Alabama Weddings
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Alabama (formally, the State of Alabama) is located in the southern region of the United States of America. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland waterways. The state ranks 23rd in population with almost 4.6 million residents in 2006.
From the American Civil War until World War II, Alabama, like many Southern States, suffered economic hardship, in part because of continued dependence on agriculture. More significantly, white rural, minority domination of the legislature until the 1960s meant that urban, contemporary interests were consistently underrepresented. In the years following the war, Alabama experienced significant recovery as the economy of the state transitioned from agriculture to diversified interests in heavy manufacturing, mineral extraction, education, and high technology. Today, the state is heavily invested in aerospace, education, health care, and banking, and various heavy industries including automobile manufacturing, mineral extraction, steel production and fabrication.
Alabama is unofficially nicknamed the Yellowhammer State, which is also the name of the state bird. Alabama is also known as the "Heart of Dixie". The state tree is the Longleaf Pine, the state flower is the Camellia. The capital of Alabama is Montgomery, and the largest city by population is Birmingham. The largest city by total land area is Huntsville. The oldest city is Mobile.
Alabama, and the South in general has a reputation for "southern hospitality". The people of this state are generally genial and helpful, and often go out of their way to help a stranger. While racial divisions still exist in the state, they are much more muted than popular belief and stereotypes hold. The attitudes and problems of the old south are mostly held today only by the old and the uneducated.
Known primarily for its status as the original capitol of the Confederacy (in Montgomery} and the birthplace of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, Alabama can be a study in contrasts.
The sport of American football is taken seriously in Alabama. In addition to significant regional devotion to high-school football teams, the entire state is divided in a way over Alabama versus Auburn University American football rivalry. This can also be a point of concern for tourists, the rivalry is so serious that if you do not know about it, it is better to not say anything. Many friendships fall apart due to this rivalry.
Alabama Weddings
Montgomery, Birmingham and the the beaches of the Gulf Shores are all popular spots for weddings in Alabama. But, don't forget the northern parts of Alabama, also popular with outdoor enthusiasts for the lakes, rivers and mountains. We have included some select locations across the state for eloping as well as larger wedding ceremonies and receptions.
Traditions
Why Alabama?
Marriage License Requirements
If you've just set a date for your wedding, this can be an exciting time for the two of you! Don't let the marriage license laws of Alabama put a dent in your wedding plans.
Here's what you need to know and what documents to bring with you before you apply for an Alabama marriage license. We recommend getting this legal aspect of your wedding out of the way about a month before your wedding date.
Congratulations and much happiness as you begin your lifetime journey together!
Requirements may vary as each county in Alabama could have their own requirements.
ID Requirement in Alabama:
You will need valid Driver's License or Birth Certificate if you are over 18. All applicants must also provide a Social Security number.
Residency Requirement:
You do not have to be a resident of Alabama.
Previous Marriages:
If you were divorced within the last 6 months of your wedding date, you will need to show a copy of your Divorce Decree. According to Section 30-2-10 of the Alabama Code, there is a sixty (60) day restriction on getting married after a divorce.
Covenant Marriage Option in Alabama:
No.
Waiting Period in Alabama:
There is no waiting period in Alabama except after being divorced. Then there is a 60 day waiting period after your divorce is final.
Fees in Alabama:
Cash or credit card requirement varies depending on County. Some locales charge $2 for using a credit card. License fees also vary. $43.35+ for marriage license only; $63+ for license, ceremony and a certified copy.
Other Required Tests in Alabama:
No blood or medical tests required.
Proxy Marriages in Alabama:
No.
Cousin Marriages in Alabama:
Yes.
Common Law Marriages in Alabama:
Yes.
"A valid common law marriage exists in AL when there is capacity to enter into a marriage, present agreement or consent to be husband and wife, public recognition of the existence of the marriage, and consummation." Waller v. Waller, 567 So.2d 869 (Ala.Civ.App. 1990). See also, Hudson v. Hudson, 404 So.2d 82 (Ala.Civ.App. 1981)."
Same Sex Marriages in Alabama:
No.
According to Section 30-1-19 aka The Alabama Marriage Protection Act, "A marriage contracted between individuals of the same sex is invalid in this state ... The State of Alabama shall not recognize as valid any marriage of parties of the same sex that occurred or was alleged to have occurred as a result of the law of any jurisdiction regardless of whether a marriage license was issued."
Under 18:
If either of you are under 18, you will need a certified copy of your birth certificate. Both parents must be present with identification, or if you have a legal guardian they must be present with a court order and identification.
The state also requires a $200 bond to be executed, payable to the State of Alabama. If one or both parents are deceased, proper evidence of such must be provided. According to the Alabama Code Section 30-1-4, individuals under the age of 16 may not marry.
