Destination weddings are very popular these days. After all, who wouldn’t want to tie the knot on a beach at sunset in Maui, Jamaica or Bermuda? There are many great destinations for your nuptials but, deciding which destination is only a small part of the wedding planning. When considering a destination wedding you are faced with who to invite and who pays for what. Here are some destination wedding etiquette tips that should help planning your destination wedding easier.
Applicable Marriage Laws By State
Understanding the marriage laws in your state will save you time, effort, and money in the long run. There are many laws that could throw a wrench in the wedding plans of which many brides are unaware. Need examples?
- Planning a destination wedding? Make sure that the state that is hosting your wedding ceremony will recognize the union. For instance, you must be a resident of Indiana to be legally married there.
- Hate needles? Let’s hope that your wedding ceremony location is in a state that does not require a blood test.
- Taking a honeymoon trip right after the wedding? Make sure that you’re back in 10 days to file your marriage license if you were married in Oklahoma.
These and many other laws exist to protect the couples and make their union as special as possible. To understand the applicable wedding laws in your state, simply browse the table below!
| State |
Age Req.
|
Waiting Period
|
Blood
Test |
Cost
|
Validity
|
Residency
|
| Alabama |
18
|
None | None | $25 | 30 Days | None |
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| Alaska | 18 | 3 Days | None | $25 | 90 Days | None |
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| Arizona | 18 | None | None | $50 | 1 Year | None |
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| Arkansas | None | None | None | $30 | 60 Days | None |
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| California Article |
18 | None | None | $50 – $80 | 90 Days | None |
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| Colorado | 18 | None | None | $20 | 30 Days | None |
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| Colorado | 18 | None | None | $20 | 30 Days | None |
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| Connecticut Article | 18 | Varies | Varies | $35 | 25-35 Days | None |
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| Delaware | 18 | 24 Hours | None | $30 | 30 Days | None |
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| District of Columbia | 18 | 3 Days | Yes | $35 | Indefinitely | None |
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| Florida Article |
18 | 3 Days | None | $56-$88.50 | 60 Days | None |
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| Georgia | 18 | None | Yes | $40 | None | None |
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| Hawaii | 18 | None | None | $50 | 30 Days | None |
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| Idaho | 18 | None | None | $28 | Indefinitely | None |
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| Illinois | 18 | None | None | $15 – $20 | 60 Days | None |
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| Indiana | 18 | None | None | $18 | 60 Days | Yes |
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| Iowa | 18 | 3 Days | None | $30 | None | None |
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| Kansas | 18 | 3 Days | None | $50 | 6 Months | None |
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| Kentucky | 18 | None | None | $34.50 | 29 Days | None |
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| Louisiana | 18 | 3 Days | None | $25 | 30 Days | None |
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| Maine | 18 | 3 Days | None | $20 | 90 Days | None |
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| Maryland | 18 | 2 Days | None | $55 | 6 Months | None |
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| Massachusetts Article |
17 | 3 Days | Yes | $25 | 60 Days | None |
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| Michigan | 18 | 3 Days | Yes | $20 | 30 Days | None |
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| Minnesota | 18 | 5 Day | None | $70 | 6 Months | None |
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| Mississippi | 21 | 3 Days | Yes | $21 | 90 Days | None |
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| Missouri | 18 | 3 Days | None | $50 | 30 Days | None |
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| Nebraska | 19 | None | Some | $15 | 1 Year | None |
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| Nevada Article |
18 | None | None | Varies | Indefinitely | None |
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| New Hampshire | 18 | 3 Days | None | $45 | 90 Days | None |
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| New Jersey Article |
18 | 72 Hours | None | $28 | 30 Days | None |
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| New Mexico | None | None | None | $25 | Indefinitely | None |
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| New York Article |
18 | 1 Day | None | $20-$30 | 60 Days | None |
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| North Carolina | 18 | None | None | $40 | 60 Days | None |
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| North Dakota | 18 | None | None | $35 | 60 Days | None |
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| Ohio | 18 | None | None | $45 | 60 Days | None |
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| Oklahoma | 18 | None | Yes | $25 | 10 Days | None |
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| Oregon | 18 | 3 Days | None | $60 | 60 Days | None |
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| Pennsylvania Article |
18 | 3 Days | None | $25-$40 | 60 Days | None |
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| Rhode Island | 18 | None | None | $24 | 3 Months | None |
|
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| South Carolina | 18 | 1 Day | None | $25 | Indefinitely | None |
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| South Dakota | 18 | None | None | $40 | 20 Days | None |
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| Tennessee | 18 | None | None | $31 | 30 Days | None |
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| Texas | 18 | 3 Days | None | $36 | 30 Days | None |
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| Utah | 18 | None | None | $40 | 30 Days | None |
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| Vermont | 18 | None | None | $20 | 60 Days | None |
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| Virginia | 18 | None | None | $30 | 60 Days | None |
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| Washington | 18 | 3 Days | None | $52 | 60 Days | None |
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| West Virginia | 18 | None | None | $23 | Indefinitely | None |
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| Wisconsin | 18 | 5 Days | None | $50-$60 | 30 Days | Yes |
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| Wyoming | 18 | None | None | $25 | Indefinitely | None |
The Proposal That Got Me Hook Line & Sinker
We’d been dating for just over a year when my fiance surprised me one Christmas with a marriage proposal. It wasn’t our first Christmas together so I wasn’t expecting anything major.
