Courthouse · 2–10 guests
Dallas County Courthouse
The real elopement. Thirty minutes, five people, forever.
Dallas County issues marriage licenses at the George Allen Courts Building on Riverfront Boulevard. The judge performs the ceremony in a small room upstairs. You bring your ID, your license, and whoever matters. Total time from walking in to walking out married: about thirty minutes. This is the cleanest, lowest-friction wedding in Dallas — and it photographs beautifully if you know what to do with the light.
Why Couples Choose It
Cost is the obvious reason — a marriage license is $81, the ceremony is free, and that's the whole wedding. But the real reason most couples end up here is that they wanted the marriage, not the production. Second marriages, long-engagement couples who are tired of waiting, pregnant brides who want to marry before the baby arrives, and out-of-state couples on a Dallas weekend. The courthouse wedding is its own genre, and the photos from it are often the most emotionally direct of any wedding we shoot.
The Visual Opportunity
The George Allen building is 70s concrete brutalism on the outside — unforgiving. But there are three or four redeeming spots: the wide marble staircase with the big window, the exterior colonnade with the American flag, and the Riverfront Boulevard side with the Dallas skyline behind you. If we meet 20 minutes before the ceremony, we shoot the license signing, we shoot the ceremony itself (judges typically allow photography with permission), and we use the 15 minutes after for portraits in and around the building. Total coverage: 90 minutes to 2 hours, depending on how much you want.
What You Need to Bring
Your Texas marriage license (obtained at the same building at least 72 hours before the ceremony, unless you're active military), valid photo ID for both parties, the $81 license fee (cash or card), at least one witness over 18, and a judge who's available — call ahead, judges rotate. The license clerk's office is on the 2nd floor. Ceremonies are typically performed in judge chambers or a small ceremony room. Dress code is whatever you want — we've shot tuxedos and we've shot jeans.
Common Questions
Dallas County Courthouse FAQ
How do I get a marriage license in Dallas County?+
Visit the George Allen Courts Building (133 N Riverfront Blvd) on a weekday during business hours. Both parties must be present with valid ID. License fee is $81 as of 2026. Texas has a 72-hour waiting period between license issuance and ceremony unless one party is active-duty military.
Can I photograph the ceremony itself?+
In most cases yes, but ask the judge at the start of the ceremony. Judges have discretion. We have never been denied, but protocol is to ask before shooting.
Do I need a witness?+
Texas requires one witness over the age of 18. Many couples bring a parent, sibling, or close friend. Small Hour can act as the witness if needed.
What should I wear?+
Whatever feels like you. We've photographed couples in jeans and we've photographed couples in full wedding attire. The courthouse doesn't have a dress code. The photos look best when you wear something you actually love, not something you picked because it seemed courthouse-appropriate.
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Planning Your Wedding Here?
Let us photograph your day at Dallas County Courthouse.
Small Hour's collections for Dallas County Courthouse range from $1,200 (3 hours) to $2,750 (6 hours with engagement session). Photos only, 10-day delivery.