Elopement & Micro-Wedding Ceremony — Greater Philadelphia & South Jersey

Planning something small, meaningful, and completely your own? Ever After Vows creates personalized elopement and micro-wedding ceremonies for just the two of you or a small circle of your favorite people—warm, relaxed, and thoughtfully written around your story.

A streamlined, custom-written ceremony based on your story, preferences, and comfort level.

Faith-based, interfaith, nonreligious, or light-faith wording shaped around your beliefs and preferences

Clear guidance on ceremony flow, vows, rings, and marriage-license requirements so your day feels relaxed and well prepared

Schedule a Consultation

Request an Estimate

Ideal for elopements and micro-weddings with approximately 2–30 guests throughout Greater Philadelphia, surrounding Pennsylvania, and South Jersey.

Ever After Vows officiant with newlywed couple holding their marriage license after an intimate indoor ceremony

What’s included in your intimate ceremony

Wedding party lined up as Ever After Vows officiant leads a custom indoor ceremony

A brief planning conversation to confirm your date, location, ceremony style, and who will be involved

A streamlined, personalized ceremony with a welcome, vows, ring exchange if desired, and a warm send-off

Help with vows and wording, whether you prefer repeat-after-me vows, personal vows, or something short and simple

Room for one or two personal touches, such as including children, a brief blessing, or a reading

Clear cues and calm delivery so everyone knows when to walk, stand, speak, exchange rings, and kiss

Marriage-license signing and completion included, with the return or filing handled according to Pennsylvania or New Jersey requirements

A simple, meaningful ceremony for just the two of you or a small group of guests—personal, relaxed, and still “real wedding” special.

From the walk-in to the kiss and the signatures, I’ll handle the words and the flow so you can stay present with each other and your guests.

Schedule a Consultation

How Your Intimate Ceremony Flows—Step by Step

Calm, personal, and relaxed—from the moment you arrive to the “we did it!” photo.

Welcome & Opening

Settle in, breathe, and bring everyone into the moment.

I’ll meet you, double-check names and details, and get you into place. We’ll welcome your guests (or just your small crew), set the tone—warm, relaxed, and a little “wow”—and then move into the opening words of your ceremony.

Your Vows, Rings & Personal Touches

The personal heart of your elopement or micro-wedding.

We’ll shape this part around what feels right for you—repeat-after-me vows, personal vows, a simple “I do,” and a ring exchange if you would like one. We can also include a brief reading, blessing, unity moment, or family participation.

Pronouncement & Send-Off

Seal it with the legal words and a big cheer.

After your vows and rings, I’ll complete the ceremony with the appropriate legal declaration and a clear, joyful pronouncement. We’ll finish with your kiss, a smooth send-off, the marriage-license signing, and a few “just married” photos.

Most intimate ceremonies run about 10–15 minutes. Your ceremony will be thoughtfully prepared around your preferences and plans, with a keepsake copy provided after the wedding.

What to bring for your elopement / micro-wedding

Your marriage license (issued and valid for your ceremony date)

Photo IDs for both of you

Rings (and ring box), if you’re planning a ring exchange

Any vows or readings printed out if you’re writing your own or having a guest read

Names and roles of anyone involved (reader, photographer, witness, etc.)

Payment method we agreed on for any remaining balance (cash, credit card, Apple Pay, Venmo, or CashApp)

A little prep goes a long way. Here’s what to have ready so your intimate ceremony feels smooth and stress-free.

Pro tip

Bring the exact license pages your county or town provided (no photocopies), and double-check that your names match your IDs. If anything looks off, we can pause and fix it before we sign.

PA: I return it for you

NJ: I file it locally

License timing at a glance

Quick reference for when to apply, how long your license is valid, witnesses, and filing—whether we’re meeting for a full ceremony or a simple signing.

Pennsylvania — Including Philadelphia

Philadelphia & Pennsylvania (regular license)

Waiting period: The license is normally issued on the third day after application.

Valid: 60 days from issuance.

Witnesses: Not required when an officiant presides. With a self-uniting license, the couple solemnizes the marriage and two witnesses sign.

Filing: I return the completed duplicate certificate within 10 days to the court that issued the license.

Bring: The complete marriage-license packet and photo IDs.

Good rule of thumb: Apply at least a week before your elopement or micro-wedding date so you’re not cutting it close with weekends or holidays.

New Jersey Marriage License Timing

New Jersey (municipal registrar)

Waiting period: 72 hours after the application is filed, unless a court grants an emergency waiver.

