Planning Your Chicago Courthouse Wedding: A Chicago City Hall Wedding Guide
My photography is for people who are unapologetically themselves. The ones who aren’t planning a wedding for tradition, timelines, or anyone else’s expectations. They’re doing it for them. Honestly, those are my favorite days to photograph. The days that give your quirky little personality room to breathe. And as a Chicago elopement photographer, I can tell you firsthand that it changes everything about how your photos feel. If that kinda day sounds like your dream, a Chicago courthouse wedding just might be right up your alley. Because trust me: Chicago City Hall has this effortlessly cool energy that feels cinematic without trying. And if you’re here, I already know that’s your vibe.
Nathan and Emma’s Chicago City Hall wedding is bringing all the inspiration you’ll need for your day, and I’m bringing you every little tiny piece of information you’ll need to get married at Chicago City Hall, so that by the end of this post, your vision and plans will be crystal clear!
Planning a Chicago Courthouse Wedding: All the Deets You Need
While elopements are definitely easier to plan than big weddings are, there are details you need to make sure to know in advance. But don’t fret! This is just the part where I step in and make sure you’re not Googling at midnight the night before your wedding.
The Step-by-Step Guide to Planning Your Chicago City Hall Wedding
- Get your marriage license
While the aesthetic side of planning is way more fun, the legal part is still important. First step: your marriage license. You can start your application for it here, then head to the courthouse with your IDs and a $60 fee. Note: You have to get your marriage license at least one day before your ceremony, then it’s valid for up to 60 days!
- Head to Chicago City Hall
There’s something kind of iconic about walking into Chicago City Hall knowing you’re about to get married. It’s casual, it’s intimate, and it somehow still feels like a big moment.
The Chicago City Hall makes it easy because you don’t have to schedule an appointment for your civil ceremony. Just show up sometime Tuesday through Friday between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm, or 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Note that ceremonies during the week are first-come, first-served, so plan ahead! For my clients, I always recommend going as early as possible. Like, when they first open. I mean, who doesn’t want to start their day off with getting married?!
If you’d prefer a Saturday wedding, those are available too, but they do require appointments! Call ahead to reserve your spot for a Saturday between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm. Saturdays are the busiest days for ceremonies, by far, so reserve as early as possible.
Ceremonies are held at the Chicago Courthouse (119 W. Randolph St. (Lower Level)), and will cost you $10, so be sure to bring that with you!
Where to Take Chicago Courthouse Wedding Photos
City Hall? Jam-packed with awesome photo-ops. If you love texture, artful settings, and nostalgic vibes, you’ll love it here. The architecture is bold and timeless, the arched windows feel straight out of an old film still, and the marble staircases? Editorial gold.
But take it from your Chicago elopement photographer: don’t sleep on the photos you get when you’re heading to and leaving Chicago City Hall. Some of my favorite photos happen in between. Crossing the street. Walking down the sidewalk. Catching your reflection in a window. Those unscripted moments always end up being the most romantic and the most you.
Where to Stay for Your Chicago City Hall Wedding
There’s just something about staying in a hotel (even if you live in the city) that elevates your day just a little more. Plus, staying somewhere that lets you walk over to City Hall eliminates travel stress. No traffic? Sign me UP.
One of my personal favorite parts of elopement days as a Chicago elopement photographer is when couples choose to get ready together. It’s so romantic, and it hits every single time. The hotel gives you an opportunity to do that, too, and get some adorable AF pictures while you’re at it.
Here are some hotels I always recommend to my couples that are close to City Hall:
How to Celebrate Your Chicago Courthouse Wedding
There’s no right way to celebrate. If it feels like you, it counts. Period.
So whether it looks like snuggling up on the couch to watch your favorite movie or throwing a huge party, no elopement is complete without a proper celebration. Here are some of my favorite off-beat ways I see my couples celebrate their Chicago elopements that I can never get enough of:
- Confetti outside of the courthouse – a must, seriously
- Popping into a diner – there’s something about the two of you sharing greasy chicken fingers that gets me every time
- Hitting up a nice restaurant or bar with your favorite people – I personally love Francios Frankie Carousel Bar
FAQs About Planning a Chicago Courthouse Wedding
Have more questions? Here are the answers to common questions that my Chicago courthouse wedding couples ask me ALL the time:
What Should I Wear to My Chicago Elopement?
