AMERICAN WEDDINGS BLOG
Stay up to date with the latest wedding ceremony trends, script writing inspiration, tips and advice for first-time officiants, and news that matters to couples and wedding ministers.
Stay up to date with the latest wedding ceremony trends, script writing inspiration, tips and advice for first-time officiants, and news that matters to couples and wedding ministers.
Published Wednesday, Jun. 26th, 2024
Courthouse weddings are more popular than ever as a simple and affordable way to get married. With the average cost of a wedding hovering around $35,000, it’s easy to see why so many couples say ‘f*ck it’ and skip the traditional wedding in favor of a quick trip to city hall.
But courthouse weddings aren’t the only affordable alternative to a traditional wedding: a lesser-known (and very sweet) option is the ‘sign and go’ license signing ceremony.
The ‘sign and go’ ceremony is also known as a ‘marriage license signing ceremony,’ or a ‘make it legal’ marriage ceremony.
This option is just what it sounds like: you meet with a wedding officiant who confirms you want to marry, they sign your marriage license to make it legal, and then you go celebrate!
License-signing ceremonies are more private and personal than the courthouse variety, and can be booked for any location and any time of day you choose.
So, how does a ‘sign and go’ marriage license signing ceremony compare with a courthouse wedding? Let’s take a look!
♡ Let's Compare:
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Sign and Go Wedding/
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City Hall or
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Number of Guests
Q: How many people can come to a courthouse wedding vs a sign and go ceremony?
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Required witnesses; Usually 1-3 guests depending on your officiant’s guidelines
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Required witnesses; Each courthouse makes its own rules, expect 0-10 guests allowed
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Witnesses provided
Q: How many witnesses are allowed / needed, and are they provided?
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You usually need to bring your own witness/es (if required); Some officiants may provide witnesses for an added fee
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You usually need to bring your own witness/es (if required); Some offices may provide witnesses for an added fee
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Location & Hours |
Varies; Your officiant may have an established office or chapel with set hours, or they may meet you at a time and location of your choosing
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Office at the local courthouse or city hall building during set hours; A few jurisdictions may offer virtual appointments
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Average cost
Q: How much does a courthouse wedding cost vs a sign and go elopement? |
Varies by officiant: $0-150*, does not include cost of the marriage license
*Friends can officiate for free; professional officiants charge $100-150 on average
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Varies by location: $30-120+, does not include cost of the marriage license
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Unique benefits
Q: What are the unique benefits of a courthouse wedding vs a private elopement? |
More private and intimate; can be scheduled at any time of day or on a weekend; can be performed at any location or at home; can ask a friend or relative to officiate
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Feels ‘official’ and you will not need to find an officiant; can file paperwork immediately after ceremony
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Wait time |
Varies: Depends on the marriage waiting period in your state and officiant availability
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Varies: Depends on the marriage waiting period in your state and clerk availability
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Marriage license
Q: How to prepare for a courthouse wedding vs a sign and go elopement?
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You will need to apply for a marriage license separately before your ceremony
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You will need to apply for a marriage license separately before your ceremony
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Exchange Rings
Q: Do you exchange rings at a courthouse wedding or a sign and go ceremony?
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Up to you! Traditional but not legally required
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Up to you! Traditional but not legally required
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Custom ceremony script
Q: What does the officiant say at a civil ceremony or elopement?
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No: Your officiant will read from a standard wedding script
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No: Your officiant will read from a standard wedding script
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Custom written wedding vows
Q: Do you say vows at a courthouse wedding or a sign and go ceremony? Can you say your own vows / custom vows?
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Varies: Some officiants will encourage you to exchange personal vows during your license signing, others will stick with a standard declaration of intent
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Varies: Some officials will allow you to exchange personal vows during the civil ceremony, others will stick with a standard declaration of intent
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Religious or non religious |
Up to you: Your officiant will read from a prewritten script, but may offer religious or nonreligious variations to choose from
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Nonreligious: Weddings at a courthouse are civil ceremonies and usually avoid religious wording
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Length of ceremony
Q: How long does does a courthouse wedding take vs a sign and go license signing?
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Varies; The shortest possible ceremony can be finished in just a minute or two; the average sign and go wedding lasts 5-15 minutes.
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Varies; The average courthouse wedding / civil ceremony lasts 10-15 minutes.
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Do you exchange rings at a courthouse wedding? What about a sign and go elopement? It's up to you! Exchanging wedding rings is a symbolic tradition and very common, but it's not required for a marriage ceremony to be legally binding. An increasing number of young couples are choosing not to exchange rings, or are exchanging nontradition rings instead.
Check out the articles and scripts linked below to learn more:
If a private sign and go wedding sounds like just what Cupid ordered, you can hire a professional wedding officiant or ask a friend to officiate!
Many wedding chapels and professional wedding officiants offer affordable sign and go weddings. Las Vegas sign and go weddings are well known -- you just sign on the dotted line right at the counter! -- but these quick and easy options are popping up in cities and towns across the country.
Friends and relatives can also officiate your marriage license signing ceremony! This is a great way to save money and add a personal touch to the day for couples on an extra-tight budget. Click the links below to get started:
Ask a close friend to get ordained to officiate your signing ceremony, or hire a professional officiant to do the honor. Ask your officiant how many guests you can invite, in addition to the witness requirements in your state.
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