Order of Service for a Small Backyard or Courthouse Wedding
A simple order of service for a small backyard, park or courthouse wedding, with a ready-to-print program, timings and a day-of run sheet.
Quick answer
A small wedding's order of service is short: arrival, welcome, the couple's story, vows, rings, declaration, presentation and the license signing. Below is a ready-to-print version for a backyard or park, and a shorter one for a courthouse.
Want the whole ceremony written out? See the ready-to-read scripts in the workbook
A ready-to-use order of service
Copy this into your program or onto a card for the officiant. Fill in the names. Times are a guide for a ceremony with under 30 guests; your own may run faster or slower.
Backyard, park or restaurant wedding
| # | Part | Who | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guests arrive and find a spot | Everyone | 15 to 20 minutes before |
| 2 | Couple walks in, or simply takes their places | Couple | 1 minute |
| 3 | Welcome | Officiant | 1 to 2 minutes |
| 4 | The couple’s story | Officiant | 2 to 4 minutes |
| 5 | Reading (optional) | A guest | 1 to 2 minutes |
| 6 | Vows | Couple | 2 to 5 minutes |
| 7 | Ring exchange | Couple, ring holder | 1 to 2 minutes |
| 8 | Unity ritual or guest moment (optional) | Officiant, guests | 1 to 3 minutes |
| 9 | Declaration and kiss | Officiant, couple | 1 minute |
| 10 | Presentation of the couple | Officiant | Under 1 minute |
| 11 | Signing the marriage license | Couple, officiant, witnesses if required | 5 minutes |
| 12 | Group photo, then food or toasts | Everyone |
Courthouse wedding
A courthouse ceremony is usually led by a court official who has a set wording, so your order of service is mostly about what happens around it.
| # | Part | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive at the clerk’s office early | Bring ID, the license or appointment details, and witnesses if your county requires them |
| 2 | Check in | Follow the clerk’s instructions |
| 3 | Ceremony | Led by the court official. Ask ahead if you may add personal vows or a reading |
| 4 | Sign the license | Often done right there with the official |
| 5 | Photos outside | Steps and doors make good backdrops |
| 6 | Lunch or dinner with your guests | The real party, if you want one |
A program you can print
[Partner A] & [Partner B]
[Date] · [Place]
- Welcome · [Officiant’s name]
- Our story
- Reading · read by [Name] (optional)
- Vows
- Exchange of rings
- Declaration of marriage
- Presentation of the couple
Thank you for being here. Please join us for [dinner / cake / drinks] at [time and place].
Who does what on the day
At a small wedding there is no coordinator, so give each job to one person and tell them in advance.
- Officiant. Leads the ceremony and signs the license. Holds the printed script.
- Ring holder. Keeps both rings in one pocket until the ring exchange. Often a friend, sibling or child.
- Reader (optional). Reads one short reading. Give them a printed copy.
- Music person. Starts and stops music from a phone and a small speaker. Test the volume outdoors.
- Photo person. If you have no photographer, ask one guest to take photos and one to take a short video.
- Witnesses. Only if your state requires them. Tell them to bring ID if the clerk asks for it.
- Host. Someone who is not the couple and not the officiant, to tell guests where to stand, where the bathroom is and when food starts.
Day-of run sheet for a backyard wedding
A simple timeline, counting back from a ceremony time of 4:00 pm. Move every line by the same amount for your own start time.
- 1:00 pm Set up chairs or a standing area, a small table for the license and pen, and the speaker.
- 2:30 pm Couple gets ready. Officiant arrives and walks through where everyone will stand.
- 3:30 pm Music starts. Host greets guests.
- 3:45 pm Ring holder confirms they have both rings. Officiant has the script.
- 4:00 pm Ceremony begins.
- About 4:20 pm License signed. Group photo.
- 4:30 pm Food, toasts and the rest of the party.
Plan a rain spot and a quiet spot
Outdoors, have a covered place you can move to in five minutes. Also check for noise: lawnmowers, traffic and neighbors’ music carry farther than you expect during vows.
The license comes first
Whatever kind of wedding you plan, the marriage license is what makes it legal, and its rules are local.
Rules vary by state and county
How to get a license, whether there is a waiting period, how long it is valid, who may officiate, whether witnesses are needed and how the license is returned all depend on where you marry. Courthouse ceremonies may also need a separate appointment. This guide is not legal advice. Check with the county clerk’s office that will issue your license; USA.gov lists local government offices by state.
Before the day, write down:
- The date you can pick up the license and the date it expires.
- The documents and fee the clerk asks for, and whether you both need to appear in person.
- Who must sign, and whether witnesses are needed.
- Who returns the signed license, how, and by when.
Backyard or courthouse?
Both are small, both are legal, and both can be lovely. The choice is about what you want the day to feel like.
- A courthouse is quick and simple to arrange, and the official handles the wording. The trade-off is less control over the words, the time and the setting, and often a limit on the number of guests in the room.
- A backyard or park gives you your own words, your own time and room for everyone you want. The trade-off is that you plan everything, including an officiant, chairs, weather and the license return.
Many couples do both: a short courthouse ceremony for the legal part, and a backyard ceremony with their own script for family and friends. If you do that, the backyard ceremony is symbolic, and the officiant does not need to sign anything that day.
For a full script to read at a backyard wedding, see the short wedding ceremony script. For a friend leading the ceremony, see the officiant script.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a small wedding ceremony?
Adding up the times in the table above, about 10 to 20 minutes with personal vows and a reading, and less without them. Time your own script out loud to know for sure.
Do we need a printed program for a small wedding?
No. With under 30 guests, many couples skip it. A small card with the order of service is nice for guests who want a keepsake.
Can we bring guests to a courthouse wedding?
Often yes, but many offices limit the number. Ask the county clerk how many guests may attend.
Can a backyard wedding be legal?
Yes, if you have a valid license and an officiant your state recognizes, and the license is signed and returned as required. Ask your county clerk.
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