Tampa City Hall Wedding

At a Glance

What Makes a Tampa Courthouse Wedding Special

Hillsborough County gives you something most counties don’t: three ceremony locations to choose from. The downtown Tampa office puts you steps from the Riverwalk and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park for photos after. The Brandon and Plant City offices serve couples on the east side of the county who’d rather skip downtown traffic. All three locations accept walk-ins, and the ceremony fee is a flat $30 regardless of which office you choose.

The cost structure here is hard to beat. A couple who takes a premarital course (available online for about $20 to $50, roughly four hours) pays $61 for the license and $30 for the ceremony. That’s $91 total for a legally binding wedding. Even without the course, you’re looking at $116. Your first certified copy of the marriage record comes free, and extras are $3 each. For couples who want the marriage without the five-figure price tag, Tampa keeps the financial barrier about as low as it gets.

Florida is also one of the few states where notary publics can legally officiate weddings. If you’d rather have a friend perform the ceremony (provided they hold a valid Florida notary commission), you can skip the $30 ceremony fee entirely and handle everything with just the license. That flexibility, combined with no residency requirement and no waiting period for out-of-state couples, makes Tampa a practical destination for courthouse elopements.

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

A Tampa courthouse wedding has two parts: getting your marriage license from the Hillsborough County Clerk, then having your ceremony performed by a Deputy Clerk. Florida residents face a three-day waiting period between the two unless they qualify for a waiver.

1. Complete a premarital course (optional but recommended for Florida residents). A state-registered premarital preparation course of at least four hours waives the three-day waiting period and saves $25 on the license fee. Many courses are available online. Present the original certificate of completion when you apply for your license. (Verify the list of approved providers on the Clerk’s website, as registered providers change periodically.)

2. Apply for your marriage license in person. Visit any of the three Hillsborough County Clerk locations during business hours. Both partners must appear together with valid photo ID and their Social Security numbers. Pay the $86 fee ($61 with a premarital course certificate). (Verify the current fee before visiting. One source listed $93.50, which may reflect a recent increase.)

3. Wait three days (or skip it). Florida law requires a three-day waiting period for state residents between license issuance and the ceremony. The waiting period starts the day after the license is issued, meaning you cannot marry until the fourth day. This is waived if you completed the premarital course. Non-residents of Florida have no waiting period and can marry the same day they receive their license.

4. Choose your ceremony location. Hillsborough County has three offices that perform civil ceremonies. See the Ceremony Details section below for addresses, hours, and guest capacity at each location. Call ahead to confirm a Deputy Clerk will be available for your ceremony.

5. Arrive on your wedding day. Bring your issued marriage license. It must be within the 60-day validity window. Arrive early, dress however you like, and bring rings if you plan to exchange them.

6. Exchange your vows. A Deputy Clerk performs a civil ceremony lasting 5 to 10 minutes. After the pronouncement, you and your spouse sign the marriage license. The ceremony fee is $30.

7. Receive your certified copy. Your first certified copy of the marriage record is mailed to you within approximately seven business days at no charge. Order additional certified copies for $3 each. You’ll need them for name changes with the Social Security Administration, DMV, passport office, and financial institutions.

Hillsborough County Marriage License Details

Documents You Need

Both partners must bring the following to any Hillsborough County Clerk location:

• 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)
• Certified copy of divorce decree, annulment, or death certificate (if either partner was previously married)
• Original premarital course certificate (if you completed the course for the fee reduction and waiting period waiver)

Marriage License Fees

(Verify current fees before visiting. A minor 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 Florida residency required
• No blood test required
• No witnesses required
• Applicants cannot be related by blood
• A marriage license obtained in any Florida county is valid statewide

Marriage License Validity

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

Tampa Courthouse Wedding Ceremony Details

Ceremony Locations

Downtown Tampa

• 800 E. Twiggs Street, Room 101, Tampa, FL 33602
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Guest capacity: Up to 10 guests
• Phone: (813) 276-8100

The downtown location is the most popular for Tampa courthouse weddings. It’s walking distance from the Tampa Riverwalk, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, and the University of Tampa’s Plant Hall, all of which make excellent backdrops for post-ceremony photos.

Brandon Regional Service Center

• 311 Pauls Drive, Suite 110, Brandon, FL 33511
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• Guest capacity: Up to 6 guests

Brandon closes an hour earlier than the other two locations. Plan accordingly if you’re scheduling an afternoon ceremony. The smaller guest capacity makes this location best for couples-only elopements or very small parties. (Verify Brandon’s hours before visiting, as they differ from the other offices.)

Plant City Courthouse Annex

• 301 N. Michigan Avenue, Plant City, FL 33563
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Guest capacity: Up to 10 guests

Plant City offers the same capacity and hours as downtown Tampa with a quieter, less urban setting. A good option for couples on the east side of Hillsborough County.

What to Expect During Your Tampa Civil Ceremony

Civil wedding ceremonies in Hillsborough County are performed by a Deputy Clerk, not a judge. A typical ceremony lasts 5 to 10 minutes. Walk-ins are welcome at all three locations, but calling ahead is strongly recommended to ensure a Deputy Clerk is available when you arrive.

