Courthouse Wedding Cost in Dallas–Fort Worth
A courthouse wedding in Dallas–Fort Worth costs $140–$296 in posted government fees: a county marriage license of $76–$81, or $16–$21 with a Twogether in Texas course certificate, plus a justice of the peace fee of $60–$220 at the courts that post one. Collin County's courts post no ceremony fee. Texas also makes you wait 72 hours after the license is issued unless you qualify for an exception. From our base in Rowlett, we photograph courthouse weddings across DFW, and Yvonne Nguyen photographs every Small Hour wedding herself.
The short answer
Two government fees, then the photographs
Every Texas courthouse wedding pays the county clerk for the license and the court for the ceremony. The table below compares all four DFW counties, each fee linked to the county page it came from. The Vow adds 3 hours of photography for $1,200.
- License
- $76–$81, by county
- With a course
- $16–$21, and no 72-hour wait
- Judge's fee
- $60–$220 where posted
- Waiting period
- 72 hours after issue
- License valid
- 90 days
- Photography
- The Vow · $1,200 for 3 hours
Plan by County
What a DFW Courthouse Wedding Costs
A Texas courthouse wedding has two government costs: the county clerk's marriage license and the officiant's fee. At a courthouse, the officiant is usually a justice of the peace, and each court sets its own fee, hours, and room limit. A license from any Texas county works for a ceremony anywhere in the state, so you can buy it where the office is convenient and marry where the court suits you.
Courthouse Wedding Costs by County
What each county clerk and justice of the peace court posted as of September 22, 2026. Courts change fees and hours without notice, so confirm with the clerk or the court before you plan around a number.
| County | License | With course | Where to get it | Who marries you, and the fee | Guest limit | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | License$80 | With a course certificate$21 | Where to get itCounty Clerk, Records Building, 500 Elm St., Suite 2100, Dallas. Weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Apply online first. | Who marries you, and the fee$60–$150 postedJustice of the peace courts. Three post weekday fees: JP 5-1 in East Dallas, JP 2-2 at the Mesquite Government Center, and JP 3-1 at the North Dallas Government Center. JP 5-1: $60 cash, weekdays 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., by appointment ($150 after 4 p.m. or on Saturday). JP 2-2: $80 by appointment or $100 as a walk-in, cash. JP 3-1: $150. The other courts post no weekday fee. | Guest limit15 with an appointment, 5 as a walk-in (JP 3-1) | SourcesClerk feesJP 5-1 ceremoniesJP 2-2 weddingsJP 3-1 weddings |
| Tarrant | License$76 | With a course certificate$16 | Where to get itCounty Clerk, 200 Taylor St., Suite 301, Fort Worth, or seven other clerk offices. Weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Who marries you, and the fee$150–$220 postedEight justice of the peace courts, including Precinct 1 in the 1895 Courthouse. Cash. Hours and booking rules differ by court. | Guest limit14 (Precinct 1), 25 (Precinct 2), 30 (Precinct 3) | SourcesClerk licensesJP courts |
| Denton | License$81 | With a course certificate$21 | Where to get itCounty Clerk, Courts Building, 1450 E. McKinney St., Suite 1103, Denton, or five other clerk offices. Weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | Who marries you, and the fee$100 postedJustice of the peace courts. Precinct 2, in the Frisco Government Center, holds a brief declaration ceremony rather than a traditional one. Precinct 5, in Cross Roads, performs marriage ceremonies by appointment. The $100 is Precinct 2's declaration: cash, by appointment, 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Precinct 5 posts no fee. | Guest limitNot posted | SourcesClerk licensesJP declarationsJP Precinct 5 |
| Collin | License$80 | With a course certificate$20 | Where to get itCounty Clerk, 2300 Bloomdale Rd., McKinney, or 900 E. Park Blvd., Plano. Weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Who marries you, and the feeNo fee postedJustice of the Peace Precinct 3, 920 E. Park Blvd., Plano, performs weddings on request. No fee is posted. Ask the court when you book. | Guest limitNot posted | SourcesClerk licensesJP Precinct 3 |
The 72-Hour Wait and How to Skip It
Texas bars the ceremony during the 72 hours after the license is issued (Family Code §2.204). A license issued Friday morning means Monday morning at the earliest, and most posted ceremony hours are weekdays. The wait does not apply if either of you:
- is on active duty in the U.S. armed forces;
- works for the Department of Defense as an employee or contractor;
- gets a written waiver for good cause from a qualifying judge, a list that includes justices of the peace and judges of courts that hear family cases; or
- completed a premarital education course of at least eight hours in the year before you apply, and shows the clerk the certificate.