Officiants in Alabama:
Licensed ministers or pastors of recognized religious societies, and current or retired Alabama judges.
Miscellaneous:
License is valid for thirty (30) days.
Copy of Certificate of Marriage:
Alabama Department of Public Health Bureau of Vital Statistics 434 Monroe St. Montgomery, Alabama 36130-3017 Phone: 334-613-5300 Fax: 334-240-3097
How To Get There
Get in
By Car
Alabama is accessible by five interstate highways: I-10 crosses the state from east to west near Mobile in the south; I-20 enters Alabama from the east, traverses Birmingham, and joins I-59 as it traverses Tuscaloosa and exits the state in a southwesterly direction; I-59 enters northeastern Alabama, continues southwest through Birmingham, and exits the state toward the southwest; I-22 enters Alabama from the northwest and ends in Birmingham; I-65 enters Alabama from the north, traverses Birmingham, and ends in Mobile; I-85 enters the state in the east and ends in Montgomery.
By Train
There is one daily Amtrak service through the state: trains 19 (southbound) and 20 (northbound) run from New Orleans to Washington, D.C. and New York City. The trains stop in Alabama at Anniston, Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. Coach and sleeper service is available, with checked baggage, a restaurant car, a café and a lounge.
By Plane
The biggest airport is in Birminghham, and from there or large airports in neighboring states you can get flights to Huntsville, Mobile and Montgomery
Get around
Car is no doubt the best method, and the most scenic. Interstates converge on Montgomery, Birmingham, and Mobile, and make quick transportation between those cities and ones in other states. They also connect to Anniston, Tuscaloosa, & Huntsville. Elsewhere though, travel can be slower in more rural areas.
Get out
Alabama is sandwiched by two other Deep South states: Mississippi & Georgia, both with similar culture. Mississippi has civil war battlefields, scenic parkways, and more antebellum charm. Georgia has the major metropolis of Atlanta, with many attractions, and the charming cities of Macon & Savannah. To the north is Tennessee, with the cities of Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, & Chattanooga, plus the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains.
Bordering the southern part of the state is Florida, with a lot more gulf coast than Alabama, including fabulous beaches, the big tourist area of Orlando, and the cities of Tampa, Jacksonville, and Miami.
Insider Tips
Best Time to Go
Alabama enjoys year-round mild conditions with average temperatures near 80º in the summer and above 45º in the winter. Highs reach the mid 90s.
Northern parts of the state receive occasional short-lived snowfalls. Rainfall is spread somewhat evenly throughout the year.
March is the rainiest month, and October is the driest. High humidity is common, especially in the southern areas and along the Gulf of Mexico.
The best time to go birding is in April, May, and June.
Climate
The climate of Alabama is described as temperate with an average annual temperature of 64 °F (18 °C). Temperatures tend to be warmer in the southern part of the state with its close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, while the northern parts of the state, especially in the Appalachian Mountains in the northeast, tend to be slightly cooler. Generally, Alabama has very hot summers and mild winters with copious precipitation throughout the year. Alabama receives an average of 56 inches (1,400 mm) of rainfall annually and enjoys a lengthy growing season of up to 300 days in the southern part of the state.
Summers in Alabama are among the hottest in the United States, with high temperatures averaging over 90 °F (32 °C) throughout the summer in some parts of the state. Alabama is also prone to tropical storms and even hurricanes. Areas of the state far away from the Gulf are not immune to the effects of the storms, which often dump tremendous amounts of rain as they move inland and weaken.
South Alabama reports more thunderstorms than any part of the U.S. The Gulf Coast, around Mobile Bay, averages between 70 and 80 days per year with thunder reported. This activity decreases somewhat further north in the state, but even the far north of the state reports thunder on about 60 days per year. Occasionally, thunderstorms are severe with frequent lightning and large hail – the central and northern parts of the state are most vulnerable to this type of storm. Alabama ranks seventh in the number of deaths from lightning and ninth in the number of deaths from lightning strikes per capita. Sometimes tornadoes occur – these are common throughout the state, although the peak season for tornadoes varies from the northern to southern parts of the state. Alabama shares the dubious distinction, with Kansas, of having reported more F5 tornadoes than any other state – according to statistics from the National Climatic Data Center for the period January 1, 1950 to October 31, 2006. An F5 tornado is the most powerful of its kind. Several long – tracked F5 tornadoes have contributed to Alabama reporting more tornado fatalities than any other state except for Texas and Mississippi. The Super Outbreak of March, 1974, badly affected Alabama. The northern part of the state – along the Tennessee Valley – is one of the areas in the US most vulnerable to violent tornadoes. The area of Alabama and Mississippi most affected by tornadoes is sometimes referred to as Dixie Alley, as distinct from the Tornado Alley of the Southern Plains. Alabama is one of the few places in the world that has a secondary tornado season (November and December) in addition to the Spring severe weather season.
