Hey lovebirds! If you’re dreaming of a Phoenix, Arizona courthouse wedding, let’s help you get the details set. A courthouse (or Justice of the Peace) wedding provides a perfectly intimate, totally stress-free, and wonderfully budget-friendly experience. Whether you’re eloping, keeping things beautifully simple, or getting officially hitched before a fabulous destination wedding (helloooo, Cancun), tying the knot at the Phoenix courthouse is an absolutely amazing way to celebrate your love story.
Table of contents
- Why Getting Married at the Phoenix Courthouse is So Special
- Steps to getting married at the Phoenix courthouse
- How to Make Your Phoenix Courthouse Wedding Unique to Your Love Story
- Choosing Wedding Attire
- Write Personalized Vows
- Write Personal Touches & Accessories Vows
- Invite Friends & Family
- Courthouse Elopement Photographer
- Inquire about Phoenix Elopement photography
Why Getting Married at the Phoenix Courthouse is So Special
A courthouse wedding hits three boxes: 1) it’s something truly romantic, 2) wonderfully intimate, and 3) amazingly stress-free. It is a beautiful way to celebrate your love without all the chaos of traditional wedding planning. It gives you time to focus on your relationship, while leaving open space for you to have dinner or a reception afterwards with friends and family.
You can either bring your a couple family members and some friends, or keep it perfectly intimate with just the two of you and a photographer. The day is your oyster! Whether you choose to dress up in formal attire, or something more casual, you can also add personalized details, like a getaway car, or a colorful personal flowers. Your Phoenix courthouse wedding is a blank slate that you can make your own.
Steps to getting married at the Phoenix courthouse
Let’s go through the legal details to get you prepared for the day. Here is how to get married at the Arizona Courthouse in four steps:
Step One: Get Your Marriage License
Before you do anything else, you need a marriage license from the Maricopa County Clerk of the Superior Court. This process is super straightforward, but here are a few key things to remember:
- Cost: $141.50
- Valid for: up to one year after you pick it up.
- Two Ways to Obtain Arizona Marriage License:
1. Apply Online (perfect for Arizona residents – no office visit needed)
2. In-Person (appointments are recommended):
- Downtown Phoenix – 601 W. Jackson St., Phoenix, AZ 85003
- Northeast Regional Court – 18380 N. 40th St., Phoenix, AZ 85032
- Northwest Regional Court – 14264 W. Tierra Buena Ln., Surprise, AZ 85374
- Southeast Regional Court – 222 E. Javelina, Mesa, AZ 85210
If you choose to get your marriage license in person, bring a valid photo ID and cash for the filing fee. It sounds daunting, but the process is pretty smooth and stress free. Arrive a little early, just in case.
Tip: Double-check everything before you leave the courthouse. Make sure your marriage license is error free. Amending the document has high fees, starting at $367.00.
Step Two: Planning Phoenix Courthouse Ceremony
After you get the marriage license, it’s time to plan your courthouse ceremony. In Maricopa County (including the Phoenix Courthouse), Justice of the Peace weddings kick off at 5pm sharp, which is also what time the doors lock. Plan to get there well before 4:30pm, to give you time to make it through security. Don’t be late! You’ll have to reschedule.
You can either schedule an appointment or just walk in, but be ready for a bit of a wait if it’s a busy day. There will be many couples waiting with you. It’s an exciting vibe!
What to Bring for an Arizona Courthouse Ceremony
Two witnesses (18 years old or older. One can be your photographer, yours truly 😉)
Cash for the judge’s fee (around $100, but fees may vary)
Your marriage license from step 1
List of Maricopa Courthouses for Weddings
- Downtown Phoenix
- Mesa
- Chandler & East Valley
- North Phoenix
For a full list of locations, check out the Justice Court website.
Step Three: Saying, “I Do” at the Courthouse
The courthouse ceremony is sweet and to the point. The ceremony is brief, around 10-15 minutes, and occurs right there in the courtroom. A judge leads the ceremony, you exchange vows (you can write personal vows or say the standard), and the ceremony concludes with signing of the marriage certificate.
After the ceremony, the judge handles all the paperwork with the Clerk of the Court, and… you may now kiss the bride! You’re officially married! It’s a moment that truly feels surreal.
Step 4: Photos
After the ceremony, it’s time to commemorate your marriage with gorgeous photos.
The architecture of the buildings downtown is absolutely beautiful. The area has some of the most iconic Arizona spots for engagement and wedding photos.
The beautiful thing about planning a courthouse wedding is the freedom to do whatever you want! I have photographed courthouse weddings that needed 45 minutes of time, and ones where we hung out for four hours visiting different locations for photos, and the couple hosted a reception for family and friends.
If you’re just looking for photos of the ceremony and some posed photos of yourselves and family, I recommend 90 minutes. If you want to visit other locations for stunning photos, bump your time up to two hours. If you want event documentation of a reception, or drinks afterwards, etc., it makes sense to consider four+ hours.
Where to take photos near the Phoenix Courthouse
The Historic Courthouse Steps – Lovely classic architecture for timeless portraits. Just a block away!
