’re planning an intimate wedding, a municipal space can be the perfect fit.

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.

Looking for unique ceremony ideas that are perfect for intimate weddings? What about a ceremony in the round?

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

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

This is one of the poems we chose for our wedding.

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 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