Winters are generally mild in Alabama, as they are throughout most of the southeastern United States, with average January low temperatures around 40 °F (4 °C) in Mobile and around 32 °F (0 °C) in Birmingham. Snow is a rare event in much of Alabama. Areas of the state north of Montgomery may receive a dusting of snow a few times every winter, with an occasional moderately heavy snowfall every few years. In the southern Gulf coast, snowfall is less frequent, sometimes going several years without any snowfall.
| Monthly normal high and low temperatures for various Alabama cities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City | temp | °F | °C | °F | °C | °F | °C | °F | °C | °F | °C | °F | °C | °F | °C | °F | °C | °F | °C | °F | °C | °F | °C | °F | °C |
| Birmingham | high | 53 | 12 | 58 | 14 | 66 | 19 | 74 | 23 | 81 | 27 | 88 | 31 | 91 | 33 | 90 | 32 | 85 | 29 | 75 | 24 | 64 | 18 | 56 | 13 |
| low | 32 | 0 | 35 | 2 | 42 | 6 | 48 | 9 | 58 | 14 | 65 | 18 | 70 | 21 | 69 | 21 | 63 | 17 | 51 | 11 | 42 | 6 | 35 | 2 | |
| Huntsville | high | 49 | 9 | 55 | 13 | 63 | 17 | 72 | 22 | 80 | 27 | 86 | 30 | 89 | 32 | 89 | 32 | 83 | 28 | 73 | 23 | 62 | 17 | 52 | 11 |
| low | 31 | -1 | 34 | 1 | 41 | 5 | 48 | 9 | 58 | 14 | 65 | 18 | 70 | 21 | 68 | 20 | 62 | 17 | 50 | 10 | 41 | 5 | 34 | 1 | |
| Mobile | high | 61 | 16 | 64 | 18 | 71 | 22 | 77 | 25 | 84 | 29 | 89 | 32 | 91 | 33 | 91 | 33 | 87 | 31 | 79 | 26 | 70 | 21 | 63 | 17 |
| low | 40 | 4 | 42 | 6 | 49 | 9 | 55 | 13 | 63 | 17 | 69 | 21 | 72 | 22 | 72 | 22 | 68 | 20 | 56 | 13 | 48 | 9 | 42 | 6 | |
| Montgomery | high | 58 | 14 | 62 | 17 | 70 | 21 | 78 | 26 | 85 | 29 | 91 | 33 | 93 | 34 | 92 | 33 | 88 | 31 | 79 | 26 | 69 | 21 | 60 | 16 |
| low | 36 | 2 | 39 | 4 | 45 | 7 | 51 | 11 | 60 | 16 | 67 | 19 | 71 | 22 | 70 | 21 | 65 | 18 | 52 | 11 | 44 | 7 | 38 | 3 | |
Alabama Churches
Guests Must Do (Things To Do)
There's a reason so many great writers are from the South. Our unique culture breeds creativity. It also produces some fantastic cultural landmarks, such as the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the sixth-largest Shakespeare festival in the world, which Variety called "an oasis of optimism and growth." If you're looking for more musical fare, catch some of America's hottest acts at huge concert venues in Birmingham, Montgomery or Orange Beach, to name a few. Or find the next Taylor Hicks at one of Alabama's hundreds of live music spots, where top upcoming talent is constantly on display.
After a good meal? Alabama features some legendary eateries. Visit the Dew Drop Inn in Mobile and bite into the burger that inspired the Jimmy Buffet song "Cheesburger in Paradise." Or come see how nationally acclaimed Birmingham chef Frank Stitt – whose restaurants include Highlands Bar & Grill, Bottega Resaurant & Café, and Chez Fonfon – has revolutionized the fine-dining experience in Alabama. Looking to pick up the pace? Catch a race at the Talladega Superspeedway (175,000 capacity) or a college football game at Tuscaloosa's Bryant-Denny Stadium (92,000 capacity) or Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,000 capacity). Plus, with hundreds of beautiful golf courses nestled throughout the state, including the world-famous Robert Trent Jones golf trail, Alabama offers what Golf Digest has called some of the best golf vacations in the world.
Another good way to relax is a trip to one of Alabama's beautiful Gulf Coast destinations. Kick back on the white sands. Charter a boat. Visit a bustling water park. There's no shortage of things to do. In short, it's paradise. And not just for families but golfers, sun-worshippers, fishermen and vacationers in general. And you'll find plenty of outdoor activities in the rest of the state. Alabama offers literally every type of outdoor adventure imaginable, from hiking, camping, cycling, canoeing and kayaking to horseback riding, fishing, scaling boulders and rappelling down canyons. Browse our site, and learn more about beautiful Alabama.