a sweet & simple wEDDING blog
from ciao bella celebrations
How Do We Get Our Virginia Marriage License?
You don’t have to be a Virginia resident to obtain a marriage license in Virginia but rules and procedures vary by county / jurisdiction.
Ciao Bella Celebrations can accept your valid marriage license from any county or city Circuit Court in Virginia.
Marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. You don’t have to be a Virginia resident to obtain a marriage license in Virginia, but rules and procedures vary by county/jurisdiction and many rules have changed during the pandemic.
Once your license has been issued, there is no waiting period and no blood test is required. Your marriage license will be valid for 60 calendar days and your ceremony can take place anywhere in Virginia.
❤️ Marriage Licensing in Fauquier County ❤️
In the Town of Warrenton and Fauquier County, your marriage license applications must be signed in front of either a notary or a deputy of the Circuit Court. Print and complete an application for each of you, then sign before a notary and mail them in (great for out of state couples) or bring them to the circuit court in person and sign there. Once you have your license, you can walk up the block to marry at Ciao Bella if we’re open, or plan ahead for any of our services by calling or booking online.
No Residency Requirement
Fauquier Circuit Court is open 8:30 - 4:00 M-F
A wedding near the Fauquier County Courthouse.
Our Little Wedding Venue is located in the heart of beautiful and historic Warrenton in Fauquier County, VA, within steps of the county courthouse and Circuit Court. We maintain a list of contact information and residency requirements for other nearby counties below, beginning with nearby areas that are easiest to work with, and a list of contact information for all 124 Circuit Courts in the Commonwealth of Virginia is maintained by another group as part of a nationwide reference guide, available here:
❤️ City of Fredericksburg ❤️
No Appointment or Residency Requirement
Licenses are issued In-Person 8:30 - 4:00 M-F
❤️ Warren County / Town of Front Royal ❤️
No Appointment or Residency Requirement
Licenses are issued In-Person 9:00 - 5:00 M-F
❤️ Arlington County / City of Arlington ❤️
No Residency Requirement
Starts with an Online Application, followed by scheduling an In-Person or Online Appointment.
Office Hours 8:00 - 4:00 M-F
❤️ City of Alexandria ❤️
No Residency Requirement
Process Starts with an E-mail Application
In-Person Appointments 8:00 - 11:30 M-F, Afternoons Online
❤️ Fairfax County / City of Fairfax ❤️
No Residency Requirement
Licenses are issued via Online Appointment 8:30 - 3:30 M-F
Start with your Online Marriage Pre-Application
❤️ Prince William County / City of Manassas ❤️
No Residency Requirement
Appointment Required / Complete Your Application after scheduling
Licenses are issued In-Person 8:30 - 5:00 M-F
❤️ Stafford County / Town of Stafford ❤️
No Residency Requirement
Process Starts with Online Pre-Application
Licenses are issued In-Person 8:00 - 4:00 M-F
❤️ Spotsylvania County / Town of Spotsylvania ❤️
Call for Appointment / No Residency Requirement
Process Begins with Online Pre-Application
Licenses are Issued In-Person 8:00 - 4:30 M-F
❤️ Orange County / Town of Orange ❤️
No Appointment or Residency Requirement
Licenses are issued In-Person 8:00 - 4:30 M-F
❤️ Culpeper County / Town of Culpeper ❤️
No Appointment or Residency Requirement
Licenses are Issued In-Person 8:30 - 4:00 M-F
❤️ Rappahannock County / Town of Washington ❤️
Appointment Required
Licenses are issued In-Person 8:30 - 4:30 M-F
At least one of you must be a county resident
❤️ Frederick County / City of Winchester ❤️
No Appointment Required
Licenses are Issued In-Person 9:00 - 5:00 M-F
At least one of you must be a Virginia resident
❤️ Loudoun County / City of Leesburg ❤️
Starts with an Online Application, followed by scheduling an In-Person or Online Appointment.
