How do weddings performed by a JP at a courthouse usually go?

Question

My fiance and I already have an appointment for next week and are going to get the license tomorrow. What I really want to know is what happens when you actually get in front of the judge? What steps will the "ceremony" go through? Vows/what gets said? rings? anything else? just wondering so I don't have to go in there completely oblivious to my own wedding!

Answer 1

I got married at the JP before my hubby deployed to iraq...and i was all new to this b/c i was 20 and my hubby was only 22 at the time, and no one else did this...so i did this all by first time basis... so i hope tihs helps!

We made the appointment for the day we were to get married. We got the marriage liscense at the same courthouse about a week before. it only took a few days to process, but i heard other states it takes a month, so check on this!, and made an appointment to meet with the secretary of the judge who was to marry us. We did this because sometimes judges have a long...more tradiational version... of 'vows' to be said, and sometimes judges have a small version of it. we sat down infront of the secretary and gave us a copy of both, and she just said to read it over, and to pick which one we wanted. of course we picked the longer one- it was more tradiational.. "to have and to hold, for richer or poorer" blah blah. she said that she would give this to the judge and confirmed the time of the day to get married.

we went to the courthouse and got there about 20 minutes early and let the secretary know that we were there and ready to be married. she then let the judge know, and let us know that we were able to move into the courtroom to get married. while we were standing there waiting, she called us back to meet with the jduge.

we walked in, the judge introduced himself, and sat us down infront of his desk. he asked us if we were ready, and of course we said yes- he confirmed we were doing the longer version, and made sure to write down our names at the top of the paper just to be safe...and then said to go ahead and wait with our family in the courtroom and he'll be right out.

when he came out, he introduced himself and told us to stand ifnront of him by the main judge desk in the courtroom...the rest of the family stayed behind the wall in the seats.. we gave him the rings and he kept them on his paper while he read the vows. he did the whole ceremony- including an exchange of rings vow, and when it came to that time, we picked up our rings out of his hand and exchanged them.

after that, he pronounced us married and said that we could kiss... just like every wedding... immediately following the kiss, we gave him our marriage liscense and he signed it right then and there.

afterwards we took pictures in the courtroom and with the judge.

it wasn't that complicated, but i didn't know to meet with the secretary to pick out vows- i feel that helped because the judge knew what we wanted and hoenstly, if you watch tons of weddings on tv, its the same thing...

but i suggest calling the secretary and seeing what needs to be decided...

it went really smooth. judges do this all the time. :)

Answer 2

the clerk or JP who is doing the ceremony will stand before you and perform the wedding- the usual few questions for the vows- do you take this man/woman for your lawfully wedded husband/wife- no holy matrimony stuff of course.  They ask if you will be exchanging rings.  Kissing is optional LOL.  It's pretty boring actually.