Here's how to make your civil wedding especially beautiful!

How can a formal ceremony become a romantic celebration of your love? A civil wedding doesn't have to be dull—with a little romance and the right tips, your civil wedding ceremony can be something truly special.

A Special Place for Your Wedding Ceremony

The place where you live doesn’t have to be where you get married. You can get married in a palace, a castle, or even at a civil registry office of your choice. When planning a church wedding, many couples or wedding planners travel all over the country to scout locations. You can do the same thing for a civil wedding! Has the new yoga studio in the local community center turned out beautifully? Ask if you can hold your civil wedding there. Is your dream to get married on a boat? Head to the nearest lake in your area and see what’s possible. Maybe you’ll be the first in your circle to move the civil ceremony out onto the lake, but you certainly won’t be the last.

Flower Power at the Registry Office

So you’ve already found a beautiful venue for your civil wedding ceremony. Unfortunately, though, there’s often still just a table and two chairs there—which the registrar is required to set up. But on your wedding day, it can be festive and full of flowers: If you’re having a civil wedding only, you can really go all out with the floral arrangements. After all, a smaller celebration will cost less than a large wedding. And if you’re planning a church wedding at a later date, it’s nice when the floral theme begins at the civil ceremony and carries through to the church ceremony. In terms of color, you’re often not particularly restricted in a neutral civil ceremony venue. So you can work with color-blocking or simply with soft tones. Whatever works: simple floral arrangements on wooden chairs, a wedding candle with a wreath of flowers on the registrar’s desk, and scattered flowers on old wooden parquet flooring—they show the bride and groom the way to the ceremony room.

Music Plays at the Registry Office, Too

At the civil registry office, music is often not only allowed but actually encouraged. Not only will you feel more at ease, but the registrar will also find it easier to get into the spirit of the ceremony if a personal song is played at the beginning. The children in the room will start dancing, and any nervousness will be eased a bit. You can also choose a song to play at the end. If a music player isn’t enough for you, just bring your record player along with your favorite records. Do you think live music is a bit over-the-top for the short time you’ll be at the registry office? Then why not have your singer-songwriter or band play at the reception instead—a little jazz or soft guitar music in the background will make the champagne reception truly festive and enjoyable.

Proper Conclusion of the Wedding Ceremony

Whether you’re heading to a beautiful venue with all your guests after the reception or your honeymoon is waiting right around the corner: Make your send-off a memorable event! Rent a classic car with a driver, walk through a floral arch, and have the journey to the next highlight of your wedding captured on video or in photos. And don’t forget the sparkling wine, champagne, or spritzer!

Ultimately, a civil wedding gets only as much attention as you give it. This type of wedding deserves no less attention—all wedding planners agree, and they’re happy to help spice up civil weddings.