Elope Archives - Page 5 of 5 - Elope to New Orleans

Elopement Photo Posing Tips

Elope, Fashion, new orleans, Photos, Wedding / Marcia Grover

The Best Photo Posing Tips for your Elopement Wedding Who says you need to be a model to look great in photos? Even if you’re not a professional, you can capture stunning moments on your elopement day. Here are some simple tips to help you look and feel your best: And… how is this accomplished without going to some kind of modeling school? You’re in luck, we have put together this small guide to help couples take stunning, natural-looking photos without any hassle. *** ALWAYS STAND TALL, SHOULDERS BACK A BIT and LADIES SHOULD DISTRIBUTE WEIGHT ON ONE LEG (Whether crossing one leg over another or shifting all weight to back leg. This will create an hourglass figure that flatters most ladies) Body Language and Posing Stand Tall, Shoulders Back: This posture will make you appear more confident and poised. For women, shifting your weight to one leg can create a flattering hourglass figure. For men, nice and tall and broad shoulders. Bend Your Joints: Avoid stiff poses. Let your joints bend naturally, just like you do in everyday life. This will help you look more relaxed and comfortable. Touch and Hold: Show affection through physical contact. Holding hands, embracing, soft kisses or touching foreheads can create a sense of intimacy and love. Try Classic Poses: There are many classic poses that can look great in elopement photos. Some popular options include: Belly Button to Hip: A timeless pose that highlights the couple’s connection. Chest to Chest: A romantic and intimate pose. Together but Open: A casual and natural pose that shows affection without being too formal. Modified Prom: A fun and playful pose that adds a touch of nostalgia. Facial Expressions and Emotions Smile Genuinely: A genuine smile is contagious and can make your photos look more natural and inviting. Consider asking your partner to make you giggle, natural laughs make for great photos 🙂 Look at Each Other: Eye contact can create a strong connection between you and your partner. Laugh and Have Fun: Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through in your photos. Show Emotion: Expressing your love and happiness through your facial expressions will come out great in photos or silly faces you express to each other in everyday life is even better! Location and Setting Choose a Meaningful Location: Select a location that has personal significance to you and your partner. Consider the Background: Make sure the background of your photos is not too distracting. Utilize Natural Elements: Incorporate natural elements like trees, flowers, or water into your photos. Lighting Soft Light: Aim for soft, natural light, especially outdoors. Avoid harsh midday sun. Golden Hour: The golden hour, which is the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset, is ideal for outdoor photography. Tips for Couples Practice Posing: Before your elopement day, practice posing together in front of a mirror. Communicate with Your Photographer: Let your photographer know your preferences and any specific shots you want to capture. Relax and Enjoy the Moment: Don’t stress too much about posing. The most important thing is to relax and enjoy your special day. Additional Tips Feel confident: Wear outfits and choose hairstyles that make you feel your best. Confidence radiates in photos, so it’s important to feel comfortable and beautiful on your special day. I always say, treat your elopement wedding like a special date night. The more comfortable you are in your outfit and makeup, the more confidence will show in your photos. You want to remember your authentic self through your photos 🙂 Be in the moment: Relax to capture the magic of your day and the love between you two. Stop and meditate, say a blessing or have a glass of champagne (hello mimosas!) prior to leaving for your ceremony. Don’t worry about posing or looking perfect. Just relax, have fun and enjoy the moment. The more you interact with each other casually, the more we can document & storytell your day! Bring Props: If you have any props that are meaningful to you, bring them along for your photos. My daughter brings a parasol with her to all her photoshoots, it’s her signature style now 🙂 Trust your Professional Photographer: A professional photographer can help you capture stunning photos that you will cherish for years to come. They have the experience, equipment and talent to see things through the lens that you won’t even have to worry about. ✨ More inspiration ideas and photos provided by Brides.com HERE By following these tips, you can create beautiful and natural-looking elopement photos that will capture the love and joy of your special day. We are here for you! Reach out with any further questions ⚜️

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Why Elope? Top 10 Reasons For Most Intimate Wedding Experience

