How to Get Married at the 1910 Harris County Courthouse in Houston
If you're dreaming about an intimate Houston courthouse wedding, the Historic 1910 Harris County Courthouse is one of my favorite places to photograph one.
I've photographed several weddings here, and it's easy to understand why couples love it. The historic architecture, marble interior, beautiful rotunda and courthouse exterior give a small wedding an elegant setting without requiring a traditional wedding venue.
But there's one thing that causes a lot of confusion:
You do not book your wedding ceremony through the 1910 Harris County Courthouse.
The courthouse is a public-access, working government building. You arrange your ceremony with your own officiant, and the courthouse may be used for weddings during permitted times and subject to courthouse operations.
Because it is an active government building, access and wedding policies can change. Court business always takes priority.
Here's what I recommend knowing before planning your 1910 Harris County Courthouse wedding.
Where Is the 1910 Harris County Courthouse?
The Historic 1910 Harris County Courthouse is located at:
301 Fannin Street
Houston, Texas 77002
It's in downtown Houston, which makes it convenient for continuing your wedding day with portraits, lunch or dinner at another location afterward.
There is covered public parking nearby at 1019 Congress Street, along with paid street parking and several surface lots within a few blocks.
I always recommend giving yourself plenty of extra time for downtown traffic, parking and courthouse security rather than planning to arrive immediately before your ceremony.
How Do You Book a Wedding at the 1910 Courthouse?
This is probably the question I receive most often.
You don't make a wedding reservation with the courthouse itself. Instead, you arrange your ceremony with an officiant.
Some officiants regularly perform ceremonies at the 1910 Courthouse and are familiar with the building's current procedures.
Officiants I recommend include:
- Judge Jay Karahan
- Weddings by Ingrid
- Twin Flames of Texas
- Your own ordained minister or other qualified officiant
Contact your officiant directly to discuss availability, ceremony time, fees and current courthouse access.
I've found that having an officiant who is familiar with the courthouse can make planning much easier because the building operates differently from a traditional wedding venue.
Can You Get Married Inside the 1910 Harris County Courthouse?
Yes, when the building and rotunda are available for wedding ceremonies.
The beautiful second-floor lobby rotunda is the indoor location most couples have in mind when they see photographs of weddings at the 1910 Courthouse.
However, this is extremely important:
An indoor ceremony is never something I would consider guaranteed.
The 1910 Courthouse is a working government building. Courthouse officials have sole authority over public use of the building, and court proceedings or other government business can affect access without much notice.
You may arrive planning for a ceremony inside the rotunda and find that your ceremony needs to take place outside instead.
That's why I recommend approaching a courthouse wedding with a little flexibility.
The good news is that the exterior of the courthouse is beautiful too.
What Happens if You Have to Get Married Outside?
An outdoor ceremony at the courthouse can still be absolutely beautiful.
The historic exterior, columns, steps and downtown architecture provide a classic Houston backdrop. If weather changes the plan, there is also a covered exterior landing that photographs beautifully and can provide some protection from rain.
I've photographed enough weddings to know that Plan B doesn't have to feel like a lesser version of the wedding you planned. Sometimes it creates photographs and moments you never would have expected.
If your heart is absolutely set on the indoor rotunda, though, understand before booking that courthouse operations ultimately determine whether it is available.
Can You Get Married Inside a Courtroom?
This is another area where older information and photographs online can be misleading.
Weddings inside an actual courtroom are not currently available to the general public at the 1910 Harris County Courthouse.
The third-floor balcony, interior marble stairs and elevator are also restricted for wedding photography.
You'll still have plenty of beautiful photography opportunities in the permitted areas of the rotunda and around the courthouse exterior.
Because rules can change, I recommend confirming current restrictions with your officiant shortly before your wedding rather than relying on photographs or blog posts from several years ago.
Photography Rules Inside the Courthouse
Photography is permitted in approved areas, but photographers need to respect the fact that this is a functioning courthouse rather than a private wedding venue.
- Flash photography is not permitted inside.
- The interior can also be challenging to photograph because of the available light and restrictions on where photographers may stand and move.
- This is one reason experience at the courthouse helps. I know that I need to arrive prepared to photograph the ceremony without flash and work within the areas courthouse officials allow us to use.
- Photography on the elevator, interior marble stairs and upstairs balcony is currently prohibited.
- Fortunately, the courthouse exterior and surrounding downtown area give us plenty of additional opportunities for portraits.
How Many Guests Can You Have at a 1910 Courthouse Wedding?
The courthouse limits the number of people permitted for wedding ceremonies, and those limits can change. Your couple, guests and photographer may all count toward the total.
I strongly recommend confirming the current guest limit with your officiant shortly before your wedding rather than planning around a number you found online.
