6 Reasons to Get Legally Married Before Your Wedding Day

When Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner got married in Vegas in May of 2019, many people thought that'd be the last of the wedding photos we'd see. Fast forward two months and the couple had a bigger, fancier wedding in France with an extended guest list. Why two weddings? Well, we won't speculate on the couple's reasoning, but there are a few reasons any couple might consider having two weddings. Struggling with pre-wedding jitters? This could be a great solution. Having a destination wedding and need to get the legal stuff out of the way first? Double wedding it is!

Now, more than ever before, couples have a very good reason to make it official before the celebration: In light of the coronavirus pandemic that's sweeping the globe, couples have been forced to postpone their weddings until later this year or next. But in an effort to still celebrate the date they initially imagined, brides and grooms are saying "I do" in intimate ceremonies at home or even via Zoom.

You had to postpone your wedding.

Whether you had to reschedule your wedding due to the situation surrounding COVID-19 or some other life circumstance, saying goodbye to your original date can be a tough pill to swallow. Instead of feeling sad about the loss, turn the day into a celebration. If you can tie the knot at City Hall, invite your parents or closest relatives for an intimate celebration; should that not be an option, look into the legalities around virtual ceremonies in your state.

You're having a destination wedding.

If you're planning a destination wedding in another country, you'll likely need to apply for your marriage license in your hometown. In this case, you'll head to the local courthouse, fill out the necessary paperwork, and become legally married. If you're planning a destination wedding in another state, you'll need to check with your state's requirements for transferring a marriage license from state to state. It's a straightforward process, but each state has its own set of rules, and it may be necessary for you to have your legally binding ceremony close to home before heading off to your destination wedding.

You can take some of the pressure off of your wedding being the "perfect day."

It's no secret that weddings are stressful occasions, but sometimes the stress level can be taken down a notch by getting the emotion out of the way first. The best way to do this? Let yourselves dive into the emotional aspect of getting married before your wedding day by having a ceremony without all your guests present.

It's a great way to lower your wedding day anxiety.

If you're one to worry about all the things that could go wrong during your wedding ceremony, especially in front of a big crowd of friends and family, getting married beforehand is a great option to minimize your what-if fears. By doing so, you might be able to look at your wedding as a party with friends and family rather than as a monumental occasion.

You'll be able to really focus on the intimacy of your vows.

Many couples prefer to have an intimate ceremony with just their witnesses present so they can fully focus on the commitment they're making. If you feel overwhelmed about committing to a life with your partner in front of 200 guests, getting married before the big occasion may be the best option for you.

You can always opt to keep your legal wedding a secret.

The best thing about having a courthouse ceremony before your wedding is that no one even has to know about it. You'll take along a couple of your closest friends as witnesses, but they can easily be sworn to secrecy if you'd prefer to keep it on the hush.