How to Plan Your Austin Texas Courthouse Elopement

There's a version of your wedding day that doesn't need a guest list, a seating chart, or a Pinterest board twelve months in the making. Just the two of you, a judge, a "yes" that's been building since your third date, and a photographer documenting it all to make sure you never forget how it felt.

That's the beauty of a courthouse elopement — and if you're the kind of couple who romanticizes the little things, who'd rather spend the morning at a museum than a bridal expo, who wants your wedding day to feel like you instead of a copy of someone else's Pinterest board, this one's for you.

But "simple" doesn't mean "unplanned." A day this intimate deserves just as much intention as a 200-person wedding — maybe more, because every single detail is one you actually chose. So consider this your guide. We're covering how to get your marriage license and pick your courthouse, how to schedule your ceremony with the right Justice of the Peace, how to think through the small details that make the day feel like you (florals, hair and makeup, a gift for your partner, what happens after "I do"), how to choose a photographer and videographer you actually trust with this moment, and how to build a timeline that keeps you present instead of rushed.

And through all of it — I want to talk about why documenting this day on film matters so much to me. There's something about the warmth, the grain, the imperfect little flares of light that make film feel less like a photo and more like a memory. Paired with Super 8 video, you're not just going to see your courthouse elopement years from now — you're going to step right back into it. The nerves in the elevator. The way your hand shook putting on your wedding band. The sound of "I do" in a room that's seen a hundred years of them.

Let's get into it.

How to Get Married at the Courthouse in ATX

Before the vows, before the portraits, before you're introduced as married for the very first time — there's paperwork. Not exactly the romantic part of the story, but it's the part that makes everything else legal and real. So let's get it out of the way, together.

First: your marriage license.

Head to the Travis County Clerk's Office at the Civil Family Courthouse — 1700 Guadalupe St., 4th Floor, Ste. 4.300. Open Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm. Both of you need to show up together (yes, both of you), with a valid photo ID and your social security numbers on hand. A formal marriage license runs $80, or $45 for an informal one — and if neither of you can show proof of Texas residency, there's a $100 non-resident fee added on top. Fees can shift over time, so it's worth confirming the current cost on the Travis County Clerk's site before you go.

Here's the part people forget: Texas makes you wait. Once you have your license, there's a required three-day cooling-off period before you can actually say "I do." So this isn't a same-day, spontaneous kind of errand — it's a step you plan a few days ahead, like sending out the world's smallest save-the-date. Your license is good for 90 days after that, so there's a window, not a deadline looming over you.

Now, where to actually get married.

Travis County gives you a few different options to tie the knot, and each one has its own kind of character:

• The Civil Family Courthouse (1700 Guadalupe St.) — where you got your license, and also where some judges will marry you.

• The historic Travis County Courthouse (1000 Guadalupe St., Ste. 112) — old stone, high ceilings, that unmistakable "we got married in a building with history" feeling. Some Justices of the Peace here keep flexible hours, including evenings and weekends. This is the most iconic and one I recommend.

• The Ray Martinez Office Building (4011 McKinney Falls Pkwy) — a little further from downtown, a little quieter.

Every judge runs things a little differently — some by appointment only, some welcoming walk-ins if the schedule allows — so call ahead, confirm hours, and ask about any officiant fees before you build the rest of your day around it. More on that in the next section.

Securing your marriage license is a quick errand that unlocks the whole story. Handle it early, hold onto your patience for the three-day wait, and then let the real celebration begin.

How to Schedule Your Ceremony

Here's something that surprises a lot of couples: there's no single office that assigns you a judge. Travis County has five Justice of the Peace precincts, each with its own judge, courtroom, and way of doing things. And here's the part people don't expect — you don't get assigned a precinct based on where you live. Just like your marriage license isn't tied to your address, neither is your ceremony. You're free to choose whichever Travis County Justice of the Peace feels right for you.

How it works. Each precinct that performs weddings posts its own contact info — usually a phone number or email you reach out to directly to check availability. Travis County also keeps anofficial officiant list you can review to see who's currently performing ceremonies and how to reach each one.

Where to actually choose from. All five precincts have their own courtroom, and most JPs perform ceremonies — but for that classic courthouse-elopement feel, couples are almost always choosing between the same three spots: the Civil Family Courthouse (where you'll already be for your license), the historic courthouse on Guadalupe with Precinct 5 (the best one, in my opinion), or the Ray Martinez building with Precinct 4. The other precincts exist too and may marry couples as well, so it's worth a quick call if you want to explore every option — but these three are where most Austin elopements happen.

