Courthouse Wedding in Dallas–Fort Worth: The Complete Guide

Thinking about a courthouse wedding in Dallas–Fort Worth? You're in good company. More and more DFW couples are trading the big, expensive wedding for something simpler: a marriage license, a short ceremony with a justice of the peace, and a celebration that actually feels like them. Whether you're leaning toward the historic Tarrant County Courthouse in downtown Fort Worth or a justice of the peace ceremony in Dallas, this guide walks you through exactly how to get married at the courthouse anywhere in the Metroplex — costs, timelines, locations, and how to make the day feel every bit as special as a traditional wedding.

Why More DFW Couples Are Choosing Courthouse Weddings

A courthouse wedding (sometimes called a justice of the peace wedding or civil ceremony) is exactly what it sounds like: you get legally married by a judge instead of hosting a full wedding. Couples choose it because it's affordable — usually under $300 total, compared to the $30,000+ average North Texas wedding. It's fast: you can be married within a week of deciding, or even same-day with one simple workaround covered below. And it's intimate — no seating charts, no vendor contracts, no 18-month planning timeline. Just the two of you, the people you love most, and the moment that actually matters.

And here's the thing most couples don't realize until afterward: a courthouse wedding doesn't have to look like a courthouse wedding. With a little planning — real outfits, fresh flowers, and a photographer to document it — your simple ceremony can feel like the most personal wedding you've ever attended.

Step 1: Get Your Texas Marriage License

No matter where in the Metroplex you're marrying, everything starts with a Texas marriage license. Good news: a license issued by any Texas county is valid everywhere in the state, so you can apply in Dallas County and marry in Fort Worth, or vice versa. Both of you must appear in person with a valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID), and the license is valid for 90 days from the date it's issued.

Dallas County Marriage License

Dallas County asks couples to start their application online, then finish in person at the Dallas County Records Building at 500 Elm Street, Suite 2100, in downtown Dallas (open 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday). The license fee is around $81, and cash is the safe bet — call the Vital Records office at (214) 653-7099 to confirm current fees and accepted payment before you go.

Tarrant County Marriage License

For Fort Worth couples, the Tarrant County Clerk issues marriage licenses at 200 Taylor Street, Suite 301, in downtown Fort Worth. The fee is $76, payable by cash or card (cards carry a small processing fee). Questions? The clerk's office can be reached at (817) 884-1550.

The 72-Hour Waiting Period

Texas law requires a 72-hour waiting period between when your license is issued and when your ceremony can take place. Pick up your license on a Monday, and you can marry Thursday. Plan around this — it's the detail that trips up the most couples.

How to Skip the Wait and Save $60

Here's the best-kept secret of Texas courthouse weddings: the Twogether in Texas program. Complete a free or low-cost state-approved premarital course (at least 8 hours, covering communication and conflict-resolution skills), and you get two big benefits: the 72-hour waiting period is completely waived, and you receive $60 off your marriage license fee. That drops a Dallas County license to about $21. The completion certificate is valid for a full year, so you can knock out the course anytime before you apply. If you're on a tight timeline — or a tight budget — this is worth doing.

Step 2: Book Your Justice of the Peace Ceremony

Once you have your license in hand, you'll schedule your ceremony with a justice of the peace (JP). This is the "courthouse wedding" part — a short civil ceremony performed by a judge at a JP courtroom or office.

In Dallas County, ceremonies are performed by the various JP courts around the county, and each court handles its own scheduling — most take requests by phone or email once you have your license. Weekday ceremonies typically run around $100, with weekend and holiday ceremonies costing significantly more.

In Tarrant County, JP courts in and around Fort Worth also perform weddings, with weekday ceremonies (roughly 9:15 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) running about $150, and after-hours, weekend, and holiday ceremonies priced higher.

Fees and availability vary from court to court and can change, so call the specific JP court you want before you set your heart on a date. Some courts book out a few weeks, especially around Valentine's Day and popular date-based days.

