Raleigh Courthouse Weddings
Are you thinking of getting married at the Raleigh Courthouse (AKA the Wake County Justice Center? If so, I hope this guide helps - please feel free to reach out to me with any questions!
** IMPORTANT: The Wake County Justice Center briefly required appointments, but as of January 23, 2025 is no longer requiring appointments. This may change in the future, so please confirm with the Wake County Justice Center. **
The Raleigh courthouse (technically the Wake County Justice Center) is an awesome place to get married. I photograph Raleigh courthouse weddings frequently, and each time feels fresh, unique, special, and relaxed (if you’d like to view my full elopement portfolio, you can click here).
The Wake County Justice Center, where Raleigh courthouse weddings take place, is absolutely beautiful - the hallway outside the court is on the 9th floor, with giant windows overlooking the downtown Raleigh skyline. It's a beautiful spot for a few candid photos of you and your loved ones before your courthouse wedding.
The Wake County Justice Center itself has a beautiful room for your wedding or elopement - this is not just a sterile governmental office. The deep colored wood walls and benches make for great photographs, and there is plenty of room for your guests to join the proceedings.
If you're thinking of getting married at the Raleigh courthouse, you'll first call the register of deeds at 919-245-2700 to discuss the requirements for getting a marriage license. You can also visit the register of deeds website for more information, here: https://www.wakegov.com/departments-government/register-deeds
The Wake County Justice Center performs weddings Monday-Thursday from 130pm to 4pm, and Fridays from 930am - Noon & 130pm - 4pm. Friday afternoons often have a 2+ hour wait, so if you choose to get married on a Friday, I strongly encourage you to choose a morning time, or to get to the Justice Center promptly at 130pm.
Ceremonies are typically short, 5-10 minutes, and most magistrates allow you to recite your own vows if you so choose.
One of the best reasons to get married at the Raleigh courthouse is the abundance of photo opportunities nearby. While the building itself is beautiful, Nash Square is just across the street, and provides a beautiful, shaded, and green space for family and couples photos. A short walk around the nearby streets provide a number of awesome portrait opportunities - each time I photograph a couple in this area, I seem to find new spaces where we can make cool photos.
How to Get Married at the Raleigh Courthouse:
Step 1: Apply for your marriage license at the Register of Deeds (the same building as the Wake County Justice Center). You may do this in advance. You may also do it in the same day as your ceremony, but please allow at LEAST 30 extra minutes.
Step 2: Decide when you want to get married! Walk ins are accepted Monday - Thursday 130pm - 4pm, and Fridays from 930am - Noon & 130pm - 4pm.
Step 3: We’ll meet in the lobby and I’ll show you where you pay the $50 ceremony fee at the cashier’s office on the second floor.
Step 4: We’ll visit the 9th floor to see the magistrate for the ceremony, and then we’ll celebrate!
Raleigh Courthouse Wedding Alternative
If you and your partner like the idea of a Raleigh courthouse wedding, but picture having your ceremony elsewhere, my friends at Oak City Ceremonies offer a sweet and legal courthouse wedding alternative. Oak City Ceremonies offers short wedding ceremonies at Lake Lynn or Leesville Community Park (both in Raleigh) - the cost at the time of this writing is $60, which is only $10 more than you would pay at the courthouse. Rebecca & Emily are some of the best humans around, you won’t regret booking them for your ceremony!
I of course would still love to photograph your celebration, and would love to chat with you about it!
Rebecca of Oak City Ceremonies officiating a courthouse alternative wedding at Lake Crabtree in Raleigh.
Raleigh Courthouse Wedding Pricing
I believe that wedding photography should be accessible for all couples, so I keep my Raleigh courthouse wedding pricing affordable. I ask $600 for 60-75 minutes (I find that most courthouse weddings fit into this timeframe for ceremony, photographs with guests, and newlywed photos). Please note that this pricing is for Mondays - Thursdays & Friday mornings. If you are getting married at the Wake County Justice Center on a Friday afternoon, I ask $800, due to the typical long wait times (often 90+ minutes to see a magistrate) on Friday afternoons.
If you are eloping on the weekend, please contact me for a custom quote.
If you’d like portraits in multiple locations, or if you’re potentially having a small reception like a lunch or brunch, I’m happy to offer you a custom quote.
If a stress-free wedding at the Wake County Courthouse in downtown Raleigh sounds like your speed, I'd love to chat with you about the process, and would love to be your photographer!