Wedding vs Courthouse

If you put deposits down already i would not loose out on the dream wedding. You can do a small wedding in a venue

Many have! And btw, it's still a wedding

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums-search-results?cx=001510200069945039677%3Ab2kwgfgdebc&cof=FORID%3A11&ie=UTF-8&q=courthouse&sa=Go&siteurl=www.weddingwire.com%2Fwedding-forums%2Fwedding-vs-courthouse%2F486b3e3388a509e2.html&ref=www.weddingwire.com%2Fwedding-forums&ss=2344j766144j10

I felt that way when I was planning. Especially when things got stressful or I saw money flying out of our account. But I'm glad that I stuck with it and that my wedding is only two months away now. I personally think that if I canceled and went to the courthouse I would absolutely regret it.

A lot of people on here have. A courthouse wedding is still a wedding and can still be beautiful and special! If you've put deposits down for other plans, you have to determine if it's worth the planning and stress to continue with that. You have to choose what's best for you, but know that a courthouse wedding doesn't take away from the fact that it's special day

I haven't done anything yet but started creating a guest list and budget, then realized I wasn't excited about it, besides actually getting married to my FH. So now I'm considering a courthouse or much smaller ceremony, with fewer guests and half my original budget.

Just do what makes you happy, and focus on the positives of your wedding. When I have to make a decision like that, I'll picture myself in the situation, i.e. how my wedding will go when it is a bit larger, traditional, and at a church VS. how my wedding will go with a smaller guest list, smaller or no BP, and smaller venue. If you're picturing one, and it makes you feel uneasy or sad, maybe consider the other option.

A courthouse or officiant wedding is still a wedding.

I personally wouldn't have regrets, but I've seen enough weddings to know that the 'dream' wedding often isn't the 'dream' wedding. It is stressful, expensive and emotionally draining.

Don't anticipate regret; do what feels right for you.

Please don't disparage courthouse weddings for those of us who actually choose this manner of wedding. If you are legally married at the end of the day, you've had your wedding.

Yes, that's exactly what we did. We paid deposits and had a wedding planned for Nov of this year, but we ended up eloping at the courthouse with our parents and son back in December. I go into more detail on my BAM: https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/who-mrs-jones-courthouse-elopement-pro-bam/63257fcab37bd152.html

It was the best decision we made, and I get the best of both worlds because I'm cutting my original guest list by 80% for our "vow reaffirmation" aka, marriage celebration in Nov. We're so very excited!

I'm not having my dream wedding either but we are landing somewhere between dream n eloping when it comes to the budget. Cut a lot of unnecessary things out, keeping it to 100 guests n only focusing on a few things that are important to us/won't affect the guests=less stress n grateful for that

@WHO's BAM is amazing. Definitely check it out!!!

1) Yes

2) No

I'm not invalidating a courthouse wedding at all. I'm just asking if anyone regretted it. Cuz I want a wedding, but I can't handle the stress and the drama ??

Courthouse weddings can be fantastic! the BAM others have mentioned was gorgeous!

I would also consider grabbing your closest family and friends (very small #) and going to the beach or a park or some other pretty place and just having an officiant and then treating them all to dinner at a restaurant after. Very low stress and you get more of the "moment" you're looking for.

My dream wedding is eloping. However, mine and my FH's mothers would be very upset to miss us getting married so we are compromising and having a city hall wedding. Not everyone wants a pretty princess day.

Ok. But has anyone decided against a wedding (of considerable size; we are looking at about 150), opted for a courthouse/small (like 20) wedding and regretted not having the larger wedding with all family and friends present?

I responded that I did and I don't regret it. It was just me, H, and our 2 legally required witnesses. A big wedding was annoying. My dad lost a ton of money on the venue but he said it was worth it if my sanity was in tact.

Those couples I know...the ones who went the courthouse route or intend to, were convinced from day one that they didn't want a big wedding in which they were in the spotlight. Brides who are overwhelmed with wedding planning might think about the smaller wedding when they're almost at the finish line.

Even if married couples, the people you hope will chime in and say that they regret their larger weddings and wish they went the courthouse route, do chime in and validate your idea, it doesn't mean you'll feel the way they did. You've put down deposits and are already anticipating regret if you go the courthouse route. Not knowing you, I'd say you're overwhelmed and need to take a break. Your wedding is seven months away. I've seen enough large wedding brides to know that they love their larger weddings, and I've seen enough courthouse, small reception brides to know that they never considered a large wedding. Potential regret? It wasn't even in the equation.

Cutting a reception that is going to be inevitably expensive, stressful and time consuming to plan? And the down side is?

Celia, regretting not having the wedding I've always wanted. And losing deposits.

We have been told by our venue that the deposit we've already paid is enough to pay for a weekday wedding.