We were playing “Dirty Santa” with my family when Josh asked me to trade gifts. We hadn’t opened them but he seemed to know what was in the package that he held. I agreed to trade because he seemed really adamant about it.
I opened the package and laughed out loud. Inside was a big-mouthed bass. [Read more…]
Throwing A Fun Gingerbread House Decorating Party
There’s nothing quite as festive and entertaining during the Christmas season as entertaining friends and family with a fun party. Sometimes the trick to great hosting is having the unique party theme that stands out from the others. Well you have that this year thanks to a great gingerbread house decorating party!
Grab your friends together or invite your children’s friends over to make a gingerbread house using delicious gingerbread cookies, colorful icing, candy buttons and other sweet treats. You might end up covered in icing and cookie dough crumbles, but it’ll create a multitude of fun and photo-worthy stories.
So what goes into this party theme? Well, lots of [Read more…]
Organize Your Big Day to Keep Stress Away
When planning a wedding—whether large, small or in-between—a great wedding planning tip is to have an organizer to keep track of all the details—and I’m not talking about your wedding planner. Although even If you’re working with a wedding planner, it’s important to keep your own record of what you discuss and agree upon. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have it all in your head and can remember all the details. The true is as the big day approaches and the stress builds, some of those “little” details may slip out of [Read more…]
How To Create The Perfect Wedding Registry
Sometimes creating a wedding registry can seem like a daunting task but it really doesn’t have to be. In fact, it can be one of the most enjoyable activities that you have when planning a wedding. Selecting the items that will help the bride- and groom-to-be create a happy home should be a fun and exciting event enjoyed as a couple. It is often the first activity that the newly betrothed couple makes as a couple and is a great time to spend some extra time with the person that you love. To make sure that the items that you want are on your wedding registry, here are a few (15) things to know when creating your registry. [Read more…]
The Sweetest Part of New Wedding Reception Trends
Have you heard about the latest wedding reception trend? Candy buffets are all the rage these days. I know! It’s a dream come true, right? Indulging on gourmet chocolates and candies only makes the wedding day seem even sweeter.
Jordan almonds have been a longtime favorite wedding favor. Well, these and other candies such as gourmet chocolates, sweetheart mints, gumballs and others have also seen a rise in popularity.
The natural evolution from individual treats has progressed into a candy buffet bar for the wedding reception. This wedding trend is really picking up steam as modern brides search for unique and eye-catching ways to decorate the wedding reception. [Read more…]
A Walk Down the Aisle: Father or Step-Father?
Who Walks The Bride Down The Aisle
Blended families are a normal part of life these days, but when it comes to deciding who walks the bride down the aisle—father or step-father—it can be anything but a “normal” decision. However, there are some guidelines to follow to help make the decision.
Guideline for Walking Bride Down Aisle:
The first thing to keep in mind is that walking the bride down the aisle or “giving the bride away” is a [Read more…]
Who Else Wants Wedding Cake Toppers?
Have Your Cake and Top Too!
Colors! Cake! Flowers! Music! So many decisions! Anyone who has witnessed or is planning a wedding can attest to the multitude of design decisions to be made when planning a ceremony and reception. It’s a list that goes on and on. The location sets the tone for the event; the flowers add whimsy; photos, pets, and music add personality. Today, the amount of the opportunities for conveying individuality is ever increasing as the wedding industry has begun to acknowledge and cater to the qualities of each couple rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all ceremony.