Elope / Marcia Grover

Here are the Top 10 Reasons Why to Elope! If you have been asking yourself… why elope? This guide should give you a few things to think about. Top 10 Reasons Why To Elope For Romantic Wedding Experience 1. Eloping is much much cheaper! Reasons Why to Elope? According to the popular wedding website The Knot, the average traditional wedding in the USA now costs over $27,000. But if you live in a large city, the cost could be even higher. Of course, prices will vary depending on what you include, and the date of your wedding. But eloping will cost a fraction of a traditional wedding, even a budget wedding. Save that money for a fabulous reception after you get home if you wish. Put it towards a house, a car, a honeymoon….a new pair of shoes! I’ve never met a person who has regretted saving money and not going into debt for their wedding. Many people these days prefer the intimacy and romance of a small elopement which makes this the #1 reason why elope. 2. Elopement means fewer hassles and much less stress Don’t worry about the bridal registry. Do you really need those monogrammed towels or another toaster? Do you care about coordinating the color of the invitations with the guest favors? Guest lists alone have driven many a bride-to-be to drink! We have read reports that 19% of brides say they have more disagreements with their boyfriends after becoming engaged. 3. Eloping is much quicker Most wedding planners agree that it takes at least a year to plan the average wedding. Many popular venues are booked a year or more in advance. Maybe this is a second marriage for one or both of you. Maybe you just want to get started on your new life together. Long engagements aren’t for everyone. 4. Avoid “sticky” situations. How will you control Uncle Jack’s excessive drinking? What about Grandpa’s notoriously bad breath or the divorced aunt and uncle who are still feuding over custody of Fido and each wants you on his or her side? Dodge the family drama when you skip the traditional wedding. 5. No need for thank you notes Hadn’t thought of that? Many etiquette experts say that thank you cards for gifts received on the wedding day should be sent out within 2-4 weeks of returning from the honeymoon. Others say you may take up to 3 months. But to quote Peggy Post: “No fill-in-the-blank cards, no preprinted cards, no phone calls, no emails, and no generic posts on your website.” We suggest a simple announcement that tells everyone that you eloped. You can send this announcement electronically and it won’t be frowned upon. 6. Eloping helps you feel the true significance of the moment. You are more likely to live in the moment of this important event when you are in a small group or just with your loved one. You will also most likely spend a couple of days in your destination city so the memories of your wedding day will be over a few days, not a few hours like a traditional wedding. Eloping can be truly intimate…and isn’t that what committing your life to another person is all about? 7. No seating charts! Do you know who is feuding with whom? Do you care? Should you put only those who know each other at the same table or mix it up so that singles can meet others? Will someone be offended that you stuck them at the back table with the photographer? 8. Elopements can be more memorable than run-of-the-mill weddings. Get creative. Think of the stories you can tell your friends for years to come. Imagine getting married atop a glacier – in a hot air balloon or under a 300 year old majestic oak tree in New Orleans or how about a unique, your own vision backyard wedding? Deciding to elope doesn’t have to mean running to the courthouse in your work clothes or going to the drive-through chapel in Vegas (unless that turns your crank). It can still be very memorable and special. 9. Spontaneity can be very romantic. You’ll never look at a pineapple the same way if you use one for a bouquet! If you choose to elope to New Orleans, you will likely grab some beads…find a balcony in the French Quarter and throw them at random strangers. Or dance in the middle of the streets to amazing street performers. Can you do that at a traditional wedding? 10. Not everyone likes to be the center of attention. Believe it or not, there are some women who do not care to be “Queen for the day”. Men too don’t always like being in the spotlight. Grab our 5 secrets to a successful (and stress-free) elopement and receive a FREE checklist! Reasons Why to Elope – If you have been asking yourself… why elope? This guide should give you a few things to think about. Elopement weddings are what we specialize in, reach out to us or send an email to: info@elopetonola.com if you would like to chat!

