Zero Fee Honeymoon Cash Fund
Set up your honeymoon fund on Zola.com.
Start a zero fee honeymoon cash fund on Zola.com to help fund your post wedding celebration.
How Much Does a Courthouse Wedding Cost in Washington DC?
The primary expenses for a courthouse wedding in Washington DC include:
| Marriage License | $45 |
| Marriage Ceremony | $25 |
| Photographer (optional) | $500 – $3,000+ |
The marriage license fee in Washington DC is fixed at $45 across the district. All fees must be paid in cash, credit card, check or money order made payable to “Clerk, DC Superior Court”.
Marriage License Cost in Washington DC
Getting legally married in Washington DC requires obtaining a marriage license, which has a fixed cost of $45 across the district. This fee must be paid in cash, credit card, check or money order made payable to “Clerk, DC Superior Court”. Technically, the marriage license is the only legal requirement to be considered married in Washington DC.
The $45 marriage license fee in Washington DC is one of the most affordable in the country. For comparison, marriage license fees in other major cities can be over $100.
Courthouse Wedding Ceremony Cost in Washington DC
In addition to the $45 marriage license fee, having your wedding ceremony performed at the courthouse in Washington DC carries an additional $25 charge. The ceremony takes place at the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse.
So in total, the basic costs for a courthouse wedding in Washington DC are:
$45 – Marriage license fee
$25 – Ceremony fee
= $70 total
Of course, most couples will want to memorialize the occasion with professional photos. The cost of hiring a wedding photographer in DC for a courthouse wedding typically ranges from $500 to $3,000 or more, depending on the package and hours booked.
All in, a courthouse wedding in Washington DC will cost somewhere between $70 if you just pay the basic required fees, up to $3,000 or more if you hire a photographer. This is still significantly less than the $30,000+ that the average traditional wedding costs in the DC area.
Self-Officiating Marriage License in Washington DC
One unique option for getting married in Washington DC is to “self-officiate” the wedding through what’s called a self-uniting marriage license. With this option, the couple essentially performs the ceremony themselves without an officiant.
The cost for a self-uniting marriage license in DC is the same as a regular license at $45. However, you avoid the additional $25 courthouse ceremony fee since no officiant is needed. Couples just sign the license themselves to solemnize the marriage.
So with the self-uniting option, a courthouse wedding in Washington DC can cost as little as $45 total, making it one of the most affordable places in the country to get legally married.
Final Thoughts
A courthouse wedding in Washington DC is a great option for couples looking for an affordable, simple way to make their commitment official. Between the $45 marriage license fee and the $25 courthouse ceremony fee, the total cost comes to just $70.
For that price, you can get married in one of the most iconic and historic cities in the United States. And by opting for the self-uniting marriage license, it’s possible to have a legal wedding in DC for as little as $45.
Of course, most couples will want to budget extra for a photographer to capture the moment, which brings the total cost into the $500 to $3,000+ range. But compared to a traditional wedding costing tens of thousands of dollars, a courthouse wedding in Washington DC is still a very affordable option. Simply choose the elements that are most important to you.
