Learn the pros and cons of a civil marriage ceremony - plus how to find an officiant for a nonreligious wedding

First things first – a civil marriage ceremony doesn’t have to be a boring, fluorescent-lit ceremony at the local courthouse, even though that’s probably the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the phrase.

 

That said, it’s true that civil ceremonies are performed by government officials and appointed legal officiants, such as your local town clerk or county judge. 

 

Many civil ceremonies do take place at a courthouse, town hall, or city hall, but they can also be performed at your home, in a local park or rose garden, and many other locations if an official is willing to travel.

 

Civil ceremonies are a specific type of secular wedding ceremony. Secular marriage ceremonies are non-religious and non-spiritual, and focus on marriage as a legal and loving partnership between two people (not a religious institution). 

 

You won’t hear any mention of gods or covenants in a civil ceremony, but you might hear a familiar exchange of promises and vows, including promises to ‘love and cherish’ each other, and to treat each other with respect and compassion. Couples might exchange written vows or wedding rings, too, but this isn’t required.

 

Photo: martinedoucet / iStock

You might be able to invite guests to your civil marriage ceremony. But sometimes, no guests are allowed, or only one or two guests can attend as witnesses -- this can be both a pro and a con of civil ceremonies, depending on the couple's preferences!

Want the simplicity of a civil ceremony, with the Wedding Officiant of your choice? Read on! 

 

Many couples consider having a courthouse ceremony because they want a non-religious wedding experience, but civil ceremonies aren’t the only way to have an affordable secular wedding celebration! 

 

Instead of heading to the courthouse to get married by a stranger, consider having a secular wedding ceremony with the officiant of your choice.

 

You can ask a friend or relative to officiate, or hire a professional wedding officiant in your area who offers non-religious ceremony packages. Click the links below for more tips: 

 

• Who Can Officiate a Non-Religious Wedding Ceremony?
• QUIZ: Which Type of Wedding Officiant Should You Choose?
• Asking a Friend or Family Member to Officiate Your Wedding? Read This First...
• Who Officiates a Wedding if You Don’t Go to a Courthouse or Church?
• How do I find a wedding officiant near me? The secret to finding the perfect person to perform your marriage ceremony

 

Non-religious wedding ceremonies are legally binding (just like a city hall ceremony) and can be held at any venue or destination. They can be any style or length that you want, with the freedom to personalize the experience. Your chosen wedding officiant will lead you through your vows, pronounce you married, and sign your marriage license. 

 

Some couples choose a ‘sign and go’ ceremony, or a ‘signing only’ ceremony. This is very similar to a courthouse wedding, but your wedding officiant can travel to you to complete your marriage license. This saves you time and effort, and allows you to get married privately in whatever setting you choose. 

 

As an added bonus, non-religious wedding ceremonies are creative! They can include unique unity rituals, readings, and other ‘extras’ that you won’t be able to include in a civil ceremony. Because they’re performed by government officials, civil ceremonies are generally very short, tightly scheduled, and follow a strict standard script, without much ‘breathing room’ or space to get creative. 

 

To have a friend or relative preside over your non-religious marriage ceremony, ask them to get ordained online with AMM by clicking the link below. AMM doesn’t require you to hold any specific spiritual beliefs to get ordained; we just ask that you believe that all people have the right to marry and solemnize marriage, and the right to choose who performs their ceremony. 

 

• Get Ordained Online with AMM and learn how to marry friends and relatives

 

 

Photo (cropped): Marcus Jones / Adobe Stock

Private nonreligious ceremonies can look or feel any way you want them to -- from a 'just us' signing ceremony that's very similar to a courthouse wedding, to a large event with all your friends and relatives in the audience. It's up to you!

 

 

Pros & Cons: Civil Marriage Ceremony vs. Non-Religious Wedding Ceremony

 

As you can see, there are several pros and cons to getting married in a civil ceremony. We’ve listed a few of these below. Consider the type of experience you want for your wedding day and choose the tradition that will make you happiest! 

 

Pros of a Civil Marriage Ceremony

 

 

• Affordable / Set fee
• Short and straightforward
• Non-religious
• No guest list 

 

Cons of a Civil Marriage Ceremony

 

 

• Can’t personalize / No creativity
• Can’t bring guests
• One size fits all 
• Limited control over venue & time of day

 

Pros of a Non-Religious Wedding Ceremony

 

 

• Can fit any budget / price range
• Any length, venue, and time of day
• Non-religious
• As many / as few guests as you want
• Choose your own wedding officiant
• Choose your own wedding script / wording
• Creativity - Add ‘extras’ like unity rituals, readings, etc.

 

Cons of a Non-Religious Wedding Ceremony

 

 

• Options might feel overwhelming
• Will need to choose a venue and officiant
• Variable cost

 

Need a wedding ceremony script for your non-religious wedding ceremony? Try one of these options: 

 

• Simple & Sweet, A Courthouse Wedding Ceremony Script
• Short Inclusive LGBTQ+ Wedding Ceremony Script
• Simple Civil Wedding Ceremony
• Short Non Religious Wedding Ceremony With Heartfelt Invocation

 

Browse all Non-religious wedding scripts 

 

 

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You might also like: 

 

• Atheist Wedding Vows: Sample Vows for a Non-Religious Marriage Ceremony
   
• 10 Non Religious Wedding Readings to Add to Your Ceremony
   

 

Spruce up a simple wedding ceremony script with these inspired readings. Read the full article here. 

 

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