Almost every aspect of a wedding day is available for tweaking. This includes the flowers, vows, bridesmaids dress, and endless other details. The reception carries this trend with everything from centerpieces to entrées, and even napkins. However, few parts of this day can be preserved and taken home as a souvenir of the launch of a new life.
One item that has become a shining example of personalization-meets-tradition is the wedding cake and more specifically the wedding cake topper. It was once the epitome of mass-produced tackiness that was the demise of past wedding ceremonies, and it is now a traditional piece used to display the couple’s identity, whether it is goofy, geeky, or glamorous.
The official origin of wedding cake toppers is unknown, and there are as many stories as there are choices. However, most historians agree that cake toppers can be traced back to the 19th century when the tradition of the bride and groom in formal attire symbolize atop the cake began. The trend took hold in America in the 1940s and has become a staple in wedding cake design ever since.
Like many elements of today’s weddings, the demand for unique wedding cakes and wedding cake toppers has led to a tremendous amount of choices ranging in everything from the quirky and humorous to the elegant and traditional. Even once a couple decides on a direction for their cake topper, they’re still left with a dizzying array of choices to further enhance their wedding cake design.
A popular option for many cakes today is to top them with a monogram of the either the couple’s combined initials or the first letter of their last name. It is a sophisticated way to display individuality and the uniting of two people. Couples can choose the font, size, and material of the piece. Ideas monogram toppers include for etched glass, cut mirror, or metallic materials. Some choose to take it a step further and add rhinestones, flowers, or crystals to add extra glitz to their cake.
For a wedding on a beach, a tropical-themed cake topper would be a great way to tie-in the wedding cake with the nature of the ceremony. Ceramic figurines depicting a couple in their favorite beach attire is a light-hearted touch to a normally casual event. There are also sculptures of beach scenes and items like shells and palm trees in a variety of materials. Like most other toppers, the design of these can be incredibly detailed, showing facial expressions, sand on the beach, or patterns in clothing, or they can be monochromatic, lyrical pieces full of movement and grace.
Wedding cake toppers for an avid hobbyist are ideal for laid-back ceremonies or grooms’ cakes. Golfers, baseball fanatics, and car enthusiasts can all find a topper to suit their interests and are sure to make guests chuckle. Geeks can also find their niche by choosing geeky groom toppers such as sci-fi themed or techie options. The possibilities are endless when it comes to finding the perfect topper to match a matchless personality!
Other themed wedding cake toppers choices include those for the sportsman, fisherman, musician, and the farmer. The list never seems to end! A great idea for a musician is a microphone-shaped cake topper or a music note. And the fisherman is sure to get a kick out of a bride and groom donning waders and fishing poles! Brides who enjoy shopping can find a number of choices of shop-a-holic brides, and grooms who enjoy a friendly game of golf can find a golfing groom to complement his game.
Religious cake toppers are another choice for couples who are devoted in their beliefs and want a wedding cake that reflects their faith. For example, grooms wearing kippahs are available for Jewish ceremonies, and lovely items, such as crosses and doves, are offered for Christian weddings.
What’s more, members of the military can even find a cake topper to suit their needs. If the groom wears his dress blues in his wedding, he can find a cake topper to match. Usually, highly specialized cake toppers such these are sold alone. By opting for the interchangeable cake toppers, couples can find a perfectly suited arrangement the fit their personalities to a tee.
Every couple is unique and together they possess a dynamic unlike any other. Modern wedding planning seeks to display that special something that makes them work so wonderfully together. Each aspect of wedding can contribute to this goal, including the cake. Choosing a wedding cake topper is another step towards making a wedding one-of-a-kind.
Contributor: Ashley Slayton
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Learn more about Wedding Traditions, Wedding Tips, Party Tips and Ideas, Party Themes, Etiquette and more on our the Wedding and Party Network blog.
Wedding Tips: Something Old
“Something old. Something new.
Something borrowed. Something blue.“
Let’s focus on the first part of the old adage for a moment. In the age of contemporary weddings and modern brides, sometimes incorporating something “old” just doesn’t seem to work. However, there are many great ways to bring luck and happiness to your union by fulfilling the “something old” tradition.
Many women look to mothers, aunts, grandmothers, and older family members when searching for something old. Many times these women have vintage jewelry, antique handkerchiefs and other family heirlooms. These are very appropriate and can be incorporated into a modern ceremony with ease. For instance, [Read more…]
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