If you are choosing a destination wedding, then it could be likely that California has been on the list. There are many reasons to do so, from the beach and the sunshine in the south to the stunning views and vineyards in northern California. It has some pretty diverse geography and an abundance of vibrant cities. So it is easy to see why California could be the destination of your choice. It has become a popular choice for many same-sex couples since their marriages were legalized in the US too. But if you’re unsure where to go or what to do, here are some tips for planning a wedding in the Golden State.
Choose Your Location
You might have a specific location for your wedding in mind. If you’ve always wanted a beach wedding, then places like Santa Barbara or San Diego might be the best choices. If you’d rather have the wedding in a church or banquet hall, then cities further in, like Palm Springs or Los Angeles might be on the cards. It could be worth looking somewhere like Olympia Banquet Hall to see if that is the kind of wedding and reception that you’d like. It could also be worth looking into marquees and event planners in the Napa Valley if you’d rather have an outdoorsy kind of wedding. So take some time to choose the best location for your wedding to take place.
Make It Legal
If you’re from the US, then you’ll know that some laws can differ from state to state. If you’re coming just for a destination wedding, then there could be more to do to get your California marriage license. In California, you can apply for a public or confidential marriage license (which might be due to the high population of famous people living in the state). A public license needs to have a witness at the ceremony, much like a wedding in the UK would have a registrar. Then it needs to be filed with the County Recorder’s Office. A confidential license requires you to be living together beforehand, and you sign something to that effect. You don’t need any witnesses at a wedding that has a confidential license. You have ninety days from getting either license to then get married. So don’t apply for it too far ahead of time or you’ll need to get another one.
Dates to Avoid
Because of California’s vibrant residents, it is a popular place for many events and festivals. So as a result, there might be some dates that you want to avoid. Think about planning an LA wedding right when it is Acadamy Award season. There are going to be hotels that are completely booked out when events like this are on, and things like traffic could be worse than normal. So do think about things like that, as well as dates for events like Coachella, county fairs, and food festivals. Then things should be much more plain sailing for you and your guests.