Office Hours 8:00 - 4:00 M-F
At least one of you must be a county resident
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Ciao Bella married more than 500 couples during the course of the COVID-19 emergency, and we’re thrilled to bring couples together from all over to share and celebrate their special moments from the Heart of Warrenton. Our Little Wedding Chapel and offsite celebrant services offer a safe and sensible alternative for couples whose plans have been disrupted, and anyone who wants to marry without all the stress and expense. Whether it’s a Minimony, tiny wedding, elopement, or micro-wedding, we can help you to create your wedding your way!
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A First Dance at Warren Green - photo by Ciao Bella Celebrations
❤️twenty-somethings❤️
Ciao Bella is celebrating 20 years in business by expanding our micro weddings to welcome up to 30 guests and creating the best value around with our Summer Specials. The Best Little Wedding Chapel in Virginia is ready to create memories to cherish with a beautiful and memorable experience!
On June 6, 2003 we registered our first domain name ciaobellaphotos.com to begin our incredible journey. Today we’re celebrating 20 years of Ciao Bella by expanding our intimate weddings to welcome up to 30 guests and creating the best value around with our "Summer of Love" Specials. The Best Little Wedding Chapel in Virginia is ready to create memories to cherish with your beautiful and stress-free celebration!
Starting from our home in Warrenton as Ciao Bella Photography, we’ve grown and evolved over the years to create Ciao Bella Celebrations, the only micro wedding venue of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic. Here are a few highlights:
❤️ Our studio on North 5th Street (2011-2016) ❤️
❤️ 20 years of innovation ❤️
Over the past 20 years we’ve worked to bring fresh ideas and exceptional value to the Heart of Warrenton, Fauquier County and the DMV with everything we offer. Our Sweet & Simple Weddings of today were conceived and developed in part from a series of firsts we brought to our area:
❤️A snapshot from our 2011 website ❤️
First photography service to offer online ordering in Fauquier County
First to offer finished photo files and DVD slide shows for weddings & events
First to offer action photos and on-site team photos for youth sports
First and only trolley transportation service in Fauquier County
First and only intimate wedding chapel of its size and type in the Mid-Atlantic
We’re also the first and only venue in our area with comprehensive online booking and the only officiant service in the DMV to bring a custom arbor and music to your backyard, park, or lakeside wedding. A few things we’ve been known for are no longer at the front of our repertoire, for example our services are now available by appointment only and our trolley’s next life is underway as a mobile retail store in Texas. However, we’ve always designed our service models with flexibility in mind and we’re delighted to be able to meet your needs across a variety of event and photography genres.
❤️20 years of photography❤️
Our love of photography has been a core component of all we offer as Ciao Bella has worked with thousands of people in a variety of settings. Our commitment to exceptional service is known to our customers and readers of Warrenton Lifestyle who voted for “Best Local Photographer” five years running (2013-2017).
Some notable partners and clients over the years:
Wedding Venues - In addition to our Little Wedding Chapel we’ve photographed weddings and performed as officiant for all of Fauquier’s major venues including Airlie, Blue Valley, Fauquier Springs, Great Marsh, Marriott Ranch, Molon Lave, Morais Vineyards and Poplar Springs. We’ve also worked with leading area venues such as Old House Vineyards, Sweeney Barn, Bull Run Winery, La Grange Winery, Riverside on the Potomac and others, even Barboursville!
Fauquier County Youth Sports - Ciao Bella was selected as the county-wide photography service for youth recreational sports leagues in 2005 and carried it for three seasons.
Holy Trinity Catholic Church - Ciao Bella provided portrait photography and covered 1st communion and confirmation masses for 13 seasons.
Wakefield School - Ciao Bella provided class pictures and senior portrait sessions and covered assorted school events for seven seasons.
Commercial Clients - Real estate, manufacturing, finance, health care, construction, non-profits and small businesses throughout Fauquier County and the surrounding area continue to rely on Ciao Bella for quality photography and reliable service.
HS Seniors and Families - We continue to offer quality family and senior portrait sessions at reasonable rates from Old Town Warrenton or your favorite location.
