Couple reviewing wedding planning paperwork together at a kitchen table

Skipping the Budget Because “It’s Just a Courthouse Wedding”

The biggest misconception about courthouse weddings is that they cost next to nothing. The civil ceremony fee itself typically runs $30 to $100 depending on your county clerk’s office. But ceremony cost is only one line item in a courthouse wedding budget.

Reception venue rental, wedding attire, catering, professional photography, floral arrangements, and wedding favors all carry real price tags. If you’re planning a honeymoon afterward, add travel and hotel costs. Even a modest courthouse wedding with a small reception can run $2,000 to $5,000 once you account for everything.

Budget tip: Even a modest courthouse wedding with a small reception can run $2,000 to $5,000. Sit down with your partner early and decide where to spend and where to save. A written budget prevents surprise expenses and keeps you both on the same page.

Sit down with your partner early on and set a realistic number. Decide together what matters most. Maybe professional wedding photography is worth the splurge while you keep the reception dinner simple. Maybe a weekend honeymoon getaway matters more than a big reception. Make those choices intentionally rather than realizing afterward that you overspent in places that didn’t matter to you. If your budget is the primary driver, it’s also worth researching affordable Oregon venues for a courthouse-style celebration, since the Pacific Northwest has options that dramatically undercut what you’d pay in California or major metro areas.

A clear wedding budget also sets a healthy tone for your marriage. You’re making financial decisions as a team from day one, which matters more than any registry item.

If you need guidance on keeping costs in check, take a look at our tips on how to set a budget for a wedding without breaking the bank.

Getting the Marriage License Timing Wrong

The marriage license has its own timeline, and it varies by state. This detail trips up more couples than you’d expect.

Some states require a waiting period of one to three business days between applying for and receiving your marriage license. Others issue the license same-day but set an expiration date, sometimes as short as 30 days. In California, for example, a marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. In Georgia, there’s no waiting period, but the license expires after 6 months.

If you apply too late, you won’t have the license in hand for your ceremony date. Apply too early, and it might expire before your wedding.

Marriage license timing matters: Some states require a waiting period of 1 to 3 days, and licenses expire in as few as 30 days. Check your county clerk's office for exact requirements before picking your ceremony date. If the license expires or isn't ready, you won't be legally married.

Before anything else, look up the specific marriage license requirements for your state and county. Check what documents you’ll need. Most county clerk offices require government-issued photo ID, and some ask for birth certificates or Social Security numbers. Find out whether both partners need to appear in person at the clerk’s office. Learn the filing fees, the waiting period, and the validity window.

Getting the marriage license paperwork sorted early removes one of the biggest sources of last-minute wedding stress. You can still have a reception without a license, but you won’t be legally married, and that’s a problem most couples want to avoid.

For state-specific details, our guides on getting a marriage license in Georgia and marriage license requirements in San Francisco are good starting points.

Sending Save-the-Dates Before Finalizing the Guest List

The excitement after getting engaged is hard to contain. You pick a wedding date, and your first instinct is to tell everyone you know. But sending out save-the-date cards before your guest list is truly final creates awkward situations that are tough to undo.

Anyone who receives a save-the-date reasonably expects a formal wedding invitation to follow. If you later decide to trim the list because of venue capacity, budget constraints, or simply wanting a more intimate ceremony, you’re left either over-inviting or hurting feelings.

Finalize your guest list first. Talk through it with your partner. Consider your ceremony venue capacity, your wedding budget, and the kind of atmosphere you want. Once that list is locked in, send save-the-dates about six to eight months before the wedding date.

This order of operations saves you from uncomfortable conversations and lets you plan the rest of your wedding (catering headcount, seating arrangements, favors) with real numbers rather than guesses.

For guidance on timing, see our article on when to send wedding invitations.

Ignoring Venue Capacity When Building Your Guest List

Courthouse ceremonies typically have strict limits on how many guests can attend. Some courtrooms and judge’s chambers allow only a handful of witnesses, sometimes as few as four or six people. Others have more space, but it’s rarely comparable to a church or banquet hall.

The same goes for your reception venue. A rooftop restaurant, a park pavilion, and a community center all hold very different numbers. If you build your guest list before choosing a venue, you might end up scrambling to find a space that fits everyone, or worse, telling people they can’t come after all.

Pick your ceremony and reception locations first. Get the exact capacity from each venue coordinator. Then build your guest list to fit within those limits. About 80% of invited guests typically attend, so you can invite slightly above capacity if you’re comfortable with some flexibility.

For more on this balancing act, check out our article on how many people to invite to a wedding.

Waiting Too Long to Book Vendors and Services

Courthouse weddings may be simpler to plan than traditional ceremonies, but the wedding vendors you need are the same ones every other couple in your area is trying to book. Wedding photographers, caterers, DJs, florists, and venue managers all work from packed calendars, especially during peak wedding season from May through October.

Start reaching out to vendors as soon as you have your wedding date and venue confirmed. Prioritize the services that matter most. Wedding photography is usually at the top since those memories last a lifetime. Catering comes next if you’re hosting a reception dinner.

