We’re getting married and we’ve discovered that we have no idea how to go about it. We’ve been to enough big weddings to know we don’t want to do the invitations-registry-tuxedos-reception thing. We’d like to do something small, relatively inexpensive, and non-cliched, but more fun than going to the courthouse. There would be, at most, 6 guests, possibly none. Travel within the continental US/Canada would be good, as neither of us wants Oklahoma on the marriage license. Plus, we’re not religious. Las Vegas seemed like a reasonable idea, but I really don’t want Elvis or Wayne Newton involved. Anybody care to help?
The boy and I just got engaged ourselves. Our friends gave us the fabulous idea of going on the Disney cruise which goes from California to Disney World so we can get off and go straight to the park! Then again, we’re kids at heart and we love Disneyland 
I can marry you in my backyard. Room for 6. No drugs, no pets, no smoking. 
I’m planning my own wedding, so I’ve been getting all the wedding stuff. I really don’t care for destination weddings, so here are some ideas which you can do locally.
Check with the local zoo about holding a wedding and reception. If the zoo’s not to your taste, check out parks or other local attractions. An amusement park near me lets people get married on at least one of their rides. Some of these places can be expensive, but, on the other hand, they’re cheaper than a cruise or some trips to Las Vegas.
Check out local bed and breakfasts, too. That way, you can all stay in the same place and have a good time. The one I talked to caters events and has a list of vendors they deal with regularly. They were very pleasant and easy to deal with.
Check out your local craft store for invitations and other stuff. We’re buying invitations from Pat Catans and will print them out at home. If memory serves, it will cost less than $50.00 USD for invitations for 60 people.
You know those silly bridal magazines? They actually have some good ideas. While I’m no fan of Martha Stewart, there are some good ideas in the magazine, and you can laugh at the hideous wedding dresses and the awful ways some of the models pose.
Congratulations and good luck!
This is a fabulous idea. My husband and I had a larger wedding than you’re planning (around 50 adults) and we had it at a local B & B. Beautiful setting, nice folks, and we had a place to stay for the night. If you don’t want to get married locally (why don’t you want Oklahoma on the marriage license?), you could check out B & Bs in other states.
My one hesitation with a destination wedding is that your nearest and dearest may not be financially or logistically able to get to the destination of your choice. Of course, if it’s not important to you to have particular people there, then go for it.
Not all Vegas weddings are Elvis or Wayne.
The Little Church of the West was a strong contender when Vegas was on option for ours.
Niagara Falls has a number of wedding oriented businesses (B&Bs with wedding packages, etc.) We would have done this had we not been getting married in January…
We ended up at the Historic Little Wedding Chapel in Elkton, MD (no website as far as I know). No big dresses, no frippery (though we did buy the souvenir Christmas tree ornament inscribed with our names and wedding date). Afterwards all 9 of us went and had a lovely lunch at a nearby restaurant. Including the license and our rings whole shootin’ match was just about $1200
Travel to Maryland might not be cost effective, but I imagine other communities have similar chapels.
You told us what you don’t want, well, what do you want?
If not a minister or Elvis than who should marry you?
How about an Amazing Race Wedding?
Divide the guests into teams, one lead by you and one by your spouse to be.
You make up an trip for they and your spouse makes the trip for you. Arrange clues to be at destinations. Maybe the journey sends them through your life. Maybe just a bunch of funny town names. But say that certain wedding items must be obtained at certain spots. Then when you meet up, you’ll both will have had an adventure and some suprises for each other.
Are you me? I got married in a B&B 8 years ago today. We had 50 people total as well. It was a Revolutionary War-era inn that had oodles of atmosphere, massive fireplaces, and a fabulous room to spend the night. We also got to have breakfast next morning with the few guests who also stayed at the B&B. It was extremely low-key and very mellow and people still tell us what a great time they had.
You might start by checking various states for how much hassle they’ll put you through to make it legal. When my husband and I married, we lived sometimes in Colorado and sometimes in New Mexico. New Mexico required blood tests and such, but Colorado was a walk-in, sign up deal. They did ask us if we were first cousins (we’re not), but quickly assured us that it was fine if we were but they just like to know for some statistical survey. This was seventeen years ago, so don’t take any of this as current. Basically, if you are going to travel to marry, travel to wherever it will be easy and pick a pretty spot in the area.
There are some really great wineries in Napa or Sonoma Valley California to have a small wedding.
Nah, I’ve only been married for 5 years, but great minds think alike.
Oooh, I thought of something else! What about getting married at a museum or historic site? I used to work at a historic house museum (circa 1840) that we rented out for weddings. One of the sweetest weddings I’ve seen took place in the conservatory there. It was the bride and groom, four guests, and the minister. The guests came in before the couple arrived and filled the place with fresh flowers. It was gorgeous and definitely out of the ordinary.
Her fiance. Duh!
I always thought it would be cool to get married on a beach. If you want to cheap out, make it a local beach. If you want it to be a bit more expensive, do it on Hawaii. If you want to make it really expensive, do it in the Seychelles.
I did the last minute Vegas thing with no guests and I wouldn’t change a thing.
Someone in these here parts did a Habitat For Humanity wedding. Guests grabbed a hammer and nails and helped put up a house for someone in need. I thought that was a great idea. You can go back to your place for food and drinks at the end of your work day.
We married at a B&B and it was fantastic. There were 30 guests, so we rented out the whole place and had everyone stay the night.
My wife and I were married at the Flamingo Garden Chapel in Vegas. Very pretty, very good for pictures afterward. And within walking distance of Battista’s Hole-In-The-Wall, the best Italian restaurant I’ve ever been to.
I was going to recommend an historic site. Generally, the rental fees are pretty reasonable. You’ll probably have to bring in food if you want the reception there, and they’ll probably have rules about having food in the house. If you’re only having a few people, though, it would probably just be easier to go to a restaurant than arrange catering.
Depending on the location, it can cost a LOT to rent out a historic site/museum/non-profit organization’s site. In Florida, this is especially true because almost everything is a bit pricey. Why? People come here from all over the States to get married and there are enough people who are willing to throw an extravagant wedding in the state to make it problematic to get married on the cheap in the southern half of the state.
I’m on a budget and just starting to do some planning. (Really, we’re not doing deposits until closer to October, so “just starting” will be for another six months or so.) In a few weeks, I’m going to go look at sites on Anna Maria Island on Florida’s Gulf Coast. (It’s just off the coast of Sarasota/Bradenton.) It’s definitely suitable for small weddings, a smaller budget than the national average, and a relaxed, beachy feel. If you’re interested, I’ll let you know what I find out.
Here in Wisconsin, it’s generally the opposite, unless you’re trying to rent Taliesin or something owned by the State Historical Society. There’s an old house near where I live that will let you use the grounds for something like admission for all the guest ($5/person) and a donation to the town’s historical society. I probably should have qualified what I said, instead of making a blanket statement.
:eek: 
Hey, THANKS! I love it! I’ve gotta go ask Fianceephone about that!
Our zoo does do fancy catered events and that would be so fun!
Gatlinburg, TN…just a day’s drive from parts of OK. There are lots of wedding chapels there and cabin rentals with mountain views.