❤️ THANK YOU FOR AN INCREDIBLE 20 YEARS! ❤️
It’s a little hard to express our gratitude in this moment because our feelings run so very deep. Ciao Bella is so much more to us than a small business, it’s been our way of communicating our love of the people, community, and world around us. Our lives are immeasurably richer because of all the opportunities, people we’ve met, places we’ve been, lessons we’ve learned and all the feats we’ve been able to accomplish that never would have been possible without Ciao Bella. We’re driven as we’ve always been by our love of engaging with people and our community, our love of small business, photography, and the creative outlets they offer, and our love for our family and each other.
Thank you to everyone who has celebrated with us, worked with us, helped us, taught us, and trusted us to help create and preserve some of life’s great moments.
questions?
Love Is Beautiful at Any Age!
Ciao Bella is the perfect venue for elopements, second or third marriages, rededication of vows, couples over 40, blended families and more!
It seems nearly all the attention when it comes to weddings is geared toward young love-birds in their 20s and 30s, but what about middle aged and older couples?
Whether it’s a second or third wedding, or maybe it just took a little longer to find your one true love, there’s no age limit to falling in love and starting anew. We at Ciao Bella believe that finding that special someone is always a cause for joy and celebration.
❤️ Love Is Beautiful at Any Age! ❤️
We’ve been witness to some of the sweetest and most serendipitous love stories, from chance meetings to reuniting 35 years after a high school or college romance, to couples with lasting and loving relationships who finally decide the time is right. We love to witness the special and sentimental way each wedding unfolds, and our hearts are filled with joy for couples who come to us to celebrate their love story with a rededication of the vows they shared 40, 50 and even 60 years ago.
Couples ranging in age from 18 to 85 from all walks of life have chosen to marry at our Little Wedding Chapel. Weddings come in all shapes and sizes, but we’ve found that the majority of older couples prefer an intimate wedding where they can focus on each other and their nearest and dearest. Many decide to elope to keep the focus on just the two of them, while others include their children as a part of bringing together a blended family and still others choose to bring lifelong friends to join in the celebration.
The one rule of modern weddings is there really are no rules. For anything and everything from your setting, timing, music (or none) and everything down to your wedding duds, your wedding day is yours. We can accommodate a variety of styles from casual comfort to vintage beauty to formal elegance, and if there is a rule it’s that every couple should marry in a way that makes them comfortable in their own skin and in a style that makes them feel as beautiful and special as they are. It’s thrilling for us to be a part of all these memorable and festive celebrations.
Ciao Bella offers the best value for your elopement or intimate wedding in the DC Metro and Northern Virginia by far. Our Sweet & Simple wedding packages offer the look and feel of a larger affair with everything scaled to size for our intimate setting. We have everything you need for a beautiful and memorable celebration for you and up to 20 guests, with packages designed to let you choose the services you want and DIY the rest. We’re the perfect solution for busy extended families, second or third marriages and so much more.
❤️ Call or E-Mail Today! ❤️
Your Wedding Inflation Busters!
Ciao Bella offers the best value for your elopement or intimate wedding in the DC Metro and Northern Virginia.
With inflation still gripping much of the country and wedding prices going up everywhere, many couples find their plans to suddenly be out of reach. Even micro-weddings and “elopement specials” in our region are often priced well into the thousands.
❤️ Looking for a better way? ❤️
Ciao Bella offers the best value for your elopement or intimate wedding in DC Metro and Northern Virginia by far. Our Little Wedding Venue has everything you need to have a beautiful and memorable celebration for you and up to 30 guests, and our packages are designed so you can use the services you want and DIY the rest.
Our research of elopement and micro-wedding packages in the local area came up with a pop-up wedding in DC starting at $3200, a Northern Virginia elopement (ceremony & photos) from $1200, an all-inclusive 4th of July special for $2750 and a host of “Contact Us for Pricing” badges from large and small venues alike. Meanwhile, check out these examples of what you can get every day with Ciao Bella:
❤️ JUST THE TWO OF YOU ❤️
Venue & Ceremony: $199
Photography Package: $150
A Toast for Two: $25
TOTAL BEFORE TAX: $374
❤️ ALL-INCLUSIVE WEDDING FOR 15 ❤️
Venue & Ceremony for 15: $399
Photography Package: $285
Cake for 15: $60
Mimosa Bar for 15: $150
Hors D'oeuvres for 15: $270
DIY Flowers from Wegman’s: $45
TOTAL BEFORE TAX: $1209
Our Sweet & Simple wedding packages offer the look and feel of a larger affair with everything scaled to size for our intimate setting. Our Little Wedding Chapel has neutral décor that’s easy to personalize with arbor and linens included.
