This Couple Exchanged Vows at the Courthouse Then Celebrated with Friends a Year Later

For Kyra and Portia, "the idea of planning a wedding sounded exciting to us. However, it definitely seemed like a ton of work and money. The type of work we were not sure we wanted to do and the amount of money that we weren't sure we wanted to spend. Then we discussed the idea of having a courthouse wedding with just the two of us. On May 5th, 2017 we celebrated four years of being together and on that day, we hired photographer River West and were married at the Dekalb County Courthouse in Decatur, Georgia. We had a progressive female judge who officiated our wedding. She was engaging, thoughtful and really became a special part of our moment. Although there were several other couples in the room waiting to be married, she made us feel like we were the only ones there. After our ceremony, we decided to walk from the courthouse to our favorite restaurant in Decatur, where we shared our first toast. It was the perfect way to celebrate the beginning of our union."

Looking back on their wedding, Kyra and Portia share that, "the most anticipated moment on our wedding day was when the judge announced that we were married. It was a huge moment for us because just a couple of years before, gay marriage was not legal. We were not sure if this day would ever come. Our wedding advice to you is to make this special day about the two of you. Do not allow yourselves to be pressured by anyone's opinions and thoughts on how things should be. The biggest marriage advice we can offer is to practice patience with each another. Make sure to use clear and effective communication, as this is a special journey unlike any other." 

Then, "one year after saying 'I Do' we hosted our wedding reception," the couple explains. "We chose a brunch style theme. The colors were blush and ivory. The table centerpieces consisted of tin lanterns, floral/greenery arrangements and pictures from our wedding day. The entire indoor space was draped in long white sheers and a light installation hung from the ceiling. Highboy tables along with a cigar bar were setup in the outdoor courtyard area."