Austin City Hall Wedding

At a Glance

What Makes an Austin Courthouse Wedding Special

Travis County does something most courthouses don’t: it gives you options. Five Justice of the Peace precincts serve the county, and each one runs its own civil ceremony program with different fees, scheduling, and style. You’re not locked into a single judge, a single time slot, or a single price point. You pick the precinct that fits how you want your wedding day to feel.

That flexibility extends to the ceremony itself. JP Precinct 3 uses gender-neutral, pronoun-inclusive language by default and welcomes custom vows. If you want to write your own words for your Austin civil ceremony, you can. If you’d rather keep things simple with a standard courthouse wedding ceremony, every precinct handles that too. JP3 also offers Zoom ceremonies for couples with family members who can’t be in the room. (Verify Zoom ceremony availability before booking, as this option may have changed since the pandemic era.)

Texas makes the legal side easy for out-of-state couples planning a destination courthouse wedding. No residency requirement, no blood test, and your Travis County marriage license works anywhere in the state. You could get your license in Austin on a Monday and have your ceremony in San Antonio, Fredericksburg, or Marfa the following week. The license travels with you for 90 days.

Step by Step: How to Get Married at the Travis County Courthouse

An Austin courthouse wedding happens in two stages: getting your Travis County marriage license at the Clerk’s Office, then having your ceremony performed by a Justice of the Peace. A 72-hour waiting period separates the two unless you qualify for a waiver.

1. Complete a premarital education course (optional but recommended). The Texas Twogether Program saves you $60 on the marriage license fee and waives the 72-hour waiting period. This is the single highest-value step in the process. If you’re on a tight timeline or budget, do this first.

2. Apply for your marriage license in person. Visit the Travis County Clerk’s Office at 5501 Airport Blvd during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM). Both partners must appear together with valid government-issued photo ID and their Social Security numbers. Pay the $80 fee in cash. An on-site ATM is available. (Verify the current fee before visiting. Some sources list $81.)

3. Wait 72 hours (or skip it). Texas law requires a 72-hour waiting period between license issuance and the ceremony. This is waived if you completed a premarital education course, are active-duty military, or obtain a written waiver from a judge.

4. Choose your Justice of the Peace precinct. Travis County has five JP precincts, each with its own ceremony fees, schedule, and style. See the Ceremony Details section below for a full comparison. Contact your chosen JP to confirm availability and book your Austin courthouse wedding ceremony.

5. Arrive on your wedding day. Bring your issued marriage license. It must be at least 72 hours old (unless waived) and less than 90 days old. Arrive early, dress however you like, and bring your rings if you plan to exchange them.

6. Exchange your vows. Your Justice of the Peace performs a civil ceremony lasting 5 to 10 minutes. After the pronouncement, you and your spouse sign the marriage license.

7. File and get certified copies. The officiant signs and returns your license to the Travis County Clerk, who records it and mails the original back to you via USPS. Order at least 10 certified copies (approximately $2 to $3 each) for name changes with the Social Security Administration, DMV, passport office, and financial institutions.

Travis County Marriage License Details

Documents You Need for Your Austin Marriage License

Both partners must bring the following to the Travis County Clerk’s Office:

• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID)
• Social Security number (you don’t need the physical card, just the number)
• Certified copy of divorce decree (required only if your divorce was finalized within the last 30 days)
• Premarital education certificate (if you completed the Texas Twogether Program for the fee reduction and waiting period waiver)

Austin Marriage License Fees

The Clerk’s Office accepts cash only. There is an ATM on-site. (Verify the current fee before visiting. A minor $1 discrepancy appeared across sources, suggesting a possible recent change.)

Eligibility Requirements

• Both partners must be at least 18 years old
• Both partners must appear in person together
• No Texas residency required
• No blood test required
• Applicants cannot be related by blood
• A marriage license obtained in any Texas county is valid statewide

Marriage License Validity

Your Texas marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. If it expires unused, you must reapply and pay the fee again. Apply 30 to 60 days before your preferred ceremony date so you have scheduling flexibility without risking expiration.

Austin Courthouse Wedding Ceremony Details

Choosing Your Justice of the Peace

Travis County has five JP precincts that perform wedding ceremonies. Here’s what we know about each:

JP Precinct 1 (Judge Williams)

• Fee: $100 (cash or Cash App accepted) (Verify Cash App acceptance before visiting.)
• Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Wednesday until 7:00 PM
• Guest limit: 25 people maximum (including the couple)
• Walk-ins welcome if the schedule permits
• No rice, flower petals, or confetti allowed on premises
• Off-site wedding ceremonies available

JP1 is the most documented precinct and offers the broadest weekday availability for Austin courthouse weddings. The Wednesday evening hours give working couples a post-work ceremony option that most courthouses don’t provide.

JP Precinct 3 (Judge Holmes)

• Fee: $200 (non-refundable, paid in advance)
• Weekday ceremonies: license signing only (no vows or ring exchange)
• Weekend ceremonies: full vows and ring exchange included
• Zoom ceremonies available (Confirm current availability.)
• Custom vows accepted
• Gender-neutral, pronoun-inclusive language by default
• One free date reset with 7 days’ notice

JP3 is the most personalized option for a Travis County civil ceremony. If you want a ceremony that feels like yours, with your own words and inclusive language, this is the precinct to contact. The weekend option is worth the higher fee for couples who want the full ceremony experience.

