In years gone by, a church wedding was considered the only proper wedding and a “courthouse” wedding was more often than not seen as a last resort for eloping couples or for those people who were thrown out of a church. But times have changed, and it has become a perfectly acceptable choice to go with a civil over religious ceremony, especially for those couples without a strong religious or cultural identification.

A civil ceremony can be something as simple as walking into a city clerk’s office and waiting in line or as elaborate as creating your own ceremony, officiated by a judge, mayor, justice of the peace or non-denominational minister. What sets a civil ceremony apart is that it is sanctioned soley by the state and grants the couple all legal rights entitled to married couples, without sanction from a religious authority. There are a number of different reasons why contemporary couples might choose a civil ceremony, including:

Neither One of You is Religious

For some people who didn’t grow up with a religion or don’t feel comfortable in the religion that they were raised, getting married in a house of worship doesn’t feel authentic. A religious ceremony, with its prayers and rituals, may feel uncomfortable and the process of working with a religious officiant can be difficult if you don’t agree with the tenets of the clergy’s faith. Often if one person in the couple feels deeply religious and wants a church wedding, the other partner will go along with that option to support his partner. But if neither one of you feels religiously connected, planning a civil ceremony may certainly be the  more comfortable choice.

Interfaith Issues

Religious dynamics can also become complicated when couples of different faiths plan to marry. Many rabbis, for example, support interfaith couples but do not believe in performing interfaith ceremonies. Similarly, when a Catholic person is marrying out of the faith, a bishop needs to grant permission for the marriage to take place in the church. And when couples come from vastly different cultural backgrounds, which is increasingly happening in today’s global society, it can be very difficult to honor both partners backgrounds and traditions in a ceremony representing only one house of worship. Add family pressure on each side, and many couples prefer choosing a civil ceremony rather than taking on the hierarchy of religious institutions and the deeply charged feelings that family members may have about the wedding.

But within the realm of a civil ceremony, though, many couples still find a way to honor their religious or cultural backgrounds. For example, you might include a reading from a sacred text from your tradition in the ceremony or invite a family member up to recite a traditional blessing during the ceremony. Bride and groom can dress in traditional wedding clothing from their cultural tradition. A civil ceremony doesn’t mean that religious and cultural traditions can’t be honored; in fact, a civil ceremony often presents a better way to integrate both bride and groom’s backgrounds.

You prefer something low-key

For some couples, a civil ceremony is one way to avoid the hassle and pressure of extensive wedding planning. A simple ceremony in a judge’s chambers followed by dinner with some intimate friends at a wonderful restaurant is extremely low-key by today’s wedding standards, but it may be just what you’re dreaming of. Other couples want to have a big wedding celebration and are ready to party, but may feel shy about the ceremony part and want it to be as private as possible. And civil ceremonies can be short—for those who don’t like long ceremonies. The only legal requirement is the marriage license itself and a proclamation from the officiant. But just because you get married at city hall, it doesn’t mean that you can’t host a lavish wedding celebration if you like—and many couples go that route. But if you prefer your entire wedding—from ceremony to celebration—be understated, a civil ceremony will certainly meet your needs.

Saving Money

Some couples might prefer a church wedding, but are under budget constraints and need to make choices about how and where to spend their money. Most couples who marry in a church or synagogue give a gift to the house of worship, as well as to the clergy member. If you are not a member of that congregation, the costs for services may be much higher. There are also expenses in purchasing flowers for the church and sometimes providing transportation from the wedding site to the reception site. Having a civil ceremony at the reception site can significantly cut your wedding costs. If you are hiring a judge, mayor, justice of the peace or non-denominational minister, there will be a fee for her services, but you can eliminate the gift or rental cost of the church itself. Going with a city hall wedding cuts down on costs even more.

Individual and Creative

Other couples prefer having a civil over a religious ceremony because they want to design an original ceremony and don’t want to be bound by religious custom or traditions. If you are thinking about writing your own vows, creating new rituals, including participation from your family and friends and numerous readings and musical selections, then a civil ceremony might be just right for you. Without needing to adhere to the structure of a religious ceremony, you are free to create the wedding as you imagine it. Of course, you need to find a judge, mayor, justice of the peace or non-denominational minister who will support your vision. You can begin by looking in your local yellow pages, over the internet and best of all, through word of mouth. Many civil officiants are experienced in working with couples who are creating unique wedding ceremonies.

Location is another advantage in choosing a civil ceremony—one can be held anywhere, from a mountain top to an exclusive restaurant to the beach to inside a judge’s chambers. If you prefer a creative locale to a church setting, a civil ceremony can work well for you.

Remember—there are many reasons to choose a civil ceremony and if any of the above reasons resonate with you, explore the option. Fortunately, today’s couples have this choice and many are taking advantage of it.