The intimate nature of the courthouse is part of what makes weddings here so special anyway. It's best suited for couples who want their ceremony surrounded by only the people closest to them.
The intimate nature of the courthouse is part of what makes weddings here so special anyway. It's best suited for couples who want their ceremony surrounded by only the people closest to them.
Getting Your Harris County Marriage License
Your ceremony at the courthouse and your marriage license are two separate things.
You'll need to obtain your Texas marriage license before the wedding. If you're getting your license through Harris County, both applicants can apply through one of the Harris County Clerk's locations with valid identification.
The standard Harris County marriage-license fee is currently $81, although circumstances can affect the fee.
Texas also generally has a 72-hour waiting period after the marriage license is issued before the ceremony can take place, and the license must be used within 90 days.
After your ceremony, the signed license needs to be returned to the County Clerk for recording.
Always check the Harris County Clerk's current requirements before applying, since fees and policies can change.
How Much Does a 1910 Courthouse Wedding Cost?
One of the benefits of a courthouse wedding is that you can choose where to spend your wedding budget rather than paying for all of the elements of a large traditional wedding.
Your primary expenses may include:
- Marriage license: currently about $81 through Harris County
- Officiant: generally around $300–$595+, depending on the officiant, date and ceremony
- Photography: my 1910 Courthouse wedding photography coverage is currently $795
- Flowers, attire, hair and makeup: completely up to you
- Celebration afterward: anything from brunch for two to a private dinner with family
Be sure to verify current officiant pricing directly, since each officiant sets their own rates.
You can keep the day beautifully simple or add flowers, professional hair and makeup, an incredible outfit and a special dinner afterward. That's one of the things I love about courthouse weddings—you get to decide what actually matters to you.
Where Should You Get Ready?
You don't need a traditional bridal suite for a courthouse wedding.
Many couples get ready at home or choose a downtown Houston hotel so they're already close to the courthouse.
Nearby options include The Lancaster Hotel, Hotel ICON and Magnolia Hotel Houston.
A hotel can also give us an additional photography location before the ceremony, particularly if you want getting-ready photographs, details or a first look.
Just remember to leave more transportation time than you think you'll need. Downtown Houston traffic, construction and parking aren't things I want determining whether you make it to your ceremony on time.
What Does a 1910 Courthouse Wedding Day Look Like?
Your day doesn't have to be complicated.
A typical courthouse wedding might look something like this:
- Get ready at home or a downtown hotel.
- Allow plenty of time to park and go through courthouse security.
- Meet your officiant.
- Have your ceremony in the rotunda if it's available—or outside if necessary.
- Photograph family and friends immediately afterward.
- Take newlywed portraits around the courthouse and downtown Houston.
- Then head somewhere wonderful for lunch, dinner or a small reception.
That's it.
You can have a meaningful wedding day without turning it into a 10-hour production.
Where Can We Take Wedding Photos After the Ceremony?
This is one of my favorite parts of photographing a 1910 Courthouse wedding.
The courthouse itself gives us beautiful historic architecture, but we aren't limited to one backdrop.
Depending on your timeline, we can walk through nearby downtown streets for more modern city photographs or head to another Houston location entirely.
I've photographed enough weddings and couples around Houston that I can help you choose portrait locations based on the look you want rather than simply taking the same photographs everyone else has.
You could also pair your ceremony with a private meal or reception afterward, turning a short courthouse ceremony into a complete Houston micro wedding.
What Does a 1910 Courthouse Wedding Look Like?
One of the reasons I love photographing weddings at the 1910 Harris County Courthouse is how much variety we can create in a relatively small area.
The historic exterior, columns and downtown streets give us several different looks without spending a large part of your wedding day traveling between locations. When the permitted interior areas are available, the marble and architecture inside give the gallery an entirely different feel.
I've photographed several weddings and elopements here, and no two have looked exactly the same. Some couples keep the entire celebration incredibly simple, while others use the courthouse as the starting point before heading somewhere else in Houston for additional portraits, dinner or a small reception.
If you're trying to picture what your own courthouse wedding could look like, you can see a few real weddings I've photographed at the 1910 Courthouse below.
Do You Need a Wedding Planner for a Courthouse Wedding?
Not necessarily.
For a very simple courthouse wedding, you may only need your marriage license, officiant and photographer.
If you're adding florals, transportation, a private dinner, additional locations or more elaborate details, a planner can certainly make the experience easier.
What I wouldn't do is add vendors simply because you think a wedding is supposed to have them.
One of the best things about an elopement or micro wedding is the freedom to choose what actually matters to you.
A beautiful bouquet? Absolutely.
Professional hair and makeup? Wonderful if it makes you feel great.
A 100-person reception because that's what weddings are supposed to have? Not unless that's what you genuinely want.
Is the 1910 Harris County Courthouