The paperwork. You must have the paperwork.

That’s it. There are no other rules for getting married. The groomsmen do not need to wear boutonnieres. You do not need to have flowers. Heck, you don’t even need to a wear white dress. You can literally throw all those traditions out there door because they are not rules and requirements. All you need to actually get married (besides your significant other) is the marriage license. 

And an officiant to fill it out. So maybe there’s two rules: you need the paperwork and an officiant. 

Side note: self-officiating (or self-uniting or self-solemnization) is allowed in 10 U.S. states – California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin. Religious exemptions and witness requirements included for some.

So if you’re planning a wedding and certain things just don’t feel right to you, there’s a big giant chance you don’t actually need them. This is your permission slip to break the so called “rules.” To have zero guests, to leave on a boat immediately after your ceremony, to wear a green dress, and to dance the day away in a park pavilion surrounded by nicely decorated picnic tables. 

All of the above photos were taken in Deep Creek + Garrett County, MD. The first is from a sunrise elopement on a private dock in October. The second, a lakefront ceremony in the yard of a rental home with a tented reception. Then, married photo time at Swallow Falls State Park. And finally, a Sunday wedding where the couple and their small group of guests enjoyed a waterfall overlook ceremony and an afternoon reception in the park pavilion that only costs $30 to rent.

#comegetmarriedhere at Deep Creek. 🙂