How to Make Your Courthouse Wedding Feel Special

Couples get married at the courthouse (or city hall) for lots of reasons-limited funds, imminent military obligations, lack of interest in wedding hoopla, and so forth. But while it may not be as festive as a ballroom wedding that's taken a year to plan, there's no reason to treat a civil ceremony in a municipal building as less than exciting and momentous. After all, the goal is still the same: to get married! Here's how to set the event apart and make sure that it feels like the special day it is.

A COURTHOUSE WEDDING WITH A RED-AND-GRAY RESTAURANT RECEPTION

Wear white.

Nothing will make you feel more bridal than a white dress. It's the iconic symbol of weddings, no matter where the nuptials take place or if the hemline is long or short. Throw in a veil if you want-it's a bride's prerogative to dress as she wants on her wedding day!

Get flowers.

Fresh flowers add beauty and vitality to a ceremony, even one held at a courthouse, so be sure to carry a big bouquet of your favorite blooms and have the groom wear a boutonniere, like a classic white or red rose. Everyone else-the witness, your parents-should also have a floral element to their outfits; give corsages for the ladies and boutonnieres to the guys.

Hire a photographer.

Like your 16th birthday party or college graduation, this is a historic occasion and it should be documented. Get recommendations from recently married friends, look at the pros' websites, then call your favorites. Assuming yours is a weekday wedding, a photographer may be available at an affordable rate. If you don't have the budget for a pro, ask a friend with a good eye and equipment to be your lensman for the day. Whether you have a pro or amateur, you'll want some getting-ready photos, snaps of your arrival at the courthouse, and portraits of the two of you right after the I dos.

Have a reception.

Your closest loved ones who attended your wedding will want to celebrate your new union, so plan some kind of a special meal-it could be a table at a fancy restaurant or a simple barbecue at your house. The point is to let people give toasts, wish you well, and make the two of you feel special on your big day.