A civil ceremony contains no religious elements (except for what the couple may add) and can be performed in a judge's chambers, registrar's/lawyer's office or a venue of your choice, depending on the area in which you wish to get married in. Different laws apply to different states and countries and you can usually find out most of the information from the local court house or City Hall in the city where you wish to be married.

For a small fee, they should also be able to supply you with a list of names, addresses and phone numbers of various officiants who can perform a civil ceremony. To find out more about U.S. marriage laws by state, visit: http://countryweddings.com/planning/statelaws.htm

It's a good idea to set up appointments and meet with 3 or 4 different officiant's, as some won't be available on your wedding date and some you may not like. It is important that you feel comfortable with the officiant who is performing the ceremony and that you feel that he/she is interested in you as a couple.

Some important questions to ask the officiant are:

1. Are you available on this date and are you willing to travel to the location? If you are planning on having a private ceremony and a reception later for family and friends, ask if the officiant can provide a room or location in which to conduct the ceremony.

2. How long have you been conducting civil ceremonies and what is your fee?

3. Are you available for a rehearsal and when are you available?

4. What is the standard ceremony that you use and can we add our own vows, readings, etc. to the ceremony? Do you have any sample ceremony sheets that you could provide?

5. What is the procedure we need to follow in order to obtain a marriage license?

The officiant should be able to advise you on the procedure you will need to follow in order to get your marriage license. Here are a few things that are fairly standard in most areas. You will each need to have the following documents:

* a birth certificate and/or passport for identification (with a picture)

* a copy of your Marriage Certificate and the Certificate of Divorce if either of you were previously married

* any name change deeds if you had your name legally changed

* a utility bill or some other type of document that gives your current address

* some areas require that you also provide your father and your mother's (maiden) names

* if you are under 18, you will most likely need signed permission from a parent or guardian in most places.

Some locals still require couples to have a blood test before issuing a license. This is probably a good idea regardless of whether it is required or not. Remember, you're not just marrying one person... but every other person your mate may have slept with.

Also keep in mind to budget for the various fees, such as the officiant's fee (for the ceremony), the registration fee and the marriage license fee. These vary from location to location.

As with any marriage ceremony, you will need to have two witnesses to sign the legal documents once the ceremony is performed. If you are eloping, often times the officiant can provide the two witnesses from his/her staff.