- Roosevelt Row Arts District – Urban feel, with murals. Just park and walk around.
The Orpheum Theatre – Elegant, vintage vibes!
Parking Garage Rooftop – For epic city skyline views that can’t be beat.
Hotel San Carlos – Historic charm with a touch of rooftop romance.
What time to take photos for Arizona courthouse wedding
The photo session time will depend on the time of year you are getting married. In the summer, it is best to do the photos after the ceremony, as the sun sets around 7:45 pm. In the winter, it’s best to have photos taken before the ceremony, as the sun sets as early as 5pm (when you need to be in the courthouse).
How to Make Your Phoenix Courthouse Wedding Unique to Your Love Story
This is your wedding day, therefore, making it feel special and unique to you as a couple is important. Here are some easy ways to ensure your Phoenix Courthouse wedding truly reflects your love story.
Choosing Wedding Attire
This is your wedding day, not any ordinary day, so make it feel like the special event it is. A sleek suit or stunning dress will do. Be sure to take the time to find something that makes you feel amazing. Wedding dresses can take up to eight months to arrive after they’re ordered, so be sure to allot time for that. Some bridal boutiques offer off-the-rack options too. Whichever option you choose, make sure you save time for alterations, which can take weeks too.
My favorite wedding boutique in the valley is Ohana Bridal. “Ohana” means family in Hawaiian, and they really live up to their namesake! The staff is very attentive to your needs as a bride. Everyone truly tries to make your dress experience special. They offer in-house alterations too, making this bridal boutique truly the best one-stop shop.
Of course, if casual is more your style, go for it. The main thing is that you feel confident and joyful in what you’re wearing when you say, “I do.”
Write Personalized Vows
This is a big one. While the standard “I do’s” are perfectly fine, personalized vows offer a beautiful opportunity to shower your fiance with love for the last time before they’re officially your spouse. Get a little vulnerable and share from the heart what your partner means to you. Personalized vows are something you’ll both remember and cherish forever. They’re a wonderful way to make your Phoenix Courthouse wedding feel incredibly special and unique to your journey together.
Personal Touches & Accessories
You might not be decorating the grand ballroom at the courthouse, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add other personal touches. Small details like personal flowers add a wonderful pop of color and a touch of elegance.
A bouquet and boutonniere with real florals are perfect and always photograph well. There are many local florists who can create lovely designs in your favorite colors. I have a list of recommendations for talented florists that I can recommend to you.
Another fantastic idea is to accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. Your courthouse wedding is a perfect opportunity to incorporate family heirlooms or other sentimental pieces into your wedding day look. Wearing a grandmother’s necklace, a special tie clip, or even unique cufflinks can add a deep, personal meaning to your outfit and your ceremony.
Invite Friends & Family
Think about who you’d love to have witness this intimate moment. With a courthouse wedding, you absolutely can (and should) invite guests to share in your joy. Having your closest family and friends there makes the day feel even more special and celebratory.
Other ideas on what to bring are your favorite bottle of wine or champagne, glasses to toast and celebrate, fun sunglasses to wear as props, and a veil for dramatic photos.
Hire a Courthouse Photographer (aka, me!)
While your courthouse wedding will be intimate, documenting your special day through photographs is still incredibly important. You’ll absolutely want to remember the details of the day you got married, and hiring a photographer for gorgeous photos is truly priceless. Some photographers offer special packages for elopements vs. full wedding days.
* Most Booked *
Half-day Explorer Elopement
If you want your story told from start to finish
- Up to six hours of photo coverage
- The day starts with getting ready and detail shots
- Unlimited planning assistance for help with locations, timeline, permits, etc.
- Vendor recommendations (videography, florals, hair and makeup)
- Custom timeline unique to your day
- Sneak peeks so you can look back at the day right away
- Shareable online gallery of your awesome photos with unlimited downloads, with access to my professional print lab to easily print from your gallery
$3,000
Mini Elopement
Coverage of your ceremony with time for portraits afterward
- Up to three hours coverage
- Coverage includes ceremony & family/couples portraits
- Vendor recommendations (videography, florals, hair and makeup)
- Sneak peeks so you can look back at the day right away
- Shareable online gallery of your awesome photos with unlimited downloads, with access to my professional print lab to easily print from your gallery
$1,500
If you’re planning and considering a courthouse wedding in Arizona, I would be absolutely thrilled to help you capture the magical moments. I’ll make sure the photos make your beautiful love story shine.
As an elopement photographer, my role is to be your biggest supporter. No matter what you envision for your wedding day, I’ll be your greatest hypewoman!
How do we book you?
01
Reach Out
We’ll discuss your vision, preferences, any specific shots you want, and make sure we’re a good fit.
02
Lock In Your Date
A signed contract with a deposit is required to secure your date.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered…
I’m yours! Sneak peeks are sent within 48 hours. The full gallery is sent within 4-6 weeks.
inquire about Phoenix Elopement photography
I’m stoked to hear about your vision! Give me all the details and I will schedule a consultation video call.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.