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Wedding in New Orleans - How to Elope in New Orleans for under $5000 - Elope To Nola best elopement ideas

How to Elope in New Orleans for $5000

Elope / Marcia Grover

How to Elope in New Orleans for $5000? One of the most appealing parts of eloping over a traditional wedding is that the cost is substantially less, leaving you with more money to spend on making memories and having fun. Is your dream to get married in a fancy, gorgeous city like New Orleans yet you are wondering about the cost of an elopement there? Don’t worry, we have everything you need to know right here. You don’t have to spend a fortune to have your dream ceremony come to life! Much of the cost of a traditional wedding is in the fluff, which has nothing to do with the whole point of the marriage itself: the couple. When you cut out the extraneous costs, you would be surprised how easy it is to budget for a fantastic and magical elopement that you would never forget. Breakdown of some of the costs Here is a breakdown of some of the costs you can expect if you wanted a famous NOLA Elopement (prices are based on normal seasons, special events like Mardi Gras and holidays like Halloween could effect the prices below): Airfare for 2 – $800 or drive in (gas and mileage costs depending on hours driven) 2 Night Hotel Stay – $600 (We recommend Canal Street Inn or Hotel Monteleone) Celebratory Dinner for 2 – $250 Hair/Makeup – $175 Royal Elopement Package– $3200…Includes officiant, flowers, cake and our professional photography services. Marriage License – $45 (Ibay Photography will provide a list of all necessary documents to apply for license) Elope in New Orleans for $5000 Total – $5075 plus any applicable taxes (pricing based on typical season – exclusive of holidays or special citywide events like Mardi Gras). Just a smidgen over $5k Enough in the budget for fun New Orleans tours and attractions! A typical wedding can cost more than five times this much on average, and that comes with a truckload of headache. An elopement is simple and focuses on fun, making memories, and romance. It’s no secret why couples everywhere are flocking to exotic and fun venues like New Orleans, because that’s what a marriage should be about: you, your significant other, and the romance. The Key to an Affordable Elopement Want to know our biggest tip to have an affordable (and unique) elopement? – Select a Free or Small Permit ceremony location! Local parks, French Quarter alleys, botanical gardens or the courtyard of your Air B&B are all locations found in numerous spots throughout New Orleans. Most of these unique and romantic spots are free to the public (keep in mind other people nearby utilizing the same spaces). Some areas may have a small permit fee required (most of the time under $250) There’s always the urge to whisk you and your beloved off on a magical adventure to an unknown city, but you’re likely going to spend more, waste more time, and have more headaches if you go in without a plan. Yes, an elopement should be exciting and spontaneous, but you want to cut costs and have fun, right? To make the most out of the experience and ensure that you stay under $5000, choose a company that has experience and knowledge of your chosen destination. There are numerous benefits and virtually no drawbacks to hiring an elopement photographer. With the help of an elopement photographer, you will have someone take all the remaining complications and headaches out of your special day, leaving you to just enjoy the moment. Grab our 5 secrets to a successful (and stress-free) elopement and receive a FREE checklist! For more information or to reach Ibay Photography/ElopeToNola.com, send us a message at: info@ElopeToNola.com. See more details for the Royale Elopement Package.

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Just eloped in New Orleans? What to do the next day

