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ChecklistWedding type · Courthouse wedding

Courthouse wedding checklist

A courthouse wedding, also called a city hall, registry office or civil ceremony, strips planning back to the essentials: the legal paperwork, an appointment and the people you want beside you. This checklist keeps the tasks that still matter and adds notes on what to ask your local office.

Start this planSee all 142 tasks

By The ReadyToWeddy Team · Updated

What’s different about a courthouse wedding

  • Paperwork is the plan

    The license, documents and appointment are the core tasks, so start with your local office.

  • The office sets the limits

    Room size, slot length and rules on photos, music and confetti vary by office.

  • Officiant usually included

    Most civil offices provide the person who conducts the ceremony.

  • No wedding party needed

    Witnesses may be required, but attendants, outfits for them and parties are optional.

  • A celebration, if you want one

    A nearby meal or a later party replaces a traditional reception venue.

  • Short but timed

    A tight appointment means your day timeline needs a buffer around the ceremony.

The tasks that matter most

  1. 1
    Research marriage license requirements

    Ask the office directly what you’ll need: documents for each of you, fees, any notice or waiting period, how long the license is valid, whether witnesses are required and whether you both must attend.

  2. 2
    Secure your ceremony location

    Book your ceremony appointment as soon as the office allows. Ask about the slot length, room capacity, whether photos and video are allowed, whether you can bring music or flowers, and when to arrive.

  3. 3
  4. 4
    Book your wedding photographer

    Look for short coverage of one to three hours. Confirm the office allows photography inside, then plan portraits on the steps or somewhere nearby with better light.

  5. 5
    Create your wedding-day timeline

    Build your timeline around the appointment: arrival well before your slot, the ceremony, signing, photos, then your meal. Offices can run behind, so leave a buffer before any restaurant reservation.

  6. 6
    Gather your marriage documents

    Bring your license, the identification the office asked for and anything required for your witnesses. Check whether witnesses need their own ID and whether they must be a certain age.

  7. 7
    Sign your marriage documents

    Signing usually happens straight after the ceremony. Check the spelling of both names and dates before you sign, and ask what happens next with registration.

  8. 8
    Confirm who has the marriage documents

    Ask when and how you’ll receive your official marriage certificate, and consider ordering extra certified copies if you plan to change names or update records.

Courthouse wedding checklist: 142 tasks

Every task, compressed into about 3 months. Tap any task for its step-by-step guide.

Start here

The first two weeks

Agree on your top wedding priorities

Pick 3–5 shared priorities to guide every later choice

Timeline & LogisticsEssential

Set your working budget

Agree on a total, add a contingency, then split by priority

BudgetEssential

Talk about family contributions

Clarify amounts, timing and any strings before you plan

Budget

Estimate your guest count

Your headcount drives venue size, catering and most costs

Guest ListEssential

For a courthouse wedding: The ceremony room sets your limit. Ask the office how many guests are allowed, including children and any photographer, before you invite anyone.

Choose a season or date range

A flexible window makes venue and vendor dates easier

Venue & DateEssential

For a courthouse wedding: Ask which days and times the office performs ceremonies and how far ahead they release appointments. Popular dates, such as memorable numbers or Fridays, can fill quickly.

Decide where you want to get married

Near home, near family or abroad shapes budget and guests

Venue & DateEssential

Decide what kind of ceremony you want

Civil, religious or symbolic — it shapes venue and paperwork

CeremonyEssential

For a courthouse wedding: Decide whether the civil ceremony is the whole wedding or the legal step before a later celebration. If you plan a bigger party or symbolic ceremony afterward, decide now which date you’ll treat as your anniversary.

Decide whether you need a planner

Full service, partial or day-of, based on time and budget

Vendors

Set up a shared planning system

One shared home for budget, guests, vendors and tasks

Timeline & Logistics

Insure your engagement ring

A specialist policy or your home cover protects against loss

RingsOptional

Share your news the way you want to

Tell close people personally first, no details promised yet

Guest ExperienceOptional

Draft your guest list in three tiers

Must invite, would like, if space allows — adjust later

Guest ListEssential

Research and shortlist venues

Filter by capacity, budget, location and your dates

Venue & Date12+ months beforeEssential

For a courthouse wedding: You probably don’t need a wedding venue, but a nearby restaurant, café or private room for a celebration meal is worth planning. Check the walking or driving time from the office.

Book your venue

Compare quotes and read the contract before you sign

Venue & Date12+ months beforeEssential

For a courthouse wedding: For a post-ceremony meal, reserve a table or private room close to the office and leave a buffer in case ceremonies run late. Ask whether they’ll allow a small cake or toast.

Secure your ceremony location

Lock in a separate place of worship or office alongside it

Ceremony12+ months beforeEssential

For a courthouse wedding: Book your ceremony appointment as soon as the office allows. Ask about the slot length, room capacity, whether photos and video are allowed, whether you can bring music or flowers, and when to arrive.

The next few weeks

Invitations, details and confirmations

Book your wedding photographer

Compare full galleries, coverage hours and delivery times

Photography & Video8–18 months before

For a courthouse wedding: Look for short coverage of one to three hours. Confirm the office allows photography inside, then plan portraits on the steps or somewhere nearby with better light.

Book your civil ceremony officiant

Make sure they can lead your ceremony and any legal part

Ceremony6–18 months beforeEssential

For a courthouse wedding: At most civil offices an officiant is provided with the appointment, so there may be nothing to book. Confirm this when you reserve your slot, and ask whether you can request a particular person.

Order your wedding outfits

Made-to-order pieces take months, plus time for alterations

Attire6–12 months beforeEssential

For a courthouse wedding: Wear whatever feels like you, from a suit or dress to something casual. Ready-to-wear works well here, and it’s worth checking the weather for any outdoor photos.