Our all-inclusive bundles offer all the services you need for your small wedding:
Planning. We work with you directly once you book, and details for your wedding or elopement can be easily settled with an advance visit, e-mail, messaging and/or phone calls as needed.
Wedding Officiant. All our wedding packages include a wedding officiant who is licensed and certified to conduct ceremonies and file your marriage license for certification from anywhere in Virginia.
Professional Photography. We offer award-winning photography with unlimited sharing and a USB of your finished files. Coverage includes ceremony, formal photos with family and friends and a romantic couples’ session in beautiful historic Old Town Warrenton.
Deejay. We use a legal music streaming service and help you with music selections for your ceremony and first dance as part of every wedding package.
Flowers and Props. We offer free use of our Sola Wood bouquets and boutonnieres along with other props and signs for your ceremony and photos.
Champagne Toast. Soft drinks and bottled water are free of charge and we offer beer, wine, champagne and a mimosa bar at reasonable rates.
Wedding Cake. We offer cakes that serve 15-25 starting at only $60 and our Hors D'oeuvres platters start at only $18 per guest.
We ask a $25 service charge to bring your own cake ($75 for your own food) to cover setup, plating & cleanup. Sorry, outside alcohol is not permitted.
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The perfect wedding plan is out there for every couple, and people come to our Little Wedding Venue for as many reasons as those who choose a larger or more lavish affair. For example, military couples come to us so they can invite family to be a part of their wedding day before going on deployment. We’re the perfect solution for busy extended families, second or third marriages and so much more. Call or E-Mail Today!
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❤️ Our Hearts Are Full ❤️
Our Hearts Are Full at Ciao Bella Celebrations as we achieve a joyful milestone to close out 2021 ❤️
On New Year’s Eve 2021 we at Ciao Bella celebrated the joyful milestone of marrying our 1,000th couple since the opening of our Little Wedding Chapel five years ago. Despite the challenges, more couples married with us during the last two years than our first three and we’re preparing for more growth in 2022.
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More couples are turning to Ciao Bella for the next step of their journey together as it becomes clear that an elopement or intimate wedding simply makes sense, but that doesn’t mean you have to scrimp on the things that matter most. We offer the ease and romance of an elopement with the trappings of larger affairs, all scaled to size.
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We’ve safely married hundreds of couples through the course of the pandemic, helping them to take care of things that matter most as they begin their married lives together. We’ve also been able to work with some truly wonderful partners, helping all of us to survive and thrive in an uncertain world.
Here are a few more highlights of the lovely couples who chose Ciao Bella in 2021. We would like to extend best wishes to all 242 couples we married, along with the others who used our trolley and photography services. May this year and every year be filled with joyful memories together for all of you.
❤️❤️❤️ Our Hearts Are Full !!! ❤️❤️❤️
A Quarter Century Done Right!
Springtime is a perfect time to ride and celebrate together with the Ciao Bella Trolley!
Addendum: The Ciao Bella Trolley began its next adventure in Texas in September 2022.
Springtime (was) a perfect time to ride and celebrate together with the Ciao Bella Trolley!
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After a quiet 2020, our Spring 2021 season began with a birthday party for the ages as our “Prom Queen” Gina and her close friends got all dressed up for her 25th Birthday celebration and winery tour. The trolley arrived in Arlington to bring everyone out to Virginia Wine Country for a fun-filled and picture-perfect spring celebration.
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Our first stop after boarding with a mimosa toast was the beautiful and historic Effingham Manor, for an outdoor wine tasting and picnic refreshments that were planned in advance.
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Next stop before circling back to Arlington was The Winery at Bull Run, another beautiful and historic Northern Virginia venue where everyone enjoyed birthday cake, the beauty of the day and most importantly, each other. Safely, responsibly, and joyously.