Elope, French Quarter, new orleans, Photos, Wedding / Marcia Grover

Congratulations, You just eloped in New Orleans! You’re Married!!! Just Eloped in New Orleans Now that you guys have just celebrated the best day of your lives…what are the best things to do after your wedding day? Tour the most romantic city in the world of course! Here is an ideal perfect day in New Orleans: 1. Have beignets and coffee at Cafe Beignet on Royal Street. Most tourist believe the only place to enjoy our famous beignets is to visit Cafe Du Monde on Decatur St. Just a few short blocks is a very quaint shop called Cafe Beignet that sells (in my opinion) even better beignets than the original. An added bonus…no 2 mile long lines here! 2. Catch the free shuttle service to Mardi Gras World and see the amazing Mardi Gras floats up close and personal…then catch the streetcar that follows St. Charles Ave and take it all the way to the river (ask the driver which stop drops you off at Camelia Grill for lunch). The antebellum homes and historic areas of Uptown New Orleans will impress you….. OR after beignets and coffee, jump on the Algiers Ferry and take a short ride over to the westbank side of the river (soak in the great city views while on the ferry). When you arrive in Algiers, walk over to the Rosetree blown glass studio and grab lunch at Dry Dock Cafe. 3. When back in the French Quarter, grab a daiquiri “to go” from anywhere on Decatur St and walk along the river toward Crescent Park OR grab a super short uber ride over to City Park and see the majestic oaks with picturesque moss, cobblestone bridges and the vast beauty of this 1300 acre green space. Did you know that City Park is actually larger than Central Park in New York?? 4. End your day back in the French Quarter at the Hotel Monteleone for cocktails (are you getting the theme here in New Orleans? It’s all about the spirits…haha) before dinner. The Carousel Bar is world re-known for it’s replicated Carousel bar that revolves around just like an actual carousel (verryyy slowly) while you enjoy some of the best drinks you’ve ever had in New Orleans. There are so many truly authentic New Orleans restaurants serving some of the best meals you will have the pleasure of tasting. The French Quarter, Garden District and Uptown New Orleans are great places to start. Hope you enjoy your mini-moon here in New Orleans after your wedding day. We offer affordable and unique elopement packages in New Orleans. Reach out to us for any suggestions, we love our city and love sharing our experiences with you! Grab our 5 secrets to a successful (and stress-free) elopement and receive a FREE checklist! Laissez les bons temps rouler!

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How to Second Line at your Elopement like a New Orleans Local! best elopement ideas

Second Line Parade for Wedding in New Orleans

Elope / Marcia Grover

How to Second Line at your Elopement like a New Orleans Local! We are New Orleans natives and take pride in our special city. We love it all, the beautiful Spanish moss covered trees of City Park, the serene lakes and bayous of our natural canvas, the inns and hotels lining the world famous St. Charles Avenue, and last but not least, the sights and sounds of the historic French Quarter. We get super excited when people want to get married in our amazing city, and even more excited when folks want to add traditional New Orleans flair to their perfect day! Throughout the years we’ve seen accessories of Mardi Gras masks and beads, grooms cakes made to look like pots of gumbo, and of course, the famous second line parades. Second Line at your elopement Second Line Parades can be really fun, but like any good parade, there is a lot of organization that must happen to make sure your parade doesn’t get rained on. (Figuratively, not literally, as there’s always a possibility it may rain! Read below for more info on that). Second Line at your Elopement – Follow 8 Tips and Tricks Nevertheless, here are our top tips and tricks on how to have a wonderful traditional Second Line at your elopement: 1. Make sure you understand the tradition Second Lines are a type of walking street parade, made up of a variety of people. The “first line” generally includes the band, any kind of Grand Marshall or leader, and VIP guests, such as the recently deceased, in the case of a jazz funeral, or the bride and groom in the case of a wedding. All other people who follow to dance, pay respects, and enjoy the music are referred to as the “second line.” As it is meant to be a “celebration of life”, the second line has grown in popularity with brides, grooms, and even for folks coming of age or celebrating birthdays. Because many “social aid and pleasure clubs” were established back in the day in New Orleans, sometimes second lines can even be a part of weekly or monthly get togethers in certain neighborhoods or communities. It is always important to be respectful of the second line traditions and heritage. 2. Get your route, your permits, and make sure you follow the laws It is illegal in New Orleans to have a second line without following the proper procedure. First, you should secure your permit from the City of New Orleans. You can download the C-Parade forms from the One Stop City Website, and then visit the One Stop Shop at City Hall, 7th Floor, 1300 Perdido, New Orleans, LA. If you would like someone to assist with all the planning, booking and applying for permits, reach out to us and we will connect you with 2nd line wedding booking specialist! Second, you need to make sure that you book the proper police escorts. You’ll have to pay for clerical and administrative fees to the Police and Justice Foundation, as well as for each officer present (please confirm all fees as these may change after this article is written). Generally, you’ll need 2-4 officers for a small to medium second line. Without the proper law enforcement present, not only do you open yourself up to liability if something happens, but you also run the risk of not being able to get the route you want, or running into some of the other routes of other second lines that are happening on the same evening! Hurry and book quickly so that you can make sure you get the date and time that you’d like as well as the streets that you’d like to include. 3. Make sure you have all of the key players It’s not a second line without a brass band, and there are a lot of brass bands in the city but there are also a lot of second lines at any given moment (especially on popular weekend nights), so make sure you book quickly. I can give you a list of the best brass bands if you’d like to message me. 4. Any good bride knows that you need to accessorize You’ll need a second line umbrella for you and your groom (or your bride), as well as umbrellas for your wedding party. Ideally you’ll also bring handkerchiefs for everyone else to shake and swing to the music, as that is a huge part of the tradition. You can also add boas and masks for your guests, so that they really get into the fun, and of course you need the right footwear! 5. Don’t forget comfortable shoes… Not only do you probably not want to wear heels for what could be up to a mile long route, but you also shouldn’t on the French Quarter streets, which are made of cobblestone. I can’t tell you how many heels I’ve broken on that cobblestone! On the other hand, everyone’s go-to comfort shoe, flip-flops can also be dangerous because there can often be glass or debris on the street (not to mention the occasional water from street cleaning or rain). Your best bet is a comfortable wedge or adorable and fashionable sneaker. You can always put your dress shoes back on when you arrive at your destination. 6. … and that you only have two hands This is something we see all the time. A bride is trying to drink, bustle her dress, and wave her umbrella at the same time, only the problem is that she only has two hands. Try to shorten or bustle your dress in advance so that you have a hand free for your umbrella, and another one free for your “geaux cup” which is what we call plastic containers that allow you to bring your cocktail out into the streets. 7. And that second lines are rain or shine Your second line will happen regardless of the weather, so don’t expect everyone (band, police, guests) to cancel on you at