Research marriage license requirements

Learn the application window and what to bring

Legal & Documents4–12 months beforeEssential

For a courthouse wedding: Ask the office directly what you’ll need: documents for each of you, fees, any notice or waiting period, how long the license is valid, whether witnesses are required and whether you both must attend.

Plan the ceremony structure

Order, readings, music, processional and rough length

Ceremony3–9 months beforeEssential

For a courthouse wedding: Civil ceremonies are usually short, with set wording. Ask whether you can add a reading, personal vows or a piece of music, and what time limit applies.

Book transport for the two of you

To the ceremony, between venues and away at the end

Transportation3–10 months before

For a courthouse wedding: Check parking or public transport near the office, and allow time for security screening and finding the right room. Plan how you’ll get to the celebration meal afterward.

Buy your wedding rings

Leave time for sizing, engraving and insurance

Rings2–6 months beforeEssential

For a courthouse wedding: Ask whether a ring exchange is part of the civil ceremony at your office. If it is, keep the rings with one person, since there’s rarely time to search pockets.

Finalize flowers and décor

Quantities, setup, cleanup and pieces that move between spaces

Flowers & Décor2–5 months before

For a courthouse wedding: A bouquet and a couple of buttonholes are often all you need. Check whether the office allows petals, confetti or bubbles outside before you bring any.

Write your vows

Check what your officiant allows, then draft and revise

CeremonyUp to 5 months beforeOptional

For a courthouse wedding: If personal vows aren’t possible in the ceremony, consider sharing them at lunch or dinner afterward, or privately before you arrive.

The final month

Turn plans into confirmations

Send your wedding invitations

Set an RSVP deadline about 3–4 weeks before the day

Invitations & Stationery1–3 months beforeEssential

For a courthouse wedding: A personal message or simple digital invitation is usually enough. Include the office address, where to wait, the ceremony time and your plans for afterward.

Create your wedding-day timeline

Build around fixed moments, then add buffer time

Timeline & Logistics1–3 months beforeEssential

For a courthouse wedding: Build your timeline around the appointment: arrival well before your slot, the ceremony, signing, photos, then your meal. Offices can run behind, so leave a buffer before any restaurant reservation.

Send guests the final details

Timings, addresses, parking, dress code and photo link

Guest Experience1–3 weeks before

For a courthouse wedding: Tell guests which entrance to use, whether there’s security screening, where to wait and when to arrive. Offices often call couples in on time, so late guests may miss the ceremony.

Wedding week

Handoffs and essentials

Put rings, documents and outfits in one place

Nothing important to hunt for on the morning itself

Rings1–2 days beforeEssential

Wedding day

Nothing else to plan

Sign your marriage documents

With your officiant and witnesses — agree who files them

Legal & DocumentsWedding dayEssential

For a courthouse wedding: Signing usually happens straight after the ceremony. Check the spelling of both names and dates before you sign, and ask what happens next with registration.

Take a quiet moment together

Five to ten minutes alone, often right after the ceremony

CeremonyWedding dayOptional

After the wedding

A few final things

Confirm who has the marriage documents

Check they’ve been returned or registered officially

Legal & DocumentsUp to 2 days afterEssential

For a courthouse wedding: Ask when and how you’ll receive your official marriage certificate, and consider ordering extra certified copies if you plan to change names or update records.

Order certified copies of your marriage certificate

Several copies for name changes, banks and passports

Legal & DocumentsUp to 2 months after

For a courthouse wedding: Ask the office whether you can order certified copies at the appointment or soon after, and how many you’re likely to need for name changes and records.

Update your name, if you’re changing it

Start with core ID once you have the marriage certificate

Legal & DocumentsUp to 12 months afterOptional

For a courthouse wedding: Wait until you have the official marriage certificate, then follow the guidance of the official authority where you live, starting with identity documents before accounts.

What you can probably skip

These usually don’t apply to a courthouse wedding. If one matters to you, keep it — otherwise mark it “Not for us” and enjoy one less thing to think about.

Courthouse wedding FAQ

What do you need for a courthouse wedding?

For a courthouse wedding you usually need a marriage license or notice, valid identification for both of you, an appointment at the civil office and, in many places, witnesses. Requirements, fees and waiting periods vary, so check with the official authority where you’ll marry. Then plan outfits, rings, a photographer if you want one and somewhere to celebrate afterward.

How far in advance should you book a courthouse wedding?

It depends on the office. Some release appointments weeks ahead, others months ahead, and popular dates go quickly. Check the office’s booking window and any notice or waiting period, then book as soon as both line up.

Can you bring guests to a courthouse wedding?

Usually, but room sizes vary and some offices limit the number of guests. Ask how many people are allowed, whether children count, and whether a photographer counts toward the total before inviting anyone.

Do you need witnesses for a courthouse wedding?

Many places require one or two witnesses, and some offices can provide them. Rules on witnesses’ age and identification vary, so confirm the requirements with the office where you’re marrying.

What should you wear to a courthouse wedding?

Whatever feels right for the two of you, from a wedding dress or suit to a smart everyday outfit. Check the weather for outdoor photos and choose shoes you can comfortably walk and stand in.

How long does a courthouse wedding take?

The ceremony itself is often short, sometimes around 10–30 minutes, but allow extra time for arrival, security, waiting and signing. Ask your office how long your appointment slot lasts.

Can you have a reception after a courthouse wedding?

Yes. Many couples book a restaurant meal the same day, or hold a larger party or symbolic ceremony weeks or months later. Leave a buffer between the appointment and any reservation in case the office runs late.

Checklists for other kinds of weddings