My husband and I got married on a whim while on vacation in California and we wouldn't have done it any other way. When I say a whim -- we had been together nine years -- so we knew we were committed, but we had never been into the idea of a traditional church wedding. He hates formality and I've never been into sauntering down the aisle dressed up looking like a cupcake.
So about seven years ago, while on vacation in San Diego, we happened to walk by city hall and looked at one another. We hadn't planned on getting married ... but hey ... it was RIGHT THERE.
When we got back to our hotel, we called the Justice of the Peace who said she was booked for the day but she had an opening the next day. Perfect! No need for a wedding planner here.
There was one small step we still had to take, however.
In California, you don't need a blood test and you don't need to be a resident, but you do need rings. Because we were on vacation, we had no rings in our possession, so we walked about four blocks to the Von's grocery store, dropped two quarters in a bubble gum machine and there were our rings. We were both extremely happy with the bubble gum machine gods who seemed to spit out rings we both really liked.
The following day, we went down to the JOP's office -- which sits close to the water -- filled out our marriage licenses and were married outside with the Pacific Ocean in the background on a beautiful May day. Our witness was a woman who worked at city hall and was on her way to lunch.
The best part of it was when we got home and told our families, instead of being angry, their reaction was "Finally!" They were thrilled.
And when it came to costs, here's how everything broke down.
Cost for the wedding license: $60
Cost for Wedding rings: 50 cents
Doing it your way: Priceless
And this is not to say our way is the best way for everyone, but we wouldn't get married any other way.
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Indie girl,
My husband and I got married on a whim while on vacation in California and we wouldn't have done it any other way. When I say a whim -- we had been together nine years -- so we knew we were committed, but we had never been into the idea of a traditional church wedding. He hates formality and I've never been into sauntering down the aisle dressed up looking like a cupcake.
So about seven years ago, while on vacation in San Diego, we happened to walk by city hall and looked at one another. We hadn't planned on getting married ... but hey ... it was RIGHT THERE.
When we got back to our hotel, we called the Justice of the Peace who said she was booked for the day but she had an opening the next day. Perfect! No need for a wedding planner here.
There was one small step we still had to take, however.
In California, you don't need a blood test and you don't need to be a resident, but you do need rings. Because we were on vacation, we had no rings in our possession, so we walked about four blocks to the Von's grocery store, dropped two quarters in a bubble gum machine and there were our rings. We were both extremely happy with the bubble gum machine gods who seemed to spit out rings we both really liked.
The following day, we went down to the JOP's office -- which sits close to the water -- filled out our marriage licenses and were married outside with the Pacific Ocean in the background on a beautiful May day. Our witness was a woman who worked at city hall and was on her way to lunch.
The best part of it was when we got home and told our families, instead of being angry, their reaction was "Finally!" They were thrilled.
And when it came to costs, here's how everything broke down.
Cost for the wedding license: $60
Cost for Wedding rings: 50 cents
Doing it your way: Priceless
And this is not to say our way is the best way for everyone, but we wouldn't get married any other way.
Best wishes for a long and happy union!
April 11, 2008 - 8:40amThis Comment
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