Columbus City Hall Wedding

At a Glance

What Makes a Columbus Courthouse Wedding Special

Columbus keeps courthouse weddings simple and remarkably cheap. The Franklin County Municipal Court judges donate their time to perform civil ceremonies, so there’s no ceremony fee at all. You pay $65 for the marriage license at the Probate Court and $25 for a processing fee at the Municipal Court. That’s $90 total. For couples who want to skip the wedding industry markup and just get married, Columbus is one of the best deals in the country.

The process is split between two adjacent buildings on South High Street, which sounds more complicated than it actually is. You get your license on the 23rd floor of 373 S. High Street, then walk next door to 375 S. High Street for your ceremony on the 14th floor. Ohio has no waiting period, so you can pick up your license and get married the same day, as long as you’ve scheduled your ceremony in advance. No residency requirement either, which makes Columbus a practical option for out-of-state couples who want something fast and affordable.

The Franklin County Municipal Court also runs a popular Valentine’s Day wedding program each year, with extended scheduling and sometimes group ceremony options. If you’re flexible on timing and like the idea of sharing your anniversary with a holiday, it’s worth calling the court in January for details on that year’s program.

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

A Columbus courthouse wedding involves two offices in two adjacent buildings: the Probate Court for your marriage license and the Municipal Court for your ceremony. Here’s the full process from start to finish.

1. Schedule your ceremony first. Call (614) 645-8214 or (614) 645-3889 to book your ceremony at the Franklin County Municipal Court. The court has limited ceremony windows (one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon), so schedule 1 to 2 months in advance if possible.

2. Get your marriage license at the Probate Court. Visit the Franklin County Probate Court at 373 S. High Street, 23rd floor, during business hours. Both partners must appear in person with valid photo ID and Social Security numbers. Pay the $65 fee in cash or by credit/debit card (3% surcharge on cards). If you arrive by 4:00 PM, your license will be issued the same day. (Verify the current fee before visiting, as court fees can change.)

3. Pay the $25 processing fee on the 3rd floor. On your ceremony day, go to the Civil Division on the 3rd floor of the Municipal Court building at 375 S. High Street. Pay the $25 processing fee and get your receipt. You need this receipt before heading upstairs.

4. Check in on the 14th floor. Bring your marriage license and processing fee receipt to Courtroom 14A on the 14th floor. Check in with the court staff.

5. Exchange your vows. A Municipal Court judge performs a civil ceremony lasting approximately 10 minutes. After the pronouncement, you and your spouse sign the marriage license.

6. File and record your marriage. The signed license is returned to the Probate Court for recording.

7. Order certified marriage abstracts. Request certified copies from the Franklin County Probate Court at $2 each. Order at least 10 for name changes with the Social Security Administration, DMV, passport office, banks, and insurance companies. (An additional $1 online service fee may apply if ordering through the court website.)

Franklin County Marriage License Details

Documents You Need

Both partners must bring the following to the Franklin County Probate Court:

• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport)
• Social Security number (you don’t need the physical card, just the number)
• Information about how any prior marriage ended, if applicable (date and county/state of divorce or death of former spouse)

Marriage License Fees

(Verify fees before visiting. Court fees can change without much notice.)

Eligibility Requirements

• Both partners must be at least 18 years old
• Both partners must appear in person together
• No Ohio residency required
• No blood test required
• No waiting period
• Applicants cannot be related by blood
• A marriage license obtained in Franklin County is valid statewide in Ohio

Marriage License Validity

Your Ohio marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. If it expires unused, you must reapply and pay the fee again. Since Ohio has no waiting period, you can get your license and have your ceremony performed the same day, provided you’ve already scheduled your ceremony with the Municipal Court.

Columbus Courthouse Wedding Ceremony Details

Where Ceremonies Happen

Civil wedding ceremonies take place in Courtroom 14A on the 14th floor of the Franklin County Municipal Court at 375 S. High Street. This is a separate building from the Probate Court where you get your license, though the two buildings are adjacent on South High Street. Ceremonies are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The court typically offers one morning and one afternoon ceremony window, so call ahead to confirm available time slots.

What to Expect During Your Columbus Civil Ceremony

A Municipal Court judge performs your ceremony, and it lasts approximately 10 minutes. Before heading to the 14th floor, you must pay the $25 processing fee at the Civil Division on the 3rd floor and bring the receipt with you. The courtroom is a standard government space, functional rather than ornate. Dress however you like. There’s no dress code, but you will pass through security screening and metal detectors when entering the building.