How to choose the right one for you. This is where it gets a little more personal than paperwork usually feels. Some judges only marry couples during business hours, Monday through Friday. Others — like the Justice of the Peace at the historic courthouse — are known for being flexible with evenings, weekends, even holidays. If a Saturday morning ceremony with the golden light hitting that old stone building is the vision, that's going to point you toward a different precinct than a quick Tuesday-afternoon "let's just do this" kind of day. Ask about their courtroom, their guest limits, and whether they allow rings and vows as part of the ceremony — some precincts reserve that for weekends only. For example, to schedule with Precinct 5 (the historic courthouse), you'd call (512) 854-9049 or check theirwedding information page for current details.

Can you book before you have your license? Yes — and honestly, it's smart to. Scheduling your ceremony and picking up your license are two separate steps, so there's no reason to wait on one to start the other. Just make sure your license is in hand at least three days before your ceremony date, since most precincts won't marry you without it in that window.

How far out to book. As soon as you have a date you love, reach out. Weekends and the more flexible judges tend to fill up fastest, so if you're set on a specific day — especially in peak wedding season — give yourself a few weeks to a couple of months of lead time. If your date is more flexible, you'll have an easier time finding same-week or even same-day availability.

Once your ceremony is on the calendar, the rest of the day starts to feel real — this is the moment your elopement stops being an idea and starts being a plan.

How to Plan the Details

A courthouse elopement will never come with the eighteen-month planning spreadsheet a traditional wedding does — and that's the whole point. But less planning doesn't mean no planning. It just means every detail you choose to include is one you actually want there, not one you felt obligated to add. So before the big day, take a little time to sit down together and decide what parts of the day matter to you.

Florals. Some couples want a bouquet that feels like it was made just for them — if that's you, I can't recommend Mountain Laurel Floral enough. Others love the idea of wandering the grocery store the morning of, picking out whatever's blooming and building something with their own hands. And some skip flowers entirely, and that's beautiful too. There's no wrong answer here — just the one that feels like you.

Hair & makeup. Do you want to feel done up, glowing, camera-ready the second you walk in? Or do you want a soft, low-key morning getting ready together at home? If you're leaning toward the former, I worked with Hannah Zahner Beauty for my own wedding, and my whole group looked stunning — I'd trust her with this moment of yours in a heartbeat.

The little traditions. This is the fun part — deciding which pieces of a "real wedding" you want to fold into your elopement day. Want to cut a cake together, just the two of you? Quack's has never once let me down, and a small cake makes for the sweetest little photo moment after the ceremony. And of course — what you're wearing. Give yourself enough runway to pick out outfits and accessories that feel like you, and if anything needs alterations, book that early so it's one less thing on your mind that morning.

A gift for your partner. Some of my favorite elopement day moments are the quiet ones before the ceremony — exchanging a small gift, just between the two of you. If you want something that feels personal and handmade, Take Care Knit is who I'd go to. Mary Frances hand-embroidered a photo I'd taken of my husband early in our relationship, and I gave it to him on our wedding day. It's still one of my favorite things we own.

What happens after "I do." Don't forget to plan the celebration on the other side of the ceremony. Do you want a meal with your closest people? A staycation at a hotel, just the two of you, still in your wedding clothes? A night out dancing to celebrate being newlyweds? Whatever it is, book it in advance — the best part of eloping is that the party can look like whatever you want it to.

The beauty of a day this small is that every detail is intentional. Choose the ones that feel like you, skip the ones that don't, and let the rest of the day be simple

How to Choose the Right Photographer/Videographer

Out of everything on this list, this is the decision I'd encourage you to slow down on the most. Your license, your outfit, even your flowers — those are details. Your photographer is who you're spending the most intimate hours of your life next to, and who hands you back the documented memories that allow you to revisit this day for the rest of your lives.

Start with style. Do you find yourself drawn to images that feel dreamy, nostalgic, a little imperfect — like you're looking at a memory instead of just a photo? If that's the aesthetic pulling at you, we'd be a great fit. That's the whole reason I shoot on film — it doesn't just document your day, it makes you feel like you're stepping back into it.

One team, not a production. An elopement is supposed to be intimate — so why would you need a huge vendor team trailing behind you? I shoot photo and Super 8 video hand in hand, which means you get both without juggling multiple people, multiple contracts, multiple personalities to coordinate around your day. Just one person, there for all of it.