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Our beautiful Old-Time Trolley holds up to 14 people and it’s ideal for weddings & celebrations of all kinds. Make your Birthday, Intimate Wedding, Wine Tour, Tailgate, Bachelorette Party or any special celebration a day to remember!
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Intimate Weddings in Virginia Wine Country!
With a few easy steps, our Sweet and Simple packages can offer you a one-of-a-kind wedding in the heart of Virginia Wine Country.
Ciao Bella Celebrations has partnered with Molon Lave Vineyards of Opal, VA, to offer intimate Winery Wedding packages in the heart of Virginia Wine Country ❤️
An intimate wedding with Molon Lave and Ciao Bella offers the perfect alternative for couples who are looking for the scenic beauty of a winery setting, and for those who wish to accommodate a few more guests than you can otherwise accommodate with an indoor elopement or micro-wedding. With a few easy steps, our Sweet and Simple packages will give you a beautiful and memorable wedding with festive and romantic touches that are easy on you and easy on your budget.
Pricing will vary according to the number of guests and the options you select.
Early springtime romance above the lake, at Molon Lave Vineyards.
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Ciao Bella married more than 500 couples during the course of the COVID-19 emergency, and we’re thrilled to bring couples together from all over to share and celebrate their special moments from the Heart of Warrenton and beautiful scenic Fauquier County Virginia. Our Little Wedding Chapel, offsite celebrant services and special packages offer a safe and sensible alternative for couples whose plans have been disrupted, and anyone who wants to marry without all the stress and expense. Whether it’s a Minimony, tiny wedding, elopement, or micro wedding, we can help you to create your wedding your way. Call or E-Mail today!
Wedding Romance - photo by Ciao Bella Celebrations
Till Death Do Us Part - A Halloween Wedding to Remember!
Paying homage to Día de los Muertos for their celebration, Danesha and Andrew had a wedding to remember at the Fauquier History Museum.
Halloween 2020 was a day that we at Ciao Bella will not soon forget.
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Paying homage to their Mexican heritage and Día de los Muertos for their celebration, Danesha and Andrew married before close family at the outdoor courtyard of the Fauquier History Museum. Just across the street from our Little Wedding Chapel, the museum served as a jail from 1808 until 1966 and has since served as home to extraordinary stories and local history.
Danesha & Andrew at the Fauquier History Museum - photo Ciao Bella Celebrations
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After their ceremony, the newlyweds and family boarded the Ciao Bella Celebrations Trolley for a truly special sunset photography session at our historic Warrenton Cemetery. From there it was back to our Little Wedding Chapel for a toast and cake-cutting.
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We've married hundreds of couples during the course of the COVID-19 emergency, and we’re thrilled to bring people together from all over to share and celebrate their special moments from the Heart of Warrenton. Our Little Wedding Chapel and offsite celebrant services offer a safe and sensible alternative for couples whose plans have been disrupted, and anyone who wants to marry without all the stress and expense. Whether it’s a Minimony, tiny wedding, elopement, or micro-wedding, we can help you to create your wedding your way!
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Danesha & Andrew - photo by Ciao Bella Celebrations
Almost Famous!
Couples’ Love Stories with Ciao Bella during the COVID-19 emergency, featured in the New York Times!
In March 2020 one of the first couples we married during the COVID-19 crisis caught the attention of the New York Times, and by the end of April the love stories of four couples who were married at our Little Wedding Chapel had been featured. Here they are …
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“An Elopement Close to Home” - Anna & Bryce
“An Old Friend with New Eyes” - Ebba & Bennett
“Our Big Guest List Will Have to Wait” - Ayana & CJ
“Rave Reviews at the Salon” - Ellyna & Kristi
We've safely married hundreds of couples since the pandemic began and we’re thrilled to bring couples together from all over to share and celebrate their special moments from the Heart of Warrenton. Our Little Wedding Chapel and offsite celebrant services offer a safe and sensible alternative for couples whose plans have been disrupted, and anyone who wants to marry without all the stress and expense.
Ayana & CJ - Just Married!
We wish many years of joy and memories for these couples and all who come to us. We make it easy and stress-free to plan an intimate wedding that's romantic, festive, and memorable with traditions that have real meaning to both of you. Whether it’s a Minimony, tiny wedding, elopement, or micro-wedding, make it your wedding your way!
