Weddings
By Fishmomma
@Fishmomma (11658)
United States
November 27, 2016 9:59am CST
I have been married a long time and we paid for our wedding held in a church. Many friends have married the same way and some married in other places. A couple married at the courthouse and that is what this discussion is about now. One of the couples married on the weekend and paid zero to marry. I was glad they married and money was tight for them at the time.
Now the courthouse in my area will no longer have free weddings. In fact there will be no weddings at all on weekends starting in January due to rules that the judges must follow in 2017. I wanted to know if your area offers free weddings and if so are they at the courthouse or some place else?
2 people like this
3 responses
@louievill (28846)
• Philippines
27 Nov 16
In the Philippines, the Mayor or a Judge can preside or initiate civil marriage ceremonies, so besides the courthouse, the Mayor's office is also a venue.
Civil weddings here are not free since there are fees that need to be paid plus you have to attend a 2 day seminar by the health office, a requirement before tying the not.
If you want a free wedding, you would have to wait for a " mass wedding schedule" officiated by a municipal or city Mayor and are usually held on open grounds or auditoriums, lower income couples avail of this.
1 person likes this
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
27 Nov 16
Thanks I am glad to see there are free weddings on open grounds or auditoriums for lower income couples. I would like to see that happen in my area in 2017 and plan to find out, if they will be offered in the future some place else.
I would like to learn more about the 2 day seminar. Is this to learn about things you need to do as a married couple? We had discussions at the church about forms we needed including the Department Motor Vehicles, Social Security, Voting and other things that would change. Also seating of guests, decorations and what each person would do and whether we were writing our own vows.
1 person likes this
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
27 Nov 16
@louievill Political was one of the reasons listed for no more free weddings. I understand that the county doesn't want people changing their voting party for a free wedding. Judges make over $191,000 dollars in my area, so they can afford to offer free weddings.
I think the seminar would be interesting and informative for everyone. Our church covered many of these issues. Thanks for the quick reply. Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28846)
• Philippines
27 Nov 16
@Fishmomma mass weddings are a good option especially now that life is getting harder, the Mayor also automatically becomes your Primary sponsor. The down side of this is it could be used as politcal leverage so you see a lot when elections are nearing.
The 2 day seminar is more about Family planning and reproductive health, cotraceptives, natural methods etc.. It targets more the younger couples from the poorer sector of society but could get real helpful, informative and even fun even for couples with higher degree of education.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
27 Nov 16
I never heard of weddings being free here but I'm not entirely too sure!
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
27 Nov 16
Thanks for posting on this topic. I'm looking forward to hearing about each part of the United States. I know members will be surprised that this post is from California, as most things aren't free in this area with a lot of actors and celebrities owning homes.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
27 Nov 16
@Fishmomma It is hard to find or qualify for anything free here, I knew some people who got married at the courthouse but each said they had a fee to pay but it wasn't overly expensive but I never asked the cost.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
29 Nov 16
noperz, no such thingy's a free weddin' 'round these parts, aint been to my knowledge. cost me $25 to marry the hubs 't the courthouse. i aint one fer big to-dos.
