Having a courthouse wedding doesn’t mean you need to forego on anything and everything special that makes your day just as beautiful and chic as a full wedding day. Below, I walk you through how to have a courthouse wedding that feels special so that you can look back on this intimate day fondly with beautiful memories captured forever. Southern California is home of so many beautiful courthouses- everything from San Diego Courthouse, Santee Courthouse, Laguna Hills Civic Center, Old Orange Courthouse, Ventura Courthouse, Beverly Hills Courthouse all the way to the Santa Barbara Courthouse and so many more in between that.

1) DON’T SHY AWAY FROM DRESSING UP:

Do not shy away from getting dressed up for your courthouse wedding. Just because it’s a smaller and simpler day doesn’t mean that you need to dress super casual, you can go all out and it definitely won’t be too much. Our couples dress in full bride and groom attire from the dress, to the tux and everything in between. Most of the courthouses in southern California are really extravagant and beautiful so you definitely won’t look out of place in your photos.

If you don’t know what to wear to your special day, here is a blog about what you should wear to your courthouse wedding to help you brainstorm ideas.

2) HAVE HAIR AND MAKEUP DONE PROFESSIONALLY:

Having hair and makeup done professionally really adds a lot more to the overall look that you have. Some people are really great at doing their own hair and makeup but some need that little extra help to make it look different than your everyday look. It dresses everything up a bit by having makeup and hair done professionally. When it comes to makeup, no need to overdo it, natural is beautiful but for photos a little more helps to standout a bit.

3) INCLUDE THOUGHTFUL DETAILS THROUGHOUT THE DAY:

Whether you are having a courthouse wedding or just an intimate wedding of some kind, adding a few special details makes the day feel that much more special. Some of our couples have voiced their concerns around feeling like they don’t need or “feel silly” having “x,y,z” at their wedding and I am always the first to encourage them to do what makes them feel happy and will make your day that much more personalized. Just because this is a smaller day doesn’t mean you can’t go all out on certain things, you can do whatever makes you happy and create the day that fits perfectly for you two.

For example, having vow books for your vow exchange (or just for photos too), any special heirlooms you want documented, cute ceremony setup, the list goes on! The final item that I always highly recommend and encourage my couples to spend a little extra on is a bouquet, it truly make SUCH a big difference in your photos and adds so much character and charm to your images. It also gives you something to hold onto in the photos for posing which makes everyone feel more comfortable and confident.

All these little details that you add throughout your day make for such a beautiful story in your images and will be the perfect collection of images to include in a wedding album to really give the full picture of how you remembered your day.

Here is a beautiful courthouse wedding gallery that was shot at the Beverly Hills Courthouse for a little inspo!

4) INCLUDE FAMILY AND FRIENDS:
If you prefer to keep it to just you and your fiancé that is totally awesome too and something a lot of our couples decide on however if you feel like you want to have some of your closest friends and family stand next to you and celebrate this special moment, there is no reason you shouldn’t on a intimate day like this. Our couples include family and friends all the time and we usually capture those special family/friends shots after the ceremony so you can document this special day with those that you love the most by your side. Just because it is a smaller day at the courthouse does not mean you have to avoid including your friends and family!

5) HIRE A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER:
Even though this is a smaller day, the photos mean just as much if not more since less people were there to witness. Photographing these smaller days is truly so meaningful and they turn out extremely high end, gorgeous and make the most beautiful memories to have of your wedding day.

Since you are saving a lot of money on a lot of other items you would normally be spending $1,000s on, being able to hire a professional photographer is something you will not only regret but one of the very few things you can take with you after your special day. We have all the equipment, expertise and creativity to capture these intimate courthouse weddings so that you can look back fondly on these moments together.

Here is a blog about how to get married at the Santa Barbara Courthouse, another southern California courthouse that is amazing (featured images in this blog) to give you an idea of how to get started with planning your courthouse wedding.

If you have any questions on how to get married at the courthouse or your debating if you should have a courthouse wedding, we are here to help! We have a ton of experience in courthouse weddings and can help you decide what courthouse and overall vibe would be best for you two! Let’s connect below!