Elopement outfits are where personality really gets to shine. This is your chance to wear something that feels like you, not something you think you’re supposed to wear.
Short dresses, jumpsuits, bold color moments, vintage-inspired pieces. If you love it, it belongs on your wedding day. Here are a few looks I’m quite literally obsessed with for a Chicago City Hall wedding:
- Elaine by Watters + Madison Chamberlain’s Light Blue Bow Veil + The Dolce Vita Parlo Heels in Light Blue Satin = my jaw on the floor.
- The Hutch Buttondown Two-Piece Set is serving vintage goodness.
- Grace by Jenny Yoo for the simple, elegant look of dreams.
What’s the Best Time of Year to Get Married at Chicago City Hall?
Early spring is the peak Chicago Courthouse wedding time. It’s early enough in the year to beat the crowds, but not so early that you’ll freeze while you’re walking over there. It also gives us fresh blooms, gorg lighting for pictures, and slightly longer days, if we’re keeping the party going.
What’s the Best Time of Day to Get Married at Chicago City Hall?
Since ceremonies are first-come, first-served, I always tell my couples to go right when they open. Lines and wait times vary, but as a Chicago elopement photographer, I usually find that we have the most luck getting there as early as possible.
How Much Does a Chicago Courthouse Wedding Cost?
For just the marriage license and the ceremony fee, you’ll need to set aside $70. Adding on vendors, hotels, attire, and food will, of course, add more to the total, but a courthouse wedding is a lovely, budget-friendly option!
Should You Choose a Courthouse Wedding? (The Short Answer: Yeah, Probably)
If you’re still wondering if a Chicago Courthouse wedding is right for you, the answer is most likely. If you’re reading this, you’re probably someone who’s dreaming of a wedding that’s equal parts fun and beautiful, but most of all, something that feels like you.
A Chicago Courthouse wedding is for the couple who is all about breaking rules. The couple that wants their elopement photos to feel authentic, nostalgic, and editorial. The couple that’s way more focused on the things that actually matter (that you’re literally starting forever with the love of your life!!!) than planning the Pinterest-perfect wedding.
So, if that sounds like you, let’s do it.
Nathan and Emma’s Romantic AF Chicago City Hall Wedding
Nathan and Emma were that couple. And their day was so perfectly them. They weren’t scared of a little bit of personality, and it set their day (and their gallery) apart. It paved the way for me to capture their day with just the right amount of emotional storytelling and just the right amount of nostalgia.
These two started off the day getting ready together in their hotel room, and I could cry every time I look at these photos. You can feel the excitement just from looking at these. Them jumping on the bed together?? Literally kicking my feet behind the camera.
They said their private vows in their hotel room in the most simple, romantic way, and yes, I was crying. It was a moment filled with so much love that lives rent-free in my brain. These pictures are exactly why I do what I do.
Then, we headed to the courthouse for them to exchange vows, say “I do,” and officially begin their forever. The day wouldn’t have been complete without photos in City Hall (duh), and a quick celebration right outside with tons of snuggles from their son. So cute.
Wren and Rose Photography | Chicago Elopement Photographer
Ready to plan your Chicago Courthouse wedding? Just know that you’re not alone. As your Chicago elopement photographer, I’m a pro at planning a city hall wedding, and I’ll be there with you every step of the way, making sure your day feels true to who you are.
Let’s plan a day that’s intimate and full of personal touches, a little retro or kitschy, and grounded in emotion at the Chicago Courthouse. You can inquire about booking me right here!
Find more elopement inspiration on my Pinterest, and check out these other blogs while you’re here:
A Sweet and Simple Courthouse Wedding at Kane County Courthouse
Chicago Engagement Photos in Chicago Chinatown for Artsy, Non-Traditional Couples
Portrait and Wedding Photographer Based in Chicago, IL for the rad souls and the wildly in love.
