Portland City Hall Wedding

At a Glance

What Makes a Portland Courthouse Wedding Special

Portland splits its courthouse wedding process across two locations, and that turns out to be a good thing. You pick up your marriage license at the Multnomah County Marriage License Office on SE Hawthorne Boulevard, then cross the Hawthorne Bridge to the Multnomah County Courthouse downtown for your civil ceremony. The separation means each office handles one thing well instead of juggling both in the same crowded space.

The courthouse itself sits at 1200 SW 1st Avenue, right along the Willamette River in downtown Portland. Courtrooms on the upper floors have large glass windows that frame the river and, on clear days, Mount Hood rising behind the east side of the city. Not many courthouses in the country hand you a mountain backdrop with your marriage certificate. If the weather cooperates, your ceremony view includes one of the most photographed peaks in the Pacific Northwest.

Portland also keeps the financial barrier low. Your Multnomah County marriage license costs $60, the ceremony fee runs approximately $117, and you can waive Oregon’s three-day waiting period for $5. The entire legal process comes in under $200. Add in the option to write and read your own wedding vows during the ceremony, and you get a courthouse wedding that feels personal without the price tag of a traditional Portland wedding venue.

Step by Step: How to Get Married at Portland’s Courthouse

A Portland courthouse wedding happens in two stages at two locations. The whole process can move quickly, especially if you pay the $5 fee to waive Oregon’s three-day waiting period.

1. Complete the online marriage license application. Visit multcomarriage.org and fill out the application before your in-person visit. This saves time at the counter.

2. Visit the Marriage License Office together. Both partners must appear in person at 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Suite 175, with valid government-issued photo IDs and payment. Walk-ins are accepted, but arrive before 4:00 PM to complete your application the same day. The marriage license fee is $60, or $65 if you want to waive the three-day waiting period.

3. Wait three days, or skip the wait. Oregon law requires a three-day waiting period between license issuance and your wedding ceremony. Pay the additional $5 waiver fee at the time of your license purchase if you need to marry sooner. Without the waiver, you cannot hold your ceremony until three full days after the license is issued.

4. Schedule your ceremony with the Multnomah County Circuit Court. Contact the court directly to book a civil ceremony with a judge. Ceremonies are by appointment only, and popular dates fill up. Call as early as possible once you have a target date.

5. Arrive at the Multnomah County Courthouse for your ceremony. The courthouse is at 1200 SW 1st Ave in downtown Portland, a separate location from the license office. Bring your signed marriage license, your two witnesses (both must be 18 or older), and any personal items for the ceremony.

6. Exchange your wedding vows. Your assigned judge performs the civil ceremony. You can use the standard vows provided by the judge, read your own personal vows, or combine both. After the ceremony, you, your spouse, your witnesses, and the judge all sign the marriage license.

7. The judge returns your completed marriage license. The officiant is responsible for filing the signed license with Multnomah County within five days of the ceremony. You do not need to deliver it yourself.

Marriage License Details

Documents You Need for Your Multnomah County Marriage License

Both partners must bring valid government-issued photo identification to the Marriage License Office. Accepted forms include a driver’s license, state-issued ID card, or passport. The name on your ID must match the name on your application exactly.

If either partner was previously married, bring the exact date your divorce was finalized. This is especially important if the divorce was finalized within the past month. No divorce decree document is required, just the date, though having it available can speed up the process.

Marriage License Fee and Payment

The Multnomah County marriage license costs $60. If you want to waive the three-day waiting period, add $5 for a total of $65. The fee is non-refundable.

Accepted payment methods include cash, credit or debit card (a processing fee may apply), cashier’s check, or money order payable to “Multnomah County Marriage Licenses.”

How to Apply for Your Portland Marriage License

Start your application online at multcomarriage.org. The online form collects basic information from both partners before your in-person visit.

Both partners must then visit the Marriage License Office together at 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Suite 175, Portland, OR 97214. No appointment is needed for the marriage license, but both partners must arrive before 4:00 PM for same-day processing. Your license is issued the same day you finalize in person.

Marriage License Validity Period

Your Multnomah County marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. It works anywhere in Oregon, not just in Portland or Multnomah County. You could pick up your license in Portland and hold your wedding ceremony on the Oregon Coast, in the Columbia River Gorge, at a winery in the Willamette Valley, or at a lodge on Mount Hood.

No Blood Test, No Residency Requirement

Oregon does not require a blood test or medical exam for a marriage license. There is no residency requirement. Couples from any state or country can apply for and receive a Multnomah County marriage license.

Ceremony Details

Where Your Portland Wedding Ceremony Takes Place

Civil wedding ceremonies in Portland are performed by judges at the Multnomah County Courthouse, 1200 SW 1st Ave, Portland, OR 97204. This is a separate building from the Marriage License Office on SE Hawthorne, so plan for two visits to two different locations.

The courthouse operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. All civil ceremonies are scheduled by appointment only through the Multnomah County Circuit Court.

Ceremony Fee

The courthouse ceremony fee is approximately $117 during regular business hours. An additional $100 surcharge applies for off-site ceremonies or after-hours scheduling.

(These fees were reported from a single Oregon courts source. Verify current ceremony fees directly with the Multnomah County Circuit Court before budgeting.)