On video — think about what you actually want to keep. I offer Super 8 film video, which captures that same warm, nostalgic feeling as the photos — motion instead of stills, but the same soul. If you want to actually hear your vows, your "I do," the sound of the room — I offer a camcorder add-on for that. Something worth thinking through before the day: do you want to see it, or do you want to hear it too?

And don't skip personality. You are going to spend one of the most vulnerable, joyful days of your life next to this person. You should feel completely comfortable with them — not performing for a camera, just existing, in love, while someone quietly captures it. I always put my couples first. My whole goal is to create an easy, comfortable environment where you can be your most real selves — because that's when the best photos happen anyway.

And finally — local knowledge matters. I've photographed multiple courthouse elopements around Austin, so I know the spots. Not just the obvious ones every photographer sends you to, but the quieter corners, the better light, the places that make your gallery feel like yours instead of a copy of everyone else's. That's the difference between "we got married at the courthouse" and "here's our story."

Choose the person whose work makes you feel something, and who makes you feel like yourselves. Everything else falls into place from there.

How to Schedule the Big Day (Sample Timeline)

Here's a little secret about me: before I picked up a camera full-time, I worked as a scheduler for a Congressman. Building out detailed, minute-by-minute timelines is second nature to me — so even though eloping is the "scaled back" version of a wedding day, I still believe in planning it out just as intentionally. The whole point of eloping is to feel present, not rushed, and a good timeline is what makes that possible.

Below is a sample timeline from a full photo and video coverage day, just to give you a feel for how it could flow. But every couple is different, and I love sitting down with mine to build a schedule that actually fits them — whether that's a smaller package or a completely different vibe for the day.

8:00 AM — Hair and makeup begins. Early, I know — but this gives you time to get to the courthouse ahead of any lines, and it means your ceremony lands in that soft, beautiful morning light.

8:30 AM — I arrive for getting-ready photos.

9:00 AM — Head to the courthouse, leaving plenty of buffer for parking so nothing about this morning feels rushed.

9:30 AM — Arrive, get through security, check in with your paperwork.

9:45 AM — The ceremony. This is it.

10:00 AM — Photos in and around the courthouse — the steps, the architecture, that first married embrace.

10:30 AM — A photo and video session around downtown Austin, hitting some of my favorite spots.

11:15 AM — Head to brunch with your closest people.

11:25 AM — A few quick portraits with your besties before you sit down.

11:30 AM — Brunch reservation — time to celebrate, toast, and just breathe as newlyweds.

12:30 PM — Photo and video coverage wraps.

A timeline like this isn't about boxing your day into a rigid schedule — it's about protecting your morning from stress so you can actually be present for it. Let's build yours together.

FAQs

Can we bring guests to the courthouse? In most cases, yes — but it depends on which precinct and judge you choose. Some courtrooms are small and cozy, others have room for a handful of your favorite people. Just confirm guest limits when you schedule your ceremony so there are no surprises at the door.

Do we need witnesses? Not always. Texas doesn't universally require witnesses for a courthouse ceremony, but individual judges may have their own preferences. Worth a quick ask when you book — and if you'd like witnesses there for the memory of it, that's always an option too.

Can we get married the same day we get our license? Not quite — Texas requires a three-day waiting period between getting your license and your ceremony, unless you qualify for an exception. So this is a "plan a few days ahead" moment, not a same-day spontaneous one. Give yourself that little runway and it'll feel like part of the anticipation, not an inconvenience.

What if we want a bigger celebration later? So many of my couples choose to elope first and celebrate bigger down the road — and I love that for you. If that's your plan, I offer elope now, party later packages, built specifically for couples who want their intimate courthouse day fully documented and a larger wedding or reception captured whenever that day comes. Two chapters, one story, both told well.

How far in advance should we book our photographer? As soon as you have a date in mind. Elopement season books up fast, and I only take on a certain number of couples so I can be fully present for each one. If your date is flexible, reach out and let's see what's open — but if you already know when you're saying "I do," don't wait to lock it in.

Let's Tell Your Story

Your elopement doesn't need a big guest list to be one of the most important days of your life — it just needs to be documented in a way that lets you step back into it, every single time you look at it.

If you're planning your Austin courthouse elopement, I'd love to be there with you. Reach out today to check availability, talk through your vision, and start building a day that feels completely, unmistakably like you.

Let's make it beautiful.