Saying ‘I Do’: A Guide to Getting Married in Grand Forks

As a wedding photographer, I get ALL. KINDS. of questions having to do with wedding logistics. Whenever I chat with a couple who’s pretty stressed, I always tell them that there is no reason they should know exactly what to do unless they’ve been married a bunch of times before (or you’re a wedding vendor 😉)

Most couples start their planning process by daydreaming about the details— the florals, which color palette they’re going to go with, and maybe a cake flavor. These things are all extremely important too, butttt before we get there, we have to start with the basics. Basically what I’m saying is don’t order your flowers until you know where you’ll be bringing them! Don’t salt your soup before you taste it? Something like that…

I’m going to break down getting married in Grand Forks, starting from the boring basics, so you can focus on the fun stuff 💃

The first thing you’ll want to consider is roughly what you want for your wedding. What I mean by that is, what is important to you? In this section we’re considering guests, setting, and experience! You’re probably familiar with a traditional wedding ceremony and reception set-up. In this setting, maybe you get married in your church with a huge audience, then head to a local ballroom or venue for your reception (usually a meal and dance!) But this is not the only way you can get married in Grand Forks. Here’s a rapid-fire list of wedding types, and a little taste of what they are!

Micro-Wedding

This is perfect for the couple that has a guestlist of 20-35. In a micro-wedding setting, you have a lot of flexibility for venues and logistics because you don’t need as much space! So you can have your ceremony at a park and your reception in the backyard, or at your favorite restaurant 🙂 Check out this article to find some of the best small-but-sweet venues in Grand Forks to host your dreamy micro-wedding.

Elopement

An elopement is just a wedding plan that doesn’t necessarily tie itself to all of the usual wedding traditions. Oftentimes it’s just the couple and an officiant, but I consider 10 and under people an elopement!

Elopements tend to get a bad reputation, especially if you’re used to them being a “shotgun wedding” that hasn’t been planned. The truth is, though, you can have an elopement that’s just as beautiful and intentional as a more elaborate wedding day. And it does not have to be at the courthouse! Some common elopement locations I’ve seen in the Grand Forks region happen in area parks like Turtle River or Sertoma/Japanese Garden Park. 

Traditional Wedding

You know this one… 😉 All I mean when I say “traditional” is that it typically follows more traditions regarding timeline, setting, and events. This is often at a church or at a specialized wedding venue with all of your guests. Then the party shifts to another setting for dinner and dancing. You can browse this Cooler article that shows all of the gorgeous venues that Grand Forks has to offer for your traditional wedding. A few highlights include the Opal and Cloud 9 at the stunning Olive Ann Hotel.

If you’re looking up information regarding getting married in Grand Forks, you’ve probably already been thinking about the weather a bit. Getting married in Grand Forks means that the weather will definitely be part of your day! Try not to stress about it too much, but there are things you can do to prep and make sure you feel comfortable with whatever the day throws at you.

In my humble, expert opinion, September is the best month to get married in Grand Forks. Late September, specifically. We’re usually past the worst of the heat and humidity from the summer, and it’s before the unpredictable winter weather sets in.

Summer is great for the scenery and sunset time. When you have a later sunset time, you have the opportunity to get some golden hour photos! (But she can get humid too) Fall is best for predictability in weather. Winter is great because you’ll have more options for vendors, and some wedding professionals offer special pricing for “off season.” And spring is gorgeous, but I would say the most unpredictable for getting married in Grand Forks!

Reach out to your dream vendors sooner rather than later! Here’s my list of priorities: Venue first, then photography, catering, makeup & hair (they often book out quickly but don’t open their books until a certain amount of time before the event date. Reach out to find out!)

Find someone to marry you. No not your partner, but an officiant. If you’re looking for someone outside of your place of worship, a local Grand Forks favorite is the award-winning Officiant Amber, who offers multiple levels of packages from the complete works with premarital counseling and ceremony rehearsal and coordination to a smaller “license” singing package for those who are looking to elope or have a micro wedding. Officiant Amber also walks you through the legal process, submits the wedding license paperwork, and even helps to get your name changed.

If you’re getting married in North Dakota, you can visit any of the county offices in the state to apply for your marriage license. A helpful reminder: You must apply for a marriage license in the state you are getting married in, not necessarily the state that you live in. If you’re tying the knot in Grand Forks, you’ll want to visit the Grand Forks Tax Equalization Office. Make sure to bring your partner and make a little date out of it, since both applicants have to be present at the courthouse. They’ll give you more information about deadlines and where to mail things, but know that once you have your license, you have 60 days to tie the knot!

Getting married in Grand Forks gives you a stunning setting for any style of wedding you’re dreaming of. Whether you go for a stunning, luxe wedding at Cloud 9 Events or an adventurous elopement at Turtle River State Park, you can’t go wrong. Now let’s head to the chapelllllll