Vendor booking timeline: Book your photographer and reception venue 8 to 10 months out, entertainment and attire 6 to 8 months out, and flowers and rentals 4 to 6 months out. Confirm everything 2 to 3 months before the wedding date.

Here’s a vendor booking timeline that works for most courthouse weddings:

  • 8 to 10 months out: Book your reception venue, wedding photographer, and caterer
  • 6 to 8 months out: Hire entertainment (DJ or live musicians), order your wedding outfit
  • 4 to 6 months out: Arrange flowers, wedding favors, and any rentals (tables, chairs, linens)
  • 2 to 3 months out: Confirm all vendor bookings, finalize the day-of timeline

Waiting until you “have time” usually means scrambling for whoever’s still available. Planning ahead gives you better choices and often better pricing.

Our complete wedding reception checklist walks through every detail so nothing falls through the cracks. You might also find our tips on choosing the best vendors for your wedding helpful.

Asking Friends to Do the Work Instead of Hiring Professionals

It’s tempting to save money by asking a friend who “has a nice camera” to photograph your wedding, or having your cousin handle the playlist from a laptop. On paper, this seems like a smart budget move. In practice, it often leads to regret.

Professional wedding photographers know how to work with the tricky fluorescent lighting common in courthouses, capture candid moments without being intrusive, and deliver edited images that hold up for decades. A friend with a smartphone, no matter how well-intentioned, simply can’t replicate that level of expertise.

The same applies to catering, music, and day-of coordination. When your friends are working your wedding, they aren’t enjoying it as guests. And you’ll feel the pressure of managing them on a day when you should be focused on your partner and the ceremony.

If budget is the concern (and it usually is), there are smart compromises. Hire a professional photographer for just two hours to cover the ceremony and key portraits. Book a smaller caterer who specializes in intimate events and small weddings. Look into solo musicians or acoustic performers rather than full bands.

The goal is to protect the things that matter most while keeping your wedding budget intact. And your friends and family get to actually celebrate with you instead of working.

For more ideas on keeping entertainment costs reasonable, see our guide to hiring wedding musicians on a budget.

Trying to Do Everything Yourselves

A courthouse wedding is simpler than a traditional one. That’s one of its biggest appeals. But “simpler” doesn’t mean “easy,” and many couples make the mistake of refusing help because they feel like they should be able to handle every detail alone.

You don’t have to. And you shouldn’t try to.

Friends and family often want to contribute to your wedding. Let them. Maybe your mom is great at organizing and would love to coordinate with the caterer. Maybe a friend who recently got married has vendor recommendations and hard-won advice. Maybe someone close to you would be happy to handle day-of logistics so you and your partner can actually relax and enjoy the ceremony.

Accepting help isn’t a sign that your planning failed. It’s a sign that you have people in your life who care about you and your wedding day. Delegate what you can so the two of you can focus on what matters: getting married.

If you’re also feeling the overall planning stress, our tips on how to avoid wedding planning stress are worth a read. You can also check out our list of tasks to delegate on your wedding day for specific ideas.

Making Your Courthouse Wedding Yours

Every wedding, no matter the size or setting, deserves thoughtful planning. A courthouse ceremony can be just as meaningful and memorable as any traditional wedding celebration. The key is going in with your eyes open and a plan in hand.

Set a realistic wedding budget. Handle the marriage license paperwork early. Be strategic about your guest list and venue capacity. Book wedding vendors with time to spare. Let the professionals do what they’re good at. And accept help from the people who love you.

Your courthouse wedding is a real wedding. Treat the planning that way, and you’ll walk out of that courthouse with zero regrets and a whole lot to celebrate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a courthouse wedding actually cost?

The ceremony fee itself typically runs $30 to $100 depending on your county. But once you add a reception venue, photography, attire, catering, and other extras, most couples spend $2,000 to $5,000 total. Setting a clear budget early helps you prioritize what matters most.

How far in advance should I get my marriage license?

This depends on your state. Some states have a one-to-three-day waiting period, and most licenses expire within 30 to 90 days. Check your county clerk’s office for exact requirements, then apply with enough lead time that the license is valid on your wedding date.

How many guests can attend a courthouse wedding?

Most courtrooms allow between 4 and 20 guests for the ceremony, though this varies widely by location. Some judge’s chambers only fit the couple and two witnesses. Always confirm capacity with the courthouse before building your guest list.

When should I start booking vendors for a courthouse wedding?

Start booking your top-priority vendors (photographer, reception venue, caterer) 8 to 10 months before your wedding date. Peak season runs May through October, and popular vendors book up fast regardless of whether the ceremony is at a courthouse or a traditional venue.

Should I hire a professional photographer for a courthouse wedding?

Yes, if photography matters to you. Professional wedding photographers handle difficult courthouse lighting, know how to capture candid moments, and deliver images you’ll value for decades. If budget is tight, hiring a photographer for just two hours to cover the ceremony and portraits is a smart compromise.