Valid: 30 days from issuance.

Where to apply: If either person lives in New Jersey, apply in that person’s municipality; the license is then valid statewide. If neither person lives in New Jersey, apply where the ceremony will occur, and the license is valid only there.

Witnesses: At least two witnesses must attend and sign. Ever After Vows requires ceremony witnesses to be 18 or older.

Filing: I return the completed license and certificate to the local registrar where the marriage occurred within five days.

Good rule of thumb: Apply at least a week before your elopement or micro-wedding, especially if you’re working around travel or work schedules.

Where you can elope or host a micro-wedding

If the location permits ceremonies and outside officiants—and any required permission is secured—we can likely make it your “I do” spot.

Backyard & at-home elopements

Personal and relaxed—deck, patio, living room, or front yard. We’ll create a simple, meaningful moment right where you feel most at home.

Parks, gardens & outdoor spots

Local parks, gardens, overlooks, and quiet corners of nature. Ideal if you love being outside and want a simple, scenic backdrop. Some public locations require advance permission or a permit, so we’ll confirm the location requirements while planning.

Small venues & private rooms

Restaurants, wineries, breweries, and small event spaces that offer private rooms—perfect for 10–30 guests and an intimate feel.

City & town “just us” moments

Side streets, courtyards, and tucked-away corners near city or town centers—great for a quick “just us” ceremony and a short photo walk.

Vacation rentals & weekend homes

Cozy cabins, vacation rentals, and weekend homes can be wonderful for intimate celebrations when the property owner or host permits weddings and gatherings.

A place that matters to you

The place you had your first date, a favorite trail, or somewhere that simply feels like “your spot.” If it’s in Greater Philadelphia, the nearby suburbs, or South Jersey, we can talk about making it your ceremony location.

Based in Montgomery County and serving couples throughout Greater Philadelphia, surrounding Pennsylvania, and South Jersey.

Schedule a Consultation

Request an Estimate

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as an elopement or micro-wedding?

An elopement is usually “just us” or a very small group—often just the two of you, your officiant, and maybe a couple of guests. A micro-wedding keeps things intimate too, typically up to around 30 guests. Either way, the focus is on a simple, personal ceremony without a big all-day production.

How long does the ceremony usually last?

Most elopement and micro-wedding ceremonies run about 10–15 minutes. That allows time for a welcome, personalized wording, vows, rings, and a joyful pronouncement while keeping the experience relaxed and well paced.

Where can we have our elopement or micro-wedding?

Backyards, rental homes, parks, gardens, small venues, private rooms at restaurants, and tucked-away city spots all work beautifully. As long as the location allows outside officiants and it’s within my Greater Philadelphia / South Jersey travel area, we can usually make it your ceremony spot. Vacation rentals require the host’s permission and some public locations require permits.

How far in advance should we book? Can you do last-minute elopements?

If you already have your marriage license (or a confirmed appointment to get it), I can often accommodate elopements and micro-weddings on shorter notice—availability permitting. For weekend dates and popular seasons, it’s still best to reach out as early as you can so we can lock in your time.

Is this different from a courthouse wedding?

Yes. With me, you’re not limited to a government office or standard script. You choose the location, we personalize the wording, and you still get the legal, by-the-book side handled. It’s a middle ground between a full traditional wedding and a quick courthouse appointment.

Do we need witnesses?

In Pennsylvania, witnesses are not required when an officiant presides on a regular marriage license; self-uniting licenses require two witnesses. In New Jersey, two witnesses must attend and sign. Ever After Vows requires New Jersey ceremony witnesses to be 18 or older.

Can we write our own vows or keep things really simple?

Absolutely. You can repeat after me, write your own vows, or keep it very short and sweet with a simple “I do.” I can share prompts and sample wording, or help you trim what you’ve written so it feels comfortable to say out loud.

What happens if the weather is bad for our outdoor elopement?

We’ll talk through a backup option when we plan—such as a covered spot, a nearby indoor area, or a slight time shift. Weather happens, especially in this area. Having a simple Plan B ahead of time keeps the day much less stressful.

How do we book and pay for an elopement or micro-wedding ceremony?

Once we’ve talked and you’re ready to move forward, I’ll send over a short agreement for signatures and we’ll confirm everything in writing. A deposit reserves your date, with the remaining balance due by the ceremony day. You can pay your deposit and final balance by cash, credit card, Apple Pay, Venmo, or CashApp.