Some courts are stricter than the statute. Dallas County's JP 3-1 and JP 4-1 ask for a license issued at least 72 hours before the ceremony you book, so check your court's page before counting on an exception. Once issued, the license expires if you have not married within 90 days (§2.201).
Twogether in Texas: Up to $60 Off and No Wait
Twogether in Texas is the state's premarital education program, run by Texas Health and Human Services. Its site lists providers who teach the course in person and online. Texas law asks for a course of at least eight hours (Family Code §2.013), and the certificate is good for one year.
- The certificate waives the 72-hour wait and removes the $60 state portion of the license fee. Counties can add up to $22 in local fees that are not waived, according to the program's FAQ, which is why the discounted license in DFW is $16–$21 rather than free.
- Course prices are set by each provider. Some charge nothing, so the course can cost less than it saves.
- Bring the printed certificate when you apply. Collin County gives the reduced fee only if you present it at application, and Tarrant County asks you to show it to your officiant as well.
- In Dallas County, apply at the County Clerk's office at 500 Elm Street. The JP 3-1 license desk cannot process a license with a Twogether certificate.
A Realistic All-In Budget
A Dallas County license, a weekday ceremony at Justice of the Peace 3-1, and 3 hours of photography:
| Dallas County marriage license | $80 |
|---|---|
| Ceremony at Justice of the Peace 3-1 | $150 |
| Photography: The Vow, 3 hours | $1,200 |
| Total | $1,430 |
With a Twogether in Texas certificate, the license drops to $21 and the total to $1,371, plus whatever your course provider charges. Parking, attire, flowers, and a meal afterward are yours to add; they vary too much to price here.
Investment
The Vow: $1,200 for 3 hours of courthouse coverage anywhere in DFW
Photos only. Delivery timeline confirmed with your collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a courthouse wedding in DFW?+
In posted government fees, $140–$296: a county marriage license of $76–$81 plus a justice of the peace fee of $60–$220 at the courts that post one. A Twogether in Texas certificate cuts the license to $16–$21. Collin County's courts post no ceremony fee, so ask when you book. Photography is separate; The Vow is $1,200 for 3 hours.
How much is a marriage license in Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, and Collin counties?+
The license costs Dallas County $80 ($21 with a course certificate), Tarrant County $76 ($16 with a course certificate), Denton County $81 ($21 with a course certificate), Collin County $80 ($20 with a course certificate), as each county clerk posted on September 22, 2026.
How do we skip the 72-hour waiting period in Texas?+
Texas waives the wait if either of you is on active duty in the U.S. armed forces, works for the Department of Defense as an employee or contractor, gets a written waiver from a qualifying judge such as a justice of the peace, or completed an eight-hour premarital course like those listed by Twogether in Texas in the year before applying. Some courts still ask for a license issued 72 hours before the ceremony you book.
Is the Twogether in Texas course worth it?+
Usually. The certificate takes up to $60 off the license and waives the 72-hour wait. The course runs at least eight hours, in person or online, some providers charge nothing, and the certificate is good for a year. Bring it printed when you apply.
How long is a Texas marriage license good for?+
90 days from the day it is issued, and the ceremony cannot happen in the first 72 hours unless you qualify for an exception. A license from any Texas county works for a ceremony anywhere in the state.
Do we need witnesses for a courthouse wedding in Texas?+
No. The ceremony rules in Texas Family Code chapter 2 do not call for witnesses, and Dallas County's JP 3-1 states that witnesses are not required. Guests are welcome within each court's room limit.
Which DFW courthouse posts the lowest ceremony fee?+
Dallas County's JP 2-2 at the Mesquite Government Center: $80 in cash by appointment, or $100 as a walk-in, weekdays from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Denton County's Precinct 2 charges $100 for a brief declaration rather than a traditional ceremony.
How much does courthouse wedding photography cost in DFW?+
The Vow is $1,200 for 3 continuous hours, with 150-300 individually edited images, 10-20 sneak peeks within 24 hours, and the full gallery in 5 business days. Coverage anywhere in DFW is included at no extra charge.
Proof
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