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How To Elope In New Orleans in 8 Steps -Elope To Nola

Elope / Marcia Grover

Are you searching for a step-by-step guide on How To Elope? Here is our list of 8 steps for a stress-free and FUN elopement in New Orleans. Here is a guide on Why To Elope over having a traditional wedding. 8 Steps For A Stress-Free And FUN Elopement In New Orleans Contact a local Officiant or Judge Contact a local Photographer Decide on a location Order flowers for you and your honey Make travel arrangements Plan to apply for your marriage license Ask your photographer Meet your officiant and your photographer 1. Contact a local Officiant or Judge. Once you have decided on romantic New Orleans, step one on how to elope in New Orleans is calling an officiant. This person must be an Orleans Parish officiant if you are wanting to waive the required 24 hour waiting period. Select someone with experience, knowledge and the skills to perform a quality ceremony. Trust us, this matters. We had a couple who asked their dear friend to become an ordained minister specifically for their elopement. Bless his heart, he was sweet as can be but not used to speaking loudly in the middle of the French Quarter. The constant distractions (fun distractions of course; people laughing on the streets, music, performers) were tough and challenging for him. 2. Contact a local Photographer – Hiring a professional photographer for your special day will go a long way. A photographer will know all the perfect locations to shoot at, best timing of the day and will capture the intimate moments during your ceremony that many guests/witnesses would not be able to capture. 3. Decide on a location – Probably one of the main reasons you decided to elope in New Orleans are the many gorgeous and unique ceremony locations. Do you want to marry under 300yr old majestic Oaks or in the French Quarter in a private courtyard? Maybe you’d like to even get married on a French Quarter Balcony? We suggest contacting a local photographer or wedding planner who knows the city of New Orleans like no other and can help you find that perfect “possibly hidden secret” spot! 4. Order flowers for you and your honey – Be creative! Wildflowers, succulents and daisies are all unique flowers to create amazing bouquets. 5. Make travel arrangements – Make travel arrangements and don’t forget your wedding attire, your rings, and proper legal documents from home. Oh and wedding props too! Think masks, 2nd line umbrellas, beads, special family heirlooms, etc. Tip: Check online for special citywide events that may be occurring during your desired wedding date. New Orleans has hundreds of parties, parades, festivals, etc a year but some events and conventions will fill up all the hotels months in advance. 6. Plan to apply for your marriage license – Once you arrive to New Orleans, plan to apply for your marriage license right away. Give yourself some time in the office too as there may be many other couples applying the same day. We recommend carving out 1-4 hours for this. Visit our marriage license page to have all the required paperwork ready. Tip: The office accepts cash only and will remind you about 100 times to only allow your officiant to write in BLACK INK. 7. Ask your photographer – Ask your photographer or planner for recommendations on hair/makeup, hotels, restaurants and what to do in New Orleans for the other days you will be enjoying our city. 8. Meet your officiant and your photographer – Meet your officiant and your photographer at your chosen ceremony location and say your “I Do’s!”! After…enjoy a petite wedding cake, cupcake, petite four or a world famous beignet. Have your professional photographer capture additional “Just Married” photos around your ceremony location. Take a pedicab, horse carriage or streetcar to your romantic celebratory dinner. To Sum Up These are the steps we recommend if you are searching for how to elope in New Orleans. We hope this information is useful and informative. Did you know we are the leading experts on how to elope and we offer all-inclusive elopement packages? Reach out to us today, we would be honored to help you plan your perfect elopement wedding day! Grab our 5 secrets to a successful (and stress-free) elopement and receive a FREE checklist!

