Pennsylvania Courthouse Wedding

Pennsylvania Courthouse Wedding

If you are looking to get married without all the fuss, a courthouse wedding is something you may want to consider. Many local courthouses in Pennsylvania offer a short and sweet ceremony to say “I do” and make it official. It is a different process for each courthouse, so be sure to reach out to the courthouse directly to find out the step-by-step process of how to book a wedding ceremony. Although many courthouses offer this option within a relatively short timeframe, it’s always a good idea to plan ahead. Some courthouses only offer ceremonies on specific days of the week and times of day. For some, the books only open the month before on a specific day, and it is important to know which day that is in order to book a spot. Gathering information is the first step to make the planning and the wedding day go smoothly. Reach out to the marriage license department, and they should be able to direct you from there.

 

 

West Chester Pennsylvania Courthouse Wedding

This PA courthouse wedding was at the West Chester Courthouse. They planned a lovely celebration, all in the heart of the charming town of West Chester, PA. Their courthouse wedding ceremony was attended by friends and family and performed by a judge. At different courthouses you are allowed a different number of guests, so be sure to ask this question when you are planning. Then all the wedding guests walked down Main Street together, about 2 blocks, to the steps of the Historic Chester County Courthouse at 2 N High St. The columns on the front of the building are perfect for classic wedding photos for the couple, and the steps are a great location for group and family photos. Next to the steps there is a fountain that is also quite nice for photos. It’s so nice to have such a stunning photo location just a few blocks from the ceremony. Not having to get in the car and drive to another location makes for a smooth and enjoyable day and more time to be with your friends and family.

 

 

Personal Touches for your Courthouse Wedding

I love the personal touches that can really make a wedding day feel extra special. Even for a smaller celebration at a courthouse, incorporating meaningful details can make the day memorable. Choosing a lovely wedding bouquet or an exceptional dress can make you feel bridal and fabulous. Wearing something that has been passed down for generations can bring a sense of legacy and love to the day. There are countless ways to bring in sentimental details that mean something to the couple.

 

 

Why Couples Choose a Courthouse Wedding in Pennsylvania

There are many different reasons people choose a courthouse wedding. Some people choose it because they want to keep their wedding day low-key. They want to get married but don’t want the big wedding. Others choose to have a courthouse wedding locally and then have a bigger wedding celebration later on down the line. Some couples don’t want to spend all the money that a traditional wedding can cost, so they choose a courthouse wedding to be friendly to the budget. There can be something romantic and intimate about keeping the ceremony small, and a PA courthouse wedding can be an appealing option for many.

 

 

Planning ahead for your courthouse wedding

You may be wondering, is planning a courthouse wedding in PA easy to do? Yes, it is easier in many ways than a full-out traditional wedding day with all the bells and whistles, but it does require a little bit of time, research, planning, and making sure that you understand the steps it takes for it to go without a hitch. You will need to secure your marriage license before your wedding ceremony, and in PA, there is a 3-day waiting period once you get your license before it is valid, and you can use it. The licence expires in 60 days once you get it, so you have a limited window to use your marriage license. Once you contact the courthouse you wish to get married in you can get specific details about how to get married there. Courthouse ceremonies are typically short and sweet, less than 10 minutes. Then you can plan to celebrate afterwards whether it’s just the two of you sharing a glass of champagne or dinner with loved ones.

 

 

 

Always check with the Courthouse Directly

This post is meant to give you a general idea, but always check with the courthouse and marriage license department directly to confirm all current laws, processes, and procedures to ensure you have the most up-to-date and accurate information in planning your PA courthouse wedding. Polices can change or be updated. Holidays and events can interrupt the typical schedules.

 

 

Questions to Ask When Planning a Courthouse 

Even though a courthouse wedding day is typically a more low-key celebration that is a smaller day with fewer moving parts, there is still planning to be done. Here are a few questions you may want to ask the courthouse:

 

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Does the courthouse perform wedding ceremonies?
               2. What days of the week and times do you offer wedding ceremonies at the courthouse?
               3. How many guests are allowed to attend the Couthouse wedding ceremony?
               4. How far out can I book my courthouse wedding ceremony?
               5. What is the process for booking a courthouse wedding?
               6. What documents do we need to bring with me on the wedding day?
               7. Are photos allowed during the ceremony?
               8. What do I need to bring with me to the ceremony?
               9. What is the process for getting a marriage license in PA? (Do we need to make an appointment for this? What is the cost of the license?)
               10. Are there any logistics we should know, such as where to park?

 

 

 

 

 

Pennsylvania Courthouse Weddings

There are many courthouses across the state of PA where you can get married. Here are just a few that are popular.

Philadelphia City Hall

West Chester Courthouse

Allegheny County Courthouse

Luzerne County Courthouse

Lancaster County Courthouse

 

 

Small Weddings In PA

If you want to have a small wedding but don’t want to go the courthouse route, there are other options to consider. Many wedding venues have options for micro weddings and smaller celebrations. Having a wedding on a weekday will often allow more flexibility and may open up options that would not otherwise be available for weekend weddings. Getting married at a park, a restaurant, or even your own backyard are all possibilities! Here are a few blog posts that may inspire you to find a Philadelphia location for your small wedding.

Restaurant Wedding Venues in Philadelphia

Philadelphia Brewery Wedding Venues

Ultimate Guide for Small Philadelphia Wedding Venues

Love Park Wedding Ceremony, Philadelphia PA

 

 

 

 

 

9 Prime Steakhouse Wedding Reception in West Chester PA

Once we finished up the outside photos, we headed across the street to 9 Prime Steakhouse. This impressive restaurant is in the building of what used to be a 19th-century bank. We were able to go upstairs and take some more photos of the bride and groom, and the bride did a quick outfit change into something slightly more casual but still bridal, playful, and beautiful. I love an outfit change! After all, it’s your wedding day, so it’s absolutely a day to go the extra mile. The space in 9 Prime was perfect for photos with the chandelier, piano, and the bar, we had interesting options for fun wedding photos. After our Photos at 9 Prime, the couple joined their guests for their lovely wedding reception dinner.

 

 

Other Courthouse Weddings

Want to see other courthouse weddings in PA? Here are a few more real weddings you might enjoy and some more tips for planning!

Courthouse Wedding West Chester, PA

City Hall Micro Wedding Philadelphia

8 Tips For Your City Hall Wedding

 

Wedding Photography for your Pennsylvania Courthouse Wedding

Once you have your date and location selected for your Pennsylvania courthouse wedding, you may want to hire a wedding photographer to take photos for your day. No matter how big or small your guest list is, you will want photos to remember this life-changing moment. Some couples choose to have photos of just the ceremony and then the couple’s photos afterwards. Other couples decide that they want more extensive photo coverage to include getting-ready photos, ceremony, and reception photos. They may even choose to go to another location for couples photos, depending on the timing of their day and what locations are nearby the courthouse where they are getting married. I am a Philadelphia-based wedding Photographer, and I would love to chat with you about photographing your PA courthouse wedding! I photograph many small weddings, elopements, and courthouse weddings. I would love to hear where you are in the planning process and what vision you have for your day. I am happy to share any experience or insight I might have, and I love hearing the unique love story of each couple.

 

Feel free to reach out to set up a time to chat!