At a Glance
| Total cost | ~$81-$82 (license) + JP ceremony fee (varies by precinct) |
| Marriage license fee | $81-$82 (standard) / ~$22 (with Twogether in Texas course) |
| Ceremony fee | Varies by Justice of the Peace precinct (contact JP directly) |
| License address | 101 W. Nueva St., Suite 120, San Antonio, TX 78205 (Paul Elizondo Tower) |
| License office hours | Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Wednesday until 5:45 PM |
| Waiting period | 72 hours (waivable with Twogether in Texas course, military ID, or court order) |
| Guest limit | Varies by JP office (confirm when booking) |
| Residency required | No |
| Witness required | Yes, at least 1 (age 18+) |
| Apply online | bexar.org/2957/Marriage-Licenses |
What Makes a San Antonio Courthouse Wedding Special
San Antonio handles courthouse weddings differently from most Texas cities. The Bexar County Clerk’s office issues your marriage license, but it does not perform wedding ceremonies. Instead, you’ll work with a Justice of the Peace or bring your own licensed officiant. That separation gives you more flexibility in how and where your ceremony happens, whether that’s in a JP courtroom, a favorite San Antonio location, or anywhere in Texas within your license’s 90-day window.
The biggest planning factor for a San Antonio courthouse wedding is Texas’s 72-hour waiting period between license issuance and ceremony. You can skip it entirely by completing the Twogether in Texas premarital education course online before you apply. That single step also saves you roughly $60 on the marriage license fee, dropping your cost from about $82 to approximately $22. Active-duty military members can waive the waiting period with a valid military ID.
Bexar County also hosts free mass wedding ceremonies at the courthouse on Valentine’s Day, with multiple ceremonies throughout the day. If your timeline lines up, it’s one of the most affordable and memorable ways to get married in San Antonio.
Step by Step: How to Get Married at a San Antonio Courthouse
1. Complete the Twogether in Texas course (optional but strongly recommended). This online premarital education course takes about 8 hours and provides two benefits for your San Antonio courthouse wedding: it waives the 72-hour waiting period and reduces your Bexar County marriage license fee by approximately $60. The certificate is valid for one year, so you can complete it well before your planned wedding date. Find approved providers at twotogether-texas.com.
2. Start your marriage license application online. Visit bexar.org/2957/Marriage-Licenses to begin the application. You’ll still need to appear in person at the Bexar County Clerk’s office, but completing the online form first speeds up your visit.
3. Visit the Bexar County Clerk’s office together. Both partners must appear in person within 4-5 days of submitting the online application. Bring valid government-issued photo ID for each of you (driver’s license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID), your Social Security numbers, and any divorce documentation if applicable. If you completed the Twogether in Texas course, bring that certificate too. Payment is cash or credit/debit card only. No checks accepted.
4. Wait 72 hours (unless waived). The waiting period starts when your license is issued. If you completed the Twogether in Texas course, present active-duty military ID, or obtained a judicial waiver, you can skip this step entirely and proceed to scheduling your San Antonio wedding ceremony.
5. Book your ceremony with a Justice of the Peace. Contact a Bexar County Justice of the Peace to schedule your courthouse wedding ceremony. The county has multiple JP precincts, each with its own calendar and fees. Find JP contact information at bexar.org. You can also use any licensed or ordained officiant if you prefer a ceremony outside the JP courtroom.
6. Have your ceremony. JP wedding ceremonies are brief, typically 5-15 minutes. Bring your marriage license, valid photo IDs, and at least one witness who is 18 or older. Bringing two witnesses is recommended.
7. File your signed marriage license. After the ceremony, the officiant signs your completed marriage license and returns it to Bexar County Vital Statistics at 100 Dolorosa St., Suite 104, San Antonio, TX 78205. This can be done in person or by mail. Your marriage is not legally recorded until this step is complete.
