February 27, 2013

How to Get Married in Seven Days:
Getting eloped can sometimes be as stressful (or more!) as having a regular grand wedding. Here's a short guide to
HOW I GOT MARRIED IN SEVEN DAYS. (Yes, world, I'm married!)

Step One: Funds
Weddings are never really cheap, unless you're not going to have a dress or wedding bands or a place to get married. Which leaves you with the $80 dollar court ceremony and a $72 wedding license fee (at least in my state). But, obviously, I wanted the bands and the dress and the veil and my hair done (et cetera) because I'm a girl.
So, funds.
It took us just about $2000 for the full ceremony, in court. You'll need at least that much, but you can chose less because I splurged on hair and rush alterations and dry cleaning.

Step Two: Alterations/Dry Cleaning.
On Wednesday, my then-fiancee and I ran around town in order to find somewhere that could help us out.
For his suit, we took it to (of course) Men's Wearhouse, where they told us we'd have to have it dry cleaned before they could alter it. So, we ran to a cleaner's and they told us Monday ($10).
For my dress, I took it into a local shop. By Monday, and taking out a dress (that was given to me), they were not pleased with the rush. But they scheduled me for my first fitting that Friday.

If you don't have a dress or suit, I recommend setting a budget for that. There are a lot of discount bridal stores and tuxedo shops around. I also recommend trying to find a dress that is a standard white white (not off white or ivory) because it is the easiest to match in a rush.

My vintage dress was a bitch to try to find the colors for and I still don't think they matched.

Step Three: Bands
When looking for bands within the week, you will not have time to order or engrave. Let's hope that you wear an integer ring size too. Go to your regular jeweler, try to stick with where you bought your engagement ring, and find bands and buy them. This can get pricey depending on what size and carat you're looking for.
But once you find your stock, buy them ASAP. Better to have them now, instead of waiting til the weekend to buy and have them be gone.

Step Four: The License
You'll have to look up where to get the license, since you can only get them from certain courts. There is normally a wait and in many states it requires a blood test, which may take a few days. Also, know what your social is. Without it, you can't get your license.

Step Five: The Judge
My husband and I chose to get married in court because it was the cheapest and fastest. The courthouse can give you a list of Justice of the Peaces (who normally marry) or you might be able to request a particular judge if you know them, but those can take longer to schedule.
We called around our area and found a judge who would marry us on Monday, and we set the date.

Step Six: Accessories
This means, the usual stuff, a veil, shoes, a vest and tie, cuff links, et cetera.
Most bridal stores will carry a wide array of what you'll need. For shoes, we actually found better prices and options at the mall. Hair accessories are typically cheaper than veils and prettier for other occasions

Step Seven: Hair+Makeup
I actually used weddingwire to find good hair and makeup places. I just left my phone number with the request that they call me as soon as they could, and when we did, we got everything scheduled.

Step Eight: Witnesses
Any witness must be over eighteen, and in my state you needed two. Obviously, parents work well for this one, but my husband chose his best friend and I chose a girl friend of mine who I had been volunteering with.

Step Nine: Fittings
Go back and get your stuff altered. It's pretty self-explanatory. After this step, I had to find a cleaner who would do my dress in two days.

Step Ten: Hotel
Local hotels for Monday nights have pretty good rates. I recommend using hotels.com to find hotels and pricing in your area, and then going to the hotel's actual website (which usually guarantees the lowest prices).
Remember to ask for AAA and wedding night discounts or packages. Sometimes hotels offer wedding packages that come with champagne and strawberries.

Step Eleven: Be Merry
and get married.
I had tons of check-lists including what I needed for the wedding night (and school the next day), and what I needed to take to the wedding (bands, license, my earrings, lotion, lip balm, breath mints, facial tissues, etc.).

Mainly, just smile for all your pictures and remember to brush your teeth before you leave home!

My story:
Alex and I were married on Monday night (February 25th) at 5:00. We had a fifteen minute ceremony followed by pictures outside the courthouse and dinner at Buca di Beppo.

Reception plans (for summer) to follow!

From the newlywedded Mrs.Grey~~~