Dallas or Fort Worth: Where Should You Say "I Do"?

Both counties will get you legally married, but if photos matter to you, location matters too.

Fort Worth is the sentimental favorite. The 1895 Tarrant County Courthouse — that stunning pink-granite building at the top of Main Street, built in Renaissance Revival style to echo the Texas Capitol — is one of the most photogenic courthouses in the entire state. Even if your ceremony happens in a modern JP courtroom nearby, the historic courthouse steps, its archways, and the red bricks of Main Street looking toward Sundance Square make for portraits that feel timeless.

Dallas offers its own backdrops. The Old Red Courthouse, with its striking red sandstone and turrets, sits right downtown and photographs beautifully, and the surrounding downtown core — from Founders Plaza to the West End — gives you plenty of options for portraits before or after your ceremony.

There's no wrong answer. Many Metroplex couples simply choose whichever county is closer — remember, your license works in both.

What a Courthouse Ceremony Is Actually Like

Short and sweet. Most JP ceremonies last five to ten minutes. The judge will say a few words, lead you through your vows, and pronounce you married. A few things worth knowing: Texas does not require witnesses, so it truly can be just the two of you. Bring your marriage license — no license, no ceremony. Rings are optional. Most courts welcome a small group of family and friends, and most are happy to have a photographer present (it never hurts to mention it when you book). After the ceremony, the signed license gets filed with the county clerk, and you can order certified copies for name changes and records.

How to Make Your Courthouse Wedding Feel Like a Wedding

The couples who love their courthouse wedding most are the ones who treat it like a real wedding day — because it is one. A few ideas that make an outsized difference:

• Dress the part. A suit, a white dress or jumpsuit, something that makes you feel like it's your wedding day — because when you look at these photos in thirty years, you'll be glad you did.

• Carry real flowers. A simple bouquet from a local florist or even a grocery-store arrangement elevates every single photo.

• Plan portraits around the ceremony. Build in an hour before or after for wedding portraits downtown — the 1895 courthouse steps in Fort Worth, the Old Red in Dallas, or anywhere in the Metroplex that means something to you.

• Celebrate afterward. Book a table at your favorite restaurant, host a backyard dinner, pop champagne on a rooftop. Small doesn't mean skipped.

  
  

Don't Skip the Photos

Here's the honest truth from someone who photographs weddings all over Dallas–Fort Worth: the ceremony is short, but the photographs are forever. A courthouse wedding moves fast — vows, rings, a kiss, a signature — and without someone there to capture it, the day can blur past before you've caught your breath. A photographer who knows the DFW courthouses can guide you to the best light and backdrops, document the ceremony itself, and turn a thirty-minute civil ceremony into a full gallery of wedding photos you'll treasure.

If you're planning a courthouse wedding or elopement anywhere in the Metroplex — Dallas, Fort Worth, or in between — I'd love to tell your story. Reach out to check your date, and let's make your simple wedding unforgettable.

Courthouse Wedding FAQs: Dallas–Fort Worth

How much does a courthouse wedding cost in DFW? Plan on roughly $180–$230 total: the marriage license ($76 in Tarrant County, about $81 in Dallas County) plus the JP ceremony fee (about $100–$150 on weekdays). Complete the Twogether in Texas course and you'll save $60 on the license.

Can we get married the same day we get our license? Only if you've completed the Twogether in Texas premarital course, which waives the 72-hour waiting period. Otherwise, you'll wait three days between license and ceremony.

Do we need witnesses? No — Texas doesn't require witnesses for a marriage ceremony. It can be just the two of you and the judge.

Can we bring guests and a photographer? Almost always, yes. JP courtrooms are small, so keep the guest list intimate and let the court know ahead of time that a photographer is coming.

Does a Dallas County license work in Fort Worth? Yes. A Texas marriage license issued in any county is valid for a ceremony anywhere in the state.