Bexar County Marriage License Details
What You Need to Bring
Both applicants must appear in person together with:
- Valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID). Texas may accept IDs expired within the last 2 years under Family Code SS2.005.
- Social Security number (the number is needed; physical card may not be required)
- Certified divorce decree if previously divorced, plus the date of divorce or date of spouse’s death
- Twogether in Texas certificate if using for the fee discount and waiting period waiver
- Military ID for active duty personnel (waives the waiting period)
Bexar County Marriage License Fees
| Situation | License Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard | $81-$82 |
| With Twogether in Texas certificate | ~$22 (saves approximately $60) |
| Informal (common law) marriage | ~$45 |
Payment accepted: cash or credit/debit card only. No checks.
Fee note: The exact marriage license fee varies slightly across county sources. The discounted fee with Twogether in Texas may have changed since last verified. Confirm current fees directly with the Bexar County Clerk at (210) 335-2151 before your visit.
Where to Apply for a Marriage License in San Antonio
| Location | Address | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Elizondo Tower (main) | 101 W. Nueva St., Suite 120, San Antonio, TX 78205 | Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Wed until 5:45 PM |
| Southside Annex | 3505 Pleasanton Rd., San Antonio, TX 78221 | Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
Both locations are closed on weekends and federal holidays. Additional satellite offices may be available on the north and west sides of San Antonio. Check bexar.org for current locations.
Marriage License Validity and Waiting Period
Your Bexar County marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. You can use it anywhere in Texas, not just San Antonio.
Texas law requires a 72-hour waiting period after the license is issued before your wedding ceremony can take place. This waiting period can be waived by:
- Completing the Twogether in Texas premarital education course (available fully online, about 8 hours)
- Presenting active-duty military ID
- Obtaining a written waiver from a district judge
Both partners must be at least 18 years old to marry without a court order in Texas. If either partner was divorced within the last 30 days, the license cannot be issued unless you are remarrying each other or a court waives the prohibition.
San Antonio Courthouse Wedding Ceremony Details
Justice of the Peace Wedding Ceremonies
The Bexar County Clerk’s office issues marriage licenses but does not perform ceremonies. For a courthouse wedding in San Antonio, you’ll need to contact a Justice of the Peace directly.
- Bexar County has multiple JP precincts, each with its own schedule, fees, and contact information
- JP wedding ceremonies are brief, typically 5-15 minutes
- A small officiation fee applies (amount varies by precinct)
- Find JP contact details at bexar.org
Verification note: Specific JP ceremony fees and the exact booking process were not well documented in our research. We recommend calling the JP office directly to confirm fees, appointment availability, and any specific requirements before your ceremony date.
Other Officiant Options for Your San Antonio Wedding
You don’t have to use a Justice of the Peace. Any licensed or ordained officiant can perform your ceremony in Texas: ministers, judges, priests, rabbis, or online-ordained officiants. Your Bexar County marriage license is valid with any qualified officiant anywhere in Texas within 90 days.
Valentine’s Day Mass Wedding Ceremonies
Bexar County Courthouse hosts free mass wedding ceremonies on Valentine’s Day, with multiple ceremonies scheduled throughout the day. If you’re flexible on your wedding date, this is one of the most budget-friendly options for getting married in San Antonio.
Witness Requirements for San Antonio Courthouse Weddings
At least one witness, age 18 or older, must be present at your ceremony and sign the marriage license. Bringing two witnesses is common practice and recommended. Some JP offices may be able to provide a witness if you don’t have one, but confirm this when you schedule your ceremony.
Photography and Guest Tips for San Antonio Courthouse Weddings
Guest Planning
Guest capacity varies by JP office and ceremony location. When you book your courthouse wedding ceremony with a Justice of the Peace, ask about the maximum number of guests allowed in the ceremony space. Government building security rules will apply at any courthouse location.
Wedding Photography in San Antonio
JP ceremonies are short (5-15 minutes), so your photo opportunities during the actual ceremony are limited. Plan to take most of your wedding photos before or after the ceremony.
