Courthouse Weddings
What to Wear to a Courthouse Wedding as a Guest
A practical guide to courthouse wedding guest attire. Learn what to wear, what to skip, and how to dress appropriately for a ceremony at city hall.
Your Guide to City Hall Weddings
City hall ceremonies are personal, affordable, and beautifully simple. We cover everything from marriage license requirements to ceremony day logistics for courthouses across the country.
Explore City Guides
Popular Courthouse Wedding Locations
Each city has its own process for marriage licenses and civil ceremonies. Our guides walk you through the details.
San Francisco
Get married in a Beaux-Arts landmark for just $238, with no residency requirement, no waiting period, and a rotunda that photographs like a $50,000 venue.
View city guideNew York City
Get married at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau for just $70 total. Here's everything you need to know about NYC city hall weddings, from Project Cupid booking to ceremony day.
View city guideChicago
Chicago offers one of the most affordable courthouse weddings in any major U.S. city, with a $70 total cost for a civil ceremony at the Richard J. Daley Center in the Loop.
View city guideHouston
Choose from three courthouse venues, save $60 with an online premarital course, and get married for as little as $121 total, with no residency requirement and free ceremonies for military families.
View city guideLas Vegas
Get legally married for about $180 with no waiting period, no residency requirement, and a marriage bureau open 365 days a year until midnight.
View city guideSeattle
Seattle offers two downtown courthouse venues, weekend ceremony availability, and a marriage license that works anywhere in Washington, with total costs from $249 to $469.
View city guideLos Angeles
Los Angeles County offers seven courthouse locations for civil ceremonies, with Beverly Hills Courthouse as the most popular. No waiting period, no residency requirement, and same-day ceremonies available.
View city guidePhiladelphia
Philadelphia offers one of the most affordable city hall weddings in the country at $90, plus Pennsylvania's unique self-uniting (Quaker) marriage license that lets couples marry without an officiant.
View city guideAtlanta
Get married for as little as $28.50 at Fulton County Probate Court, where the Forever Fridays program offers free walk-in ceremonies every week.
View city guidePopular Guides
Reception & Celebration
5 Reception Ideas After Your Courthouse Wedding
Planning a reception after your courthouse wedding? These five celebration ideas fit every budget and style, from intimate dinners to beach parties.
Locations & Venues
Cheap Oregon Wedding Venues That Don't Feel Cheap
Find affordable Oregon wedding venues from $480 to $10,000. Barns, rooftops, historic lodges, and courthouses across the state with real pricing details.
Planning & Advice
Can You Elope and Have a Wedding Later? Yes, Here's How
Yes, you can elope and celebrate later. Learn how to plan both events, manage costs, and get the best of a private ceremony and a big party.
Simple Weddings, Real Information
City Hall Wedding started because navigating courthouse wedding logistics should not be stressful. We research the details so you can focus on what matters: starting your marriage. Our guides cover 28 U.S. cities and 80+ articles on planning, etiquette, and legal questions.
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