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Elopement Do's and Don'ts best elopement ideas

7 Secrets For The Best Elopement Ever! Make Elopement Special

Elope / Marcia Grover

How can you make elopement ceremony special? Secrets For The Best Elopement – Getting married is the biggest, most exciting day of your life, and this applies whether it’s a 100 person event in your hometown church or a Destination Elopement in a romantic city like New Orleans. In fact, because most of the elopements we’ve captured happen within a quicker time frame, it becomes even more important to have everything together. Here are our Top 7 Secrets for the Best Elopement Ever: 1) Choose Experts that are Locals Destination wedding photographers who travel the world to photograph weddings, while very talented experts with the very best of equipment, do not know the local area like a resident would. Residents typically know hidden venues that you can’t find doing a “Google Search”, and they usually have connections to make the impossible, possible. 2) Always have a Weather Plan You never know if it will rain on your wedding day. Many of the hotels or B&B’s you will be staying at will have private indoor rentable space. We suggest making the call when you book the hotel so that a plan is in place. Many elopement photographers will simply wait out the weather and continue on with the ceremony once the rain has passed. 3) Make Sure to Know the Legalities that Apply 4 weeks prior to your arrival, connect with your officiant for updates to marriage license requirements. Municipalities in each city require different documentation and it’s important to be sure you are up to date with their rules and laws imposed by their state. Your officiant will assist in this process. 4) Listen to Your Photographer Get a nice dress hanger. Personalized or silk wedding hangers make all the difference and look leaps and bounds better in photographs than the hangers provided by most hotels. Your photographer may also suggest shooting at a different time of day, using a different part of town, or bringing certain props to the shoot. Obviously you’re the client and know what you want, but everyone can save a lot of time and trouble if you default to your photographer in areas where she may have more experience. 5) It’s all in the Details Your ceremony is one of the biggest events of your entire life, so leave no stone unturned. Make sure to pick amazing ceremony music and bring your iPod, iPhone, or anything else that can play “your song” as you walk down the aisle and have our first dance. Music is also one of the single most important (and cost effective) things that can be used to set a romantic mood at an intimate elopement. If you have a slightly higher budget, you may even want to spring for a solo violinist or guitarist for a truly magical setting. 6) Personalize, Personalize, Personalize. Your special day is your day, and it’s special because of all of the details that apply to you. Don’t try to please everyone else, you are who matters. If you have a favorite color, add it everywhere, or wear a wedding dress in that shade. If you’re a die hard fan of a certain sports team, incorporate team colors or little footballs into your bouquet or cake. Or If there’s a place where you met your honey that you’d like to be featured — this is the time for you to let your personalities shine through. No one will judge you for having monogrammed everything on your wedding day, trust me. If there are children involved, you can also involve them by adding them into the ceremony or by having them write a sweet framed message to their new step parent to be displayed on your after-ceremony dinner table. 7) Themes Your special day is a celebration, and there’s no better party than a themed party. It doesn’t have to be wild and over the top (unless you want it to be) but you can definitely have a theme whether it’s carnival or shabby chic. Above all, if you’re having a destination elopement, make sure to take advantage of the location you’re in — you picked it for a reason. Try horseback photos in Louisville or Carnival masks/Second-line dancing in New Orleans. If you enjoyed these tips or learned something from this blog, please like and share it. We also love feedback, so welcome any questions, comments, or suggestions you have for us. If you have any questions or would like to connect with an elopement specialist, please don’t hesitate. Elopements and micro weddings are all we do! Grab our 5 secrets to a successful (and stress-free) elopement and receive a FREE checklist!

