Saying 'I Do' Has Never Been More Intimate - Your Guide To Self-Officiated Weddings In Washington DC
Could there be anything quite so romantic, intimate, and memorable as pledging your undying love to that one incredible person in your life without the watchful eyes of others? Indeed, wedding vows and everything that goes with them are some of the most personal words you will ever utter, so why not consider a self-officiated wedding where you and your significant other have eyes fixed only on each other.
Not only does the occasion take on a magical feel but it also alleviates a whole lot of stress that always seems to come with those big traditional weddings! In fact, having a self-officiated wedding here in Washington DC is an easy and straight-forward process. Allow us to briefly talk you through what you need to do:
Decide On The Officiant
Only one member of the happy couple will officially be recognized as the officiant so make sure you decide on this in advance. Toss a coin if you need to!
Attend The DC Marriage Bureau Together
Even though only one person is the officiant, both people who are to be wed must attend the DC marriage bureau together and bring along government-issued picture IDs.
Complete The Application And Submit All Paperwork To The Clerk At The Court
You will need to complete the marriage license application together and submit all paperwork to the clerk of the court, they will be happy to help if you have any queries.
The Practical Points
The DC Marriage Bureau is open 8:30 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays. You will pay $45 to apply for a marriage license, this includes a $10 fee for printing the license, known as the 'Certificate of Marriage'.
Now that you know how to go about self-officiating your own wedding, why not take a little time to picture the scene. In fact, perhaps this couple's sunrise wedding at Smithsonian Garden Wedding will inspire you to follow closely in their romantic footsteps?
What’s Next? Time To Wed!
There in the peace and tranquility, without even a thought to another being in the entire universe, it's time to utter those intimate wedding vows, to look into each other's eyes, and to know that your choice of wedding was the best decision you ever made (after your choice of life partner that is, of course!)
Pictures To Treasure Forever
Often, the traditional wedding album is taken up with far too many shots of each family, creating countless opportunities for upset and fallout when it comes to choosing which pictures go on the wall! A self-officiated wedding takes away all of that unnecessary tension. Instead, you have a beautiful choice of shots that all capture what a wedding day is really all about; the uniting of two best friends in the arms of love.
Choose a Photographer That Blends Into The Landscape
Whilst a self-officiated wedding is all about just the two of you, choosing not to hire a photographer could be something you live to regret. After all, it's that one amazing shot that will instantly transport you back to your treasured day. It will allow you to step right back into that moment where the new chapter of your life began, to smell the flowers, feel the breeze in your hair, and feel that overwhelming sense of thankfulness. A photographer that blends into the landscape will be able to give you exactly that without you even knowing they are there!
