How to Get Married at the Courthouse: Planning Tips and Etiquette

Whether you just don’t love the idea of planning a large wedding or you’d prefer to fast-forward through the engagement period and jump right into married life, a courthouse wedding could be the right choice for you and your significant other. “Courthouse weddings are perfectly legitimate and can be a rather cool way to declare your love,” says wedding planner Danielle Jeatran. “As with a larger-scale wedding, you can customize your day to best reflect you as a couple.” Couples should put a lot of thought and energy into the type of ceremony they want to have, even if they’re saying “I do” in a government building.

The first thing to remember when organizing this type of ceremony? Be sure to plan ahead, especially if you have a particular wedding date in mind. You’ll also need to be comfortable with the fact that you can’t choose your officiant, but it’s worth noting that you’ll likely have someone who is well-practiced at civil ceremonies presiding over your “I dos.” “If you are getting married at the courthouse, the officiant will be provided, and it may be a judge, justice of the peace, notary, or another qualified person,” says Jeatran.

As with any other type of wedding, you’ll need to establish a planning budget. While you’ll save tons of money organizing a courthouse wedding, there are expenses associated with hosting these types of nuptials—and this is particularly true for those who’d like to also host a reception after tying the knot.

Ready for more tips? Here, wedding professionals share their top tips on how to get married at the courthouse.

What to Know About Courthouse Weddings

Courthouse weddings can take on varying formats depending on where you live, but, in general, they typically involve a civil officiant—a judge, justice of the peace, notary, or city clerk—presiding over your and your partner’s marriage. These nuptials also take place inside a courthouse or civic building, as the name suggests, and are normally only 10 to 15 minutes long. Once the ceremony is over, couples are then encouraged to take photos with their witnesses and guests to commemorate the special day.

Though courthouse weddings are largely the same no matter where you’re tying the knot, the city in which you choose to get married will largely dictate the format of your ceremony, the fees you have to pay, and whether or not you need to make an appointment to say “I do.” In New York City, for example, couples are required to pay $25 by credit card or money order to the City Clerk for their marriage ceremony (this is after a marriage license has been obtained). They are also required to make an appointment, as walk-in weddings are not permitted. On the other hand, couples getting married in Dallas County, Texas, aren’t required to make a ceremony appointment, provided that they pay a $100 fee, the judge is available to officiate the wedding, and they’ve already obtained a marriage license.

How to Plan a Courthouse Wedding in 10 Easy Steps

City hall weddings may be one of the most straightforward ways to get married, but they still require planning. Here’s how to plan one in 10 simple steps.

Choose the Right Location

Pick a city hall in a place that has special significance to your relationship, whether it’s where you met and fell in love or currently live. Whatever you choose, don’t feel limited to just your local government building if it doesn’t feel right; you can travel to another destination and make it the first stop on a honeymoon getaway, or plan to say “I do” as part of a fun-filled family vacation.

Research Marriage License Requirements

Even at a courthouse, you can’t tie the knot until you get your marriage license, so figuring out the logistics ahead of time is crucial. “The formal and official process of ensuring your marriage is legal will vary from city/county to city/county within each state,” says Jeatran, so you’ll need to do some digging on your specific city’s requirements. “You will most likely need to obtain the license from the relevant city/county office in advance.”

Wedding coordinator Carla Friday adds: “Some states have a waiting period so you may not be able to get married the same day that you pick it up. There is also an expiration time that the license is good for, so try to get it closer to your wedding date.” If you’re getting married in another country, then you might be able to waive the waiting period and get it once you arrive in town. If not, have a legal ceremony stateside before jetting off to your final destination, just to cover your bases.

Apply for the Marriage License

Once you’ve researched and understood all your city’s requirements to obtain a marriage license, it’s time to apply for one. To do so, you’ll need a state-issued ID or driver’s license, certified copies of both birth certificates, your social security numbers, and divorce papers (if either party has been married in the past). Make sure you sign with a black pen or the city will send your license back. Some city halls only accept credit cards or money orders, so check to see what the acceptable forms of payment are.

Make an Appointment or Nominate a Day

Depending on the city or county, you may be able to make an appointment for your ceremony in advance. If you’re able to do so, know that in some cases there may be a significant wait to secure an appointment. If you’re not able to make an appointment with the city hall, you’ll need to nominate a day to arrive and wait for your turn for your ceremony. If you’re hoping for a weekend wedding date, it may be a challenge to find a courthouse offering the appointment you desire. “Most courthouses will provide services Monday through Friday, but it is best to check with your local courthouse,” Jeatran advises.

Create a Courthouse Wedding Checklist 

Be sure to bring all the necessary paperwork when you head to the courthouse. “You will need to make sure you have your marriage license and associated paperwork, your ID documents, and witnesses at your appointment,” says Jeatran. Make sure your witnesses are over 18 and double-check ahead of time that they will be able to attend.

“Also, check whether you will be permitted to incorporate certain elements that might be important to you. For example, whether you would like to recite your own vows, whether you would like guests to attend (in addition to your witnesses), and whether you would like to document the day with photographs or on film,” Jeatran advises.

Hire a Photographer to Document the Day

If there’s one thing that you should invest in, it’s a talented photographer who can document your wedding day. There’s no better way to have mementos that you can look back on and cherish for decades to come. Ideally, you’ll want to work with someone who has shot at that city hall before and is familiar with the surrounding areas, as they’ll be best suited to guide you toward amazing photo backdrops.

Invite Your Closest Family Members or Friends

One huge benefit of a no-fuss wedding ceremony is that you don’t need to adhere to the rules and politics associated with a typical guest list. But since every city hall will have its own set of rules and regulations about how many guests can attend, Jeatran suggests checking in advance before asking people to be present at your big day. “See how many witnesses are needed and how many people may attend,” she notes. This will usually be a small number of guests, so don’t extend any invitations until you know the answer.

Pick an Outfit You Feel Good In

Just because you’re not having a big wedding doesn’t mean you can’t have a fabulous courthouse wedding outfit. You should feel free to choose something as formal or as casual as you’d like; ultimately, it’s best to wear whatever you and your partner feel great in, and if that’s traditional wedding attire, go for it.

A classic white dress is always a chic choice, or even a fun pantsuit or tuxedo. Some designers have even devoted entire collections to civil ceremony attire, making it extremely easy to find the best ensemble. You could also shop for a short white bridesmaid dress or cocktail frock, which may be more affordable than one labeled specifically for brides.

Add Personal Touches

Even if you can’t recite your own vows, you can still incorporate some classic wedding traditions that reinforce the significance of the day. “For example, you can carry a bouquet, give a toast at the events following the ceremony, book a nice hotel for the night and splurge on some spa services, and plan an announcement in the local paper announcing your nuptials,” Friday says.

Throw a Fun-Filled After-Party—If You Want To!

You and your partner may want to tie the knot in a smaller, more intimate wedding ceremony, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still plan a celebration with a broader guest list that evening or at a later date. There’s no rule that says you can’t have a courthouse wedding and a larger party, so feel free to plan an event that feels authentic to the two of you. That might be a formal reception with all the bells and whistles, a pizza and champagne party, dessert and cocktails, or something else entirely.

At the same time, don’t feel guilty if the two of you don’t want to have a larger party. Whatever you decide, keep the festivities true to your personal interests or personality as a couple.