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A Vintage Car makes your intimate wedding Picture-Perfect!
A vintage car from Camelot Classic Cars is the ultimate final touch for your intimate celebration!
One of many advantages to an intimate wedding is a smaller budget can leave a little “wiggle room” you may not have had otherwise. There’s really no limit to the ways you can make your wedding your own, but the Heart of Warrenton has some truly unique options for your special day.
You may have noticed from browsing our website that using a vintage car for romantic photos is one of our favorites. Couples are transported to a sweeter and simpler time with all the glamour and romance of a larger celebration, and the historic architecture and beautiful landscapes of Old Town Warrenton and Fauquier County make the perfect backdrop.
If you or a someone at your wedding owns a vintage car we highly recommend bringing it for photos after your ceremony. If not, however, you can still add to your Little Big Day with the gorgeous all-American sculpture from our friends at Camelot Classic Cars. For less than you may think, a vintage car will be waiting at our Little Wedding Chapel after your ceremony for a ride through Old Town or your favorite nearby location and photos that simply can’t be duplicated anywhere else. Even better, with our mini celebrations your guests can join the photo session for a special memento of your day to remember and cherish.
Add the ultimate final touch of vintage American beauty from Camelot to create your picture-prefect intimate celebration with Ciao Bella! Whether it’s a Minimony, quickie marriage, tiny wedding, elopement, or micro-wedding, make it your wedding your way ❤️
Vintage Weddings in the Heart of Warrenton with Ciao Bella and Camelot Classic Cars ❤️
Wedding History in the Heart of Warrenton
History is repeating itself in the Heart of Warrenton VA with a modern take on the “wedding mill”
Long before we opened our Little Wedding Chapel, the Heart of Warrenton became a go-to location where more than 1,600 “quickie marriages” were conducted in a single year, turning our little Virginia town into a virtual “marriage mill.”
In 1939, Washington DC instituted a three-day waiting period between a blood test that was required at the time and the granting of a marriage license. Maryland, the city of Alexandria, Fairfax and Arlington counties soon followed suit, but in Warrenton and other Virginia towns there was no waiting period. Couples came to be married from all 48 states as well as Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, France, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Canada, Ireland, Russia, Norway and Sweden.
So much has changed in the past 80 years, but our town is still filled with beauty, history and charm and once again it’s a go-to place for couples who wish to elope or marry. Our full-service intimate venue offers a Sweet & Simple wedding experience like no other as we welcome couples from DC Metro, the Virginia Piedmont and all over. Right across the street from Fauquier County Circuit Court, Ashby Street is our “Lovers’ Lane” for the modern age.
Whether it’s a Minimony, quickie marriage, tiny wedding, elopement, or micro-wedding, make it your wedding your way ❤️
Warrenton’s wedding history is chronicled in this article in the Fauquier Times.
Vintage Weddings in the Heart of Warrenton with Ciao Bella and Camelot Classic Cars ❤️
Bigger Isn't Always Better!
Whether you call it a Minimony, tiny wedding, elopement, or micro-wedding, make it your wedding your way!
We've recently noticed that The Knot has coined a new term, "The Minimony" for intimate wedding ceremonies that happen now with a larger "sequel" celebration planned for a later date. COVID restrictions have drawn fresh attention to smaller weddings like ours, but we and others like us have been conducting them all along. So much of our wedding industry is based on the importance of a lavish affair with all the "must-haves" and there's still a push for the "big wedding bash," but many couples find the authenticity of the moment, the real reason for getting married, can be muted by all the hype and expectations. We love a big celebration as much as anyone, but the simple truth is an intimate wedding makes more sense in these times. Keeping it small saves on more than stress and expense, it allows you to spend more quality time with those who mean the most and create beautiful memories together without being swept up in a giant whirlwind.
We make it easy and stress-free to plan an intimate wedding that's romantic, festive, and memorable with traditions that have real meaning to both of you. Whether you call it a Minimony, tiny wedding, elopement, or micro-wedding, make it your wedding your way ❤️