What Your Portland Courthouse Ceremony Looks Like

A judge assigned by the Multnomah County Circuit Court performs your wedding ceremony. The ceremony itself is brief, typically taking 10 to 15 minutes. You have the option to:

• Use the judge’s standard wedding vows
• Read your own personal vows
• Combine personal vows with the standard ceremony language

The courtroom features large glass windows. Depending on which courtroom your ceremony is assigned to, you may have views of the Willamette River and the surrounding Portland skyline. On clear days, Mount Hood is visible from the upper floors.

Two Required Witnesses

Oregon law requires two witnesses at your wedding ceremony, both 18 years of age or older. Witnesses must be physically present during the ceremony and sign the marriage license afterward. You are responsible for bringing your own witnesses.

If you are eloping without guests, the courthouse may be able to provide staff witnesses in some cases. Confirm this directly with the court when you schedule your ceremony, as it is not guaranteed.

Photography and Guest Tips

Guest Capacity at the Multnomah County Courthouse

No official source specifies a maximum guest count for Portland courthouse wedding ceremonies beyond the two required witnesses. Contact the Multnomah County Circuit Court when you schedule your ceremony to ask about the courtroom capacity and any guest restrictions.

Photography at the Courthouse

Photography policies for civil ceremonies inside the Multnomah County Courthouse are not explicitly documented online. Ask about photography rules when you schedule your ceremony with the court. Some judges may allow a photographer during the ceremony; others may restrict photos to before and after the vows.

Plan to take your main wedding photos outside the courthouse regardless. The surrounding downtown Portland area offers strong backdrops within walking distance.

Best Photo Spots Near the Portland Courthouse

The Multnomah County Courthouse sits in downtown Portland along the Willamette River, putting you within a short walk of some of the city’s best photo locations:

• Willamette River waterfront for open water views and the downtown Portland skyline behind you (steps from the courthouse entrance)
• Hawthorne Bridge for Portland’s signature bridge architecture and river backdrop
• South Park Blocks for a tree-lined urban park setting with green canopy in spring and summer
• Portland Sign on Broadway for the city’s iconic neon theater sign in the downtown theater district
• Downtown Portland side streets for moody brick buildings, ivy walls, and the texture this city is known for

The waterfront is your fastest option after a ceremony at the courthouse. The Hawthorne Bridge and South Park Blocks are both within a 10-minute walk.

Practical Tips for Your Portland Courthouse Wedding

The marriage license office and courthouse are in different parts of the city. This is the single most important logistical detail for a Portland courthouse wedding. The Multnomah County Marriage License Office is at 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd (east side of the Willamette River). The Multnomah County Courthouse where civil ceremonies happen is at 1200 SW 1st Ave (west side, downtown Portland). They are connected by the Hawthorne Bridge, about a 10-minute drive or 20-minute walk apart. Do not show up at the courthouse expecting to get your marriage license there.

Parking is limited near both locations. Street parking near the license office on Hawthorne is metered and competitive. Downtown Portland parking near the courthouse fills during business hours. Consider using a parking garage, rideshare, or TriMet public transit. The MAX Light Rail and multiple bus lines serve the downtown courthouse area well.

Arrive at the license office before 4:00 PM. Both partners must be present before the office closes. If you arrive at 3:55 PM, you may not have time to complete your marriage license application that day.

Order certified copies of your marriage record. You will need certified copies for name changes with the Social Security Administration, the Oregon DMV, your bank, and the U.S. Passport Office. The first certified copy costs approximately $7.75, and additional copies are approximately $4 each. (Verify current copy fees with Multnomah County.)

Review Oregon’s name change options before applying. Oregon offers five statutory name change options through the marriage license process: keep your current name, take your spouse’s surname, hyphenate or combine surnames, change your middle name to your birth surname, or add your birth surname to your middle name while taking your spouse’s surname. Changes outside these five categories require a separate legal process.

Celebrate in Portland afterward. Downtown Portland puts you within blocks of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops for a post-ceremony celebration. The Hawthorne District near the license office is also full of independent restaurants and bakeries if you want to celebrate on that side of the Willamette River.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Not by default. Oregon law requires a three-day waiting period after your marriage license is issued. However, you can waive the waiting period by paying an additional $5 fee when you purchase your license at the Multnomah County Marriage License Office. With the waiver, you could technically get your license and marry on the same day, though you would still need a ceremony appointment scheduled with a judge at the Multnomah County Courthouse.

Do you need to be an Oregon resident to get married in Portland?

No. Oregon has no residency requirement for marriage. Couples from any U.S. state or from outside the country can apply for a Multnomah County marriage license and marry anywhere in Oregon within the 60-day validity period.

How much does a Portland courthouse wedding cost in total?

The Multnomah County marriage license costs $60 ($65 with the three-day waiting period waiver). The courthouse ceremony fee is approximately $117 during regular business hours. Your total cost for the legal process runs between $177 and $182, depending on whether you waive the waiting period. Certified copies of your marriage record cost approximately $7.75 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy. (Verify the ceremony fee and copy costs directly with Multnomah County, as the ceremony fee comes from a single source.)

Can you write your own vows for a Portland courthouse ceremony?

Yes. Judges at the Multnomah County Courthouse allow couples to read personal wedding vows during the civil ceremony. You can use only your own vows, only the judge’s standard vows, or a combination of both. Let the judge know your preference when you schedule your ceremony.