JP Precinct 2 (Judge Slagle)

• Schedule: Monday through Friday; evening and weekend ceremonies available by request
• Walk-ins accepted if available
• Fee and guest limit: not confirmed (Contact directly for current information.)

JP Precincts 4 and 5

• Limited information available. Contact these precincts directly for fees, scheduling, and ceremony policies.

What to Expect During Your Austin Civil Ceremony

Civil wedding ceremonies in Travis County are performed by a Justice of the Peace, not the County Clerk. A typical courthouse ceremony lasts 5 to 10 minutes. Some precincts offer ceremonies in English, Spanish, or American Sign Language with advance notice.

Appointments are strongly recommended across all precincts, even at JP1 and JP2 where walk-ins are accepted. Calling ahead saves you the risk of arriving during a full schedule.

Who Can Legally Officiate a Wedding in Texas

Under Texas Family Code Section 2.202, the following people can perform a marriage ceremony:

• Licensed or ordained ministers, priests, and rabbis
• Officers of religious organizations authorized to conduct marriages
• Current, former, or retired federal or state judges (including Justices of the Peace)

Texas does not require official registration for wedding officiants. If you prefer a religious ceremony or a friend-officiated wedding, you can get your Travis County marriage license and have someone else perform the ceremony anywhere in the state.

Photography and Guest Tips for Your Austin Courthouse Wedding

Guest Capacity

JP Precinct 1 allows a maximum of 25 people in the ceremony room, including the couple. Other precincts did not publish their guest limits. Call your chosen JP to confirm how many guests you can bring.

Texas law does not require witnesses for a marriage ceremony. Even a couple-only elopement at the courthouse is fully legal. If you’re planning a small, private ceremony without family or friends present, you don’t need to arrange for witnesses.

Wedding Photography at the Courthouse

No official photography policies were published by any Travis County JP precinct. Courthouse ceremonies are brief, so most wedding photography happens before or after the ceremony, either in the building or outside. (Call your JP’s office to ask about photography rules before your wedding day.)

Plan your photo locations in advance. A photographer who knows the area around your JP’s office will help you make the most of the time between your Austin courthouse ceremony and whatever comes next.

No Confetti or Decorations

JP1 explicitly prohibits rice, flower petals, and confetti on courthouse premises. Expect similar rules at other precincts. Bring a bouquet or small floral arrangement if you want a visual touch, but leave anything that scatters on the ground at home.

Practical Tips for Your Austin Courthouse Wedding

Bring cash. The Clerk’s Office accepts cash only for the marriage license fee. There is an ATM on-site, but bring cash to avoid any issues. JP1 accepts Cash App in addition to cash. Confirm payment methods with other precincts before your ceremony day.

Complete the premarital education course. This is worth repeating: the Texas Twogether Program saves $60 on the license fee (reducing it from $80 to $20) and eliminates the 72-hour waiting period. For a couple on a timeline, this one step removes the biggest scheduling constraint in the process.

Apply for your license 30 to 60 days early. This gives you room to schedule your JP ceremony without rushing, while staying well within the 90-day validity window.

Book your JP after getting your license, not before. Align your ceremony date so the 72-hour waiting period (if applicable) has already passed. There’s no reason to lock in a ceremony date and then discover your license won’t be valid yet.

No dress code. Business casual is common at Austin courthouse weddings, but there are no formal requirements. Wear whatever feels right for your wedding day.

Tell your JP what you need. Let them know your preferred names, pronouns, and any language requirements (English, Spanish, ASL) when you schedule. JP3 uses gender-neutral language by default, but other precincts accommodate requests with advance notice.

Order certified copies right away. Get at least 10 certified copies of your marriage certificate (approximately $2 to $3 each). You’ll need them for name changes in this order: Social Security Administration, DMV, passport office, then banks and financial institutions.

Your Texas marriage license works statewide. If you change your mind about a courthouse ceremony after getting your license, you can marry anywhere in the state within the 90-day window. Some couples get their Travis County license and have their ceremony in the Hill Country, on the coast, or at a family ranch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get married the same day you get your marriage license in Austin?

Not unless you qualify for a waiver. Texas law requires a 72-hour waiting period between marriage license issuance and the ceremony. The waiting period is waived if you complete a premarital education course through the Texas Twogether Program, are active-duty U.S. military, or obtain a written waiver from an authorized judge. Without a waiver, plan for at least a three-day gap between your license appointment and your ceremony.

Do you need to be a Texas resident to get married in Austin?

No. Texas has no residency requirement for marriage. Couples from any U.S. state or from outside the country can apply for a Travis County marriage license and marry in Austin or anywhere else in Texas. Your license is valid statewide for 90 days.

How much does an Austin courthouse wedding cost in total?

The Travis County marriage license costs $80 at the Clerk’s Office (or $20 with a premarital education course). Ceremony fees range from $100 at JP Precinct 1 to $200 at JP Precinct 3. Total cost for an Austin courthouse wedding runs between $180 and $280 before optional expenses like wedding photography, flowers, or a celebration dinner. Cash is required at the Clerk’s Office. (Verify current fees before visiting, as amounts may have changed.)

Can you have a courthouse wedding on a weekend in Austin?

JP Precinct 3 offers full wedding ceremonies on weekends, including vows and ring exchange, for $200. JP Precinct 2 may accommodate weekend ceremonies by request. JP Precinct 1 is weekday only (Monday through Friday, with extended Wednesday evening hours). Contact your preferred precinct directly to confirm weekend availability and fees.