What is the difference between commitment ceremony vs marriage

Feel free to borrow what you do like about weddings and elopements, and leave the rest. The important thing to remember is that marriage is a legal construct, so if you choose to have a commitment ceremony vs a wedding, just remember the legal implications of the differences between the two.

But with that said, what does it look like to plan a commitment ceremony versus an elopement? Do you want it to just be you and your partner s? The reason I put this as your first step in how to plan a commitment ceremony is because this will have a pretty significant impact on what locations will work for your ceremony. Do you want to say your vows on the top of a mountain?

On a hiking trail that meanders past wildflower meadows? In the deserts of California or Utah? Which landscapes speak to you and your partner s?

And which ones will accommodate your specific group size, because not all landscapes are do-able with large groups? Your elopement photographer should be able to guide you on this. Certain mountain passes and trails are completely inaccessible until the summer months, due to adverse weather conditions.

A good elopement photographer will be able to help you craft your timeline for your commitment ceremony. They will know the best times of day to have your ceremony, how much time to include when hiking to your ceremony site, and what unique weather conditions you could come across at your ceremony location. After your timeline has been created, this is also a great time to go ahead and secure your lodging at your destination and look into booking your travel.

Definitely talk to your photographer to see if they have any specific tips on lodging and travel for your location. For me, I chose to elope. For you, perhaps an elopement-style commitment ceremony sounds more like your vibe. Your choice to break from tradition is a brave and incredible one, particularly in an industry that tries to give people very limited choices.

Check out some of our favorite elopement and adventure wedding planning resources:. Contact Us. What is a Commitment Ceremony.

Couples who have commitment ceremonies should not say they are married, especially not on any official forms, and most especially not if they live in common-law states. Here are some of the most frequent questions people ask us about commitment ceremonies:. Can we do that? Others want an opportunity to celebrate their love with their family and friends, or make vows to each other in a private ritual.

The options for how to create your own ceremony are limitless. A few ideas you might find helpful:. If you find other useful ideas or resources, please let us know so we can share them with the people who ask us!

Anyone in the U. When people legally marry, they can change their names without a court order. The internet offers lots of information about how to legally change your name — we like using the information at NOLO. No, UE provides information and does policy advocacy. Anyone can perform a commitment ceremony. Since it is not a legal form of marriage, commitment ceremonies allow for a loved one to perform. Theres no need to be legally ordained or have special certification to perform one.

Commitment ceremonies are awesome because the flexibility of locations! There are so many spots you can choose depending on what kind of scenery you want to be surrounded by.

Check out these elopement spots in Colorado that can also be used for your commitment ceremony. Want help planning your commitment ceremony? Most couples that we work with choose to have a commitment ceremony especially if they are coming from another state! If having a commitment ceremony seems like the right choice for you, let us help. Contact us to get started! Especially for couples eloping in Europe. Thank you so much for this article.

This is so helpful! Especially for couples who unfortunately cannot legally get married where they live! Great post! Great resource! I have ever heard of a commitment ceremony before. Makes a lot of sense! Such a great idea, I did not know these existed too. Well written my friend:. Commitment ceremonies for straight couples are just as common, but happen under different circumstances. Another group of people who cannot get married by law are those who are already married. Some couples choose to sign the paperwork and become legally married without planning a celebratory ceremony because of timing or convenience.

Maybe they needed to become married for tax purposes, to support children, or for immigration reasons. These couples needed to get legally married quickly, but still want to plan an official wedding, elopement, or destination wedding later. Thats right! There are many different circumstances where a commitment ceremony may be the best choice for you.

Thanks for the input! My Fiance and I were thinking about doing a commitment ceremony now and get legally married once his children finish college. If we chose to wait it would be another 6 years before we can officially say I do.