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Where To Get A Marriage License In Louisiana

marriage license / bobmorgan

Do You Want To Know Where To Get A Marriage License In Louisiana? As your wedding day draws near, the excitement can be overwhelming. You’ve found the perfect dress, a picturesque venue, a talented Wedding Photographer (Hi! ??‍♀️ ) and it’s starting to all come together. Planning your perfect day is nothing short of exciting. However, it can be easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget about the legal side of a marriage. Sure, you’ve found your officiant, but do you know the ins and outs of getting a marriage license? If you don’t, don’t panic. Getting a marriage license in Louisiana is actually quite easy! Before you walk down the aisle, here are a few questions you need answered. Where can I get a marriage license in Louisiana? You can get a marriage license in any Clerk of Court office in Louisiana. There are clerk of court offices in every parish in the state and, depending on the size of the parish, there may be multiple office locations where you can obtain your marriage license. Marriage licenses obtained in any Clerk of Court office are valid throughout the entire state- meaning even if you get your license in another city, you can still get married in NoLA! More details from the clerk of courts office is HERE. Do I need to make an appointment to get a marriage license in Louisiana? Due to COVID restrictions, many offices are only taking marriage license requests online or by appointment. Call your parish of choice before arriving. If marrying in New Orleans, I recommend going to get a license in nearby Jefferson Parish in Jefferson, LA. Address and phone number are at the bottom of this article. At the time of writing this, they are accepting walk-ins! What documents do I need to get a marriage license in Louisiana? Both you and your fiancé need to bring the following documents when applying for your marriage license: A current driver’s license, current state ID or passport A certified copy of a birth certificate or a certified birth card Social Security numbers if born in the United States. If not born in the US or territories, you must bring a valid passport from your country of birth or a visa with an attached I-94 form A certified copy of the final divorce decree (if previously married) A certified copy of the death certificate of the former spouse (if widowed) Is there a fee to get a marriage license in Louisiana? Yes, but don’t worry! The fee is minimal. It ranges from $25-$45 depending on the parish. How old do I need to be to get a marriage license in Louisiana? You need to be at least 16 years old to get a marriage license in Louisiana. If you are under 18 years old, you need to have both written consent from both of your parents and judicial authorization. However, if you are under the age of 18, you will not be issued a marriage license if you have an age difference of more than 2 years. When can I get a marriage license? Clerk of Court office hours vary by parish, but they are typically open Monday-Friday from 8:30am-3:30pm except for Federal and State holidays. It’s best to get your marriage license a few days before your wedding ceremony for two reasons: Marriage licenses are only valid for 30 days. There is a 24-hour waiting period between when your license is issued and when you can get married (can possibly be waived in certain circumstances – reach out to us if need a waiver) If you’re ready to say “I Do,” be sure you know how to get a marriage license in Louisiana. Thankfully, the process is fairly simple and straightforward. If you need help planning your elopement- or you want a photographer for your special day- get in touch with us! We would love to be a part of your wedding – info@elopetonola.com Resources and Contact Info for offices in New Orleans: Orleans Parish Marriage Office (Appointment only) 1450 Poydras Street (Benson Tower) 4th Floor New Orleans, LA 70112 Ph: 504-593-5100 Hours: 8:30am to 3:00pm Mon-Fri (except state holidays) Click here to go to New Orleans Clerk of Court Jefferson Parish Marriage Office (Accepts walk-ins) 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd #603 Jefferson, LA 70121 Ph: 504-736-6390 Click here to go to the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Courts office Grab our 5 secrets to a successful (and stress-free) elopement and receive a FREE checklist!

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