San Antonio’s downtown offers strong options for wedding portraits near the courthouse:
- The San Antonio Riverwalk: Walking distance from the Paul Elizondo Tower and one of the city’s most recognizable settings. The tree-lined pathways, stone bridges, and waterfront cafes create a distinctive backdrop for courthouse wedding photos.
- Main Plaza and San Fernando Cathedral: Historic downtown landmarks just a few blocks from the courthouse, with striking architecture and open spaces.
- La Villita Historic Arts Village: A preserved arts district within walking distance, with textured stone walls, colorful courtyards, and quiet walkways.
Note: Specific photography policies inside JP offices and government buildings were not covered in our research. Check with your JP office about photography rules during the ceremony itself.
Practical Tips for Your San Antonio Courthouse Wedding
Take the Twogether in Texas course before you do anything else. It saves approximately $60 on the Bexar County marriage license fee, waives the 72-hour waiting period, and lets you compress your entire San Antonio courthouse wedding into fewer days. The course is available fully online, takes about 8 hours, and the certificate stays valid for one year.
Go early in the day, and skip Mondays. The clerk’s office gets busy. Arriving near 8:00 AM reduces your wait time at the Bexar County Clerk’s office. Mondays tend to be the busiest day of the week.
Wednesday offers extended hours. The Paul Elizondo Tower stays open until 5:45 PM on Wednesdays, giving you an extra 45 minutes compared to other weekdays.
If you’re traveling to San Antonio for your wedding, arrive 3-4 days early. You need time to visit the clerk’s office in person plus the 72-hour waiting period (unless waived). If you’ve completed the Twogether in Texas course, you can plan a much tighter trip.
Bring a witness. You need at least one person age 18 or older to attend your San Antonio courthouse wedding ceremony and sign the license. Line this up before your wedding day.
Plan the full timeline. Online application, then in-person visit (within 4-5 days), then 72-hour wait (unless waived), then ceremony, then the officiant files the signed license. Missing any step delays the process.
Don’t forget the post-ceremony filing. Your marriage is not legally recorded until the officiant returns the signed license to Bexar County Vital Statistics at 100 Dolorosa St., Suite 104. This can be done in person or by mail, but make sure it happens.
Confirm all fees and policies before your visit. The fees and hours listed here were verified in March 2026. Government offices update pricing periodically. Call (210) 335-2151 or visit bexar.org for the most current information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we get our San Antonio marriage license and have the ceremony on the same day?
Not unless you’ve waived the 72-hour waiting period. Texas law requires a three-day wait between license issuance and ceremony. You can waive it by completing the Twogether in Texas premarital education course (available fully online), presenting active-duty military ID, or getting a written waiver from a district judge. If you complete the course beforehand, you can get your license and have your San Antonio courthouse wedding ceremony on the same day.
How much does a San Antonio courthouse wedding cost in total?
The Bexar County marriage license costs $81-$82 at the standard rate, or approximately $22 if you complete the Twogether in Texas premarital course (a savings of about $60). JP ceremony fees vary by precinct and were not specified in our research. Your total will be the license fee plus whatever your chosen JP or officiant charges. Call the JP office directly for current ceremony pricing.
Do we need witnesses at our San Antonio courthouse wedding?
Yes. At least one witness, age 18 or older, must attend the ceremony and sign your marriage license. Bringing two witnesses is recommended. Some JP offices may be able to provide a witness if needed, but confirm this when you book your ceremony.
Can we use our Bexar County marriage license to get married somewhere other than San Antonio?
Yes. Your Bexar County marriage license is valid anywhere in the state of Texas for 90 days from the date of issuance. You can have your ceremony in any Texas city with any qualified officiant.
Planning a city hall wedding in another Texas city? Check out our guide for Houston courthouse weddings. Or browse all our city guides for locations across the country.
