Dallas Courthouse Wedding Guide: Everything You Need to Know
A step-by-step guide to getting married at the courthouse in Dallas or Fort Worth — costs, documents, what to wear, and how to make a civil ceremony feel like the event it actually is.
Dallas County Courthouse: The Basics
The Dallas County Records Building (509 Main Street, Dallas, TX 75202) handles marriage licenses and civil ceremonies. The process is straightforward: get your marriage license, wait the required 72 hours (unless waived), and return for your ceremony.
The civil ceremony itself takes about 10-15 minutes. A judge or justice of the peace performs the ceremony in a small courtroom or designated ceremony area. You will need two witnesses over age 18 — if you do not bring your own, courthouse staff can often help.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Married at the Dallas Courthouse
1. Apply for Your Marriage License
Both partners must appear in person at the Dallas County Clerk's Office with valid government-issued photo ID. The license costs $82 (cash or card). You can also apply online ahead of time to save time at the window.
2. Wait 72 Hours
Texas requires a 72-hour waiting period after issuing the license before the ceremony can take place. This can be waived if one partner is active-duty military or if you complete a premarital education course.
3. Schedule Your Ceremony
Contact the courthouse to schedule a ceremony time. Walk-in ceremonies are sometimes available, but scheduling ensures you get a specific time slot.
4. Show Up and Get Married
Bring your marriage license, two witnesses, and yourselves. The ceremony takes 10-15 minutes. Dress however you want — there is no dress code.
5. Celebrate
After the ceremony, you are legally married. Head to your favorite restaurant, park, or bar. Some couples book portraits at Klyde Warren Park or the Dallas Arts District nearby.
Tarrant County Courthouse (Fort Worth)
If you are in Fort Worth, the Tarrant County Courthouse (100 W Weatherford Street, Fort Worth, TX 76196) offers the same process. Marriage licenses are issued at the Tarrant County Clerk's office, and civil ceremonies are performed by justices of the peace.
Fort Worth offers exceptional portrait locations within walking distance: the Fort Worth Water Gardens, Sundance Square, and the quiet Southside streets make for stunning post-ceremony photos. The Tarrant County Courthouse itself is architecturally beautiful — a gorgeous backdrop for portraits.
“A courthouse wedding is not settling. It is choosing what matters and letting go of what does not.”
What to Wear to a Courthouse Wedding
There is no dress code at the courthouse. We have photographed couples in full formal attire, cocktail dresses, jeans and blazers, and everything in between. Wear what makes you feel like yourselves on a significant day.
One practical tip: if you plan to do portraits outside afterward, avoid overly bright white — it can wash out in Dallas sunlight. Off-white, champagne, and ivory photograph beautifully in natural light.
Total Cost of a Dallas Courthouse Wedding
Total: approximately $1,000–$1,500 for a complete courthouse wedding with professional photography. Compare that to the $35,000 average cost of a traditional wedding in Dallas.
Should You Hire a Photographer for a Courthouse Wedding?
You do not need one. But you will be glad you had one. Courthouse ceremonies happen fast — 10-15 minutes of concentrated emotion. Without a photographer, those moments exist only in memory. With one, they exist forever.
Our courthouse wedding photography starts at $800 for 3 hours — enough to cover the ceremony plus portraits at a nearby location. Every image individually edited, delivered in 10 business days.