The ceremony rooms are standard government office spaces. They are functional and clean, but not designed as event venues. Couples who want a more scenic setting often use the Clerk for the legal ceremony and then celebrate with photos and a reception elsewhere.

Who Can Legally Officiate a Wedding in Florida

Under Florida Statutes Section 741.07, the following people can perform a marriage ceremony:

• All judicial officers (including out-of-state judges)
• Clerks of the Circuit Court and Deputy Clerks
• Any ordained minister, elder, or other clergy member
• Notary publics with a valid Florida commission

Florida’s inclusion of notary publics is unusual. In most states, notaries cannot perform weddings. Here, any friend or family member with a valid Florida notary commission can legally officiate your ceremony, which opens up creative options for personalized weddings outside the courthouse.

If using your own officiant, the signed marriage license must be returned to the Clerk’s office within 10 days of the ceremony.

Photography and Guest Tips

Guest Capacity

Downtown Tampa and Plant City accommodate up to 10 guests. Brandon fits 6. These are the room limits set by the Clerk’s office, and they include the couple in the count.

Florida law does not require witnesses for a marriage ceremony. A couples-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 anyone else to be in the room.

For larger parties, consider getting your license from the Clerk and having your own officiant perform the ceremony at a separate venue. You skip the $30 ceremony fee and gain flexibility on guest count and setting.

Wedding Photography at the Courthouse

The Clerk’s offices are functional government spaces, so most couples plan their wedding photos for before or after the ceremony at nearby outdoor locations. Downtown Tampa offers several options within walking distance:

• Tampa Riverwalk provides waterfront views and a long, photogenic promenade
• Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park sits across from the Clerk’s office with open lawns and city skyline views
• University of Tampa’s Plant Hall features striking Moorish Revival architecture
• Bayshore Boulevard offers the world’s longest continuous sidewalk along the bay

Florida’s year-round sunshine is an asset, but midday sun can be harsh. Morning ceremonies followed by golden-hour portraits tend to produce the best results. (Call the Clerk’s office to confirm photography is permitted inside the ceremony room before your wedding day.)

Practical Tips for Your Tampa Courthouse Wedding

• Take the premarital course if you’re a Florida resident. This is the single highest-value step. It saves $25 on the license fee and eliminates the three-day waiting period. Many online courses cost $20 to $50 and take about four hours. The savings nearly offset the course cost, and same-day licensing makes planning much simpler.

• Non-residents can marry the same day. If neither partner is a Florida resident, there is no waiting period. You can get your license and have your ceremony in a single trip to the Clerk’s office.

• Call ahead even though walk-ins are welcome. All three locations accept walk-ins, but a quick call to (813) 276-8100 confirms a Deputy Clerk is available for your ceremony. Arriving to find no one available to officiate would be a frustrating surprise.

• Choose your location by guest count. Brandon fits 6 guests, while downtown Tampa and Plant City accommodate 10. If your party is larger than that, hire your own officiant and marry at a venue with more space.

• Bring cash or check your payment options. Confirm accepted payment methods with the Clerk’s office before your visit. (Payment method policies can vary by location and may change.)

• Order the commemorative certificate. For $15, the Clerk’s office provides a decorative commemorative marriage certificate. It’s a keepsake, separate from the legal certified copy, and makes a nice memento of your courthouse wedding day.

• Get extra certified copies early. Your first certified copy is free. Additional copies cost $3 each. Order at least five to ten copies for name changes with the Social Security Administration, DMV, passport office, banks, and insurance companies.

• Your Florida marriage license works statewide. If you decide against a courthouse ceremony after getting your license, you can marry anywhere in Florida within the 60-day window. Some couples get their Hillsborough County license and have their ceremony on the beach, at a park, or at a family home with their own officiant.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

It depends on where you live. Non-Florida residents face no waiting period and can get their license and marry at the Clerk’s office the same day. Florida residents must wait three days after the license is issued before the ceremony can take place. The only way to waive the waiting period as a Florida resident is to complete a state-registered premarital preparation course of at least four hours and present the original certificate when applying.

How much does a Tampa courthouse wedding cost in total?

The Hillsborough County marriage license costs $86 ($61 with a premarital course certificate). The civil ceremony fee is $30. Total cost for a Tampa courthouse wedding ranges from $91 to $116 before optional extras like the $15 commemorative certificate or additional certified copies at $3 each. (Verify current fees with the Clerk’s office before visiting, as amounts may have changed.)

Do you need to be a Florida resident to get married in Tampa?

No. Florida has no residency requirement for marriage. Couples from any state or country can apply for a Hillsborough County marriage license and marry in Tampa or anywhere else in Florida. Non-residents also benefit from having no waiting period, making same-day courthouse weddings possible.

Can you bring guests to a Tampa courthouse wedding?

Yes, but space is limited. The downtown Tampa and Plant City locations accommodate up to 10 guests, while Brandon allows up to 6. Florida does not require witnesses, so a couples-only ceremony is perfectly legal. If you need room for a larger group, get your license from the Clerk and have your own officiant perform the ceremony at a venue with more space.