The judges who perform these ceremonies volunteer their time, which is one reason Columbus courthouse weddings are so affordable. The ceremony itself covers the legal essentials: vows, pronouncement, and signing of the marriage license.

Who Can Legally Officiate a Wedding in Ohio

Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3101.08, the following people can perform a marriage ceremony:

• Ordained or licensed ministers, priests, rabbis, or other religious leaders
• Judges of any Ohio court (including Municipal Court judges)
• Mayors of any Ohio municipality
• The superintendent of the state school for the deaf

If you prefer a religious ceremony or want a friend to officiate, you can get your Franklin County marriage license and have someone authorized perform the ceremony at a location of your choice anywhere in Ohio within the 60-day validity window.

Photography and Guest Tips

Guest Capacity

The court does not publish a specific guest limit for Courtroom 14A. The courtroom can accommodate a reasonable number of guests, but this is a working courthouse with limited space. Call (614) 645-3889 before your ceremony day to confirm how many guests you can bring. (Guest policies may vary depending on court schedules and any building restrictions in effect.)

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

Wedding Photography at the Courthouse

The 14th-floor courtroom is a standard government space, not architecturally distinctive. Plan for most of your wedding photography to happen outside the building. Popular nearby photo locations include the Scioto Mile riverfront, the Ohio Statehouse grounds, downtown Columbus parks, and the Short North Arts District, all within a short drive or walk from the courthouse. (Ask the court about photography rules inside the courtroom when you schedule your ceremony.)

Hire a photographer who knows the Columbus downtown area and can work efficiently around a 10-minute ceremony window. The best courthouse wedding photos come from someone who has a plan for the locations before and after, not just the ceremony itself.

Practical Tips for Your Columbus Courthouse Wedding

• Understand the two-building process. Your marriage license comes from the Probate Court at 373 S. High Street (23rd floor). Your ceremony happens at the Municipal Court at 375 S. High Street (14th floor, Courtroom 14A). They’re adjacent buildings, but separate offices with separate fees.

• Pay the processing fee before your ceremony, not after. Go to the 3rd floor Civil Division first and pay the $25 fee. You need the receipt to check in on the 14th floor. Skipping this step will hold up your ceremony.

• Schedule 1 to 2 months ahead. The court has limited ceremony windows. Don’t assume you can call this week and get married next week, especially around Valentine’s Day or popular wedding months.

• Bring cash to avoid the card surcharge. The Probate Court accepts credit and debit cards for the $65 license fee, but adds a 3% surcharge. Cash avoids the extra charge.

• Park in the Franklin County Garage. The 700-space garage on Mound Street is directly across from the courthouse and the most reliable parking option. Metered street parking downtown is unpredictable.

• Verify your license before leaving the Probate Court. Check all names, dates, and spellings on your marriage license before you walk out. Corrections after the fact can be complicated and costly.

• Order certified abstracts right away. At $2 per copy, stock up. You’ll need them for name changes in this order: Social Security Administration, DMV, passport office, then banks and financial institutions.

• Plan photos away from the courthouse. The Scioto Mile, Ohio Statehouse grounds, and Short North Arts District offer far better backdrops than a government courtroom. Budget extra time between your ceremony and whatever celebration comes next.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Ohio has no waiting period for marriage. Your license is valid immediately after issuance. If you’ve already scheduled your ceremony at the Municipal Court, you can get your license at the Probate Court in the morning and have your ceremony performed that same afternoon. The key is scheduling your ceremony in advance by calling (614) 645-8214, since walk-in ceremonies are not available.

Do you need to be an Ohio resident to get married in Columbus?

No. Ohio has no residency requirement for marriage. Couples from any U.S. state or from outside the country can apply for a Franklin County marriage license and marry in Columbus or anywhere else in Ohio. Your license is valid statewide for 60 days.

How much does a Columbus courthouse wedding cost in total?

The Franklin County marriage license costs $65 at the Probate Court (cash or card, with a 3% surcharge on card payments). The Municipal Court charges a $25 processing fee for the ceremony, which is performed free by volunteer judges. Total cost for a Columbus courthouse wedding is $90 before optional expenses like wedding photography, flowers, or a celebration dinner. (Verify current fees before visiting, as amounts may have changed.)

Does the Columbus courthouse offer weekend weddings?

No. Civil ceremonies at the Franklin County Municipal Court are available Monday through Friday only, from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. There are no regular weekend ceremony hours. The court does run a special Valentine’s Day wedding program each year that may have different scheduling. If a weekday ceremony doesn’t work for your schedule, you can get your marriage license at the Probate Court and have an authorized officiant perform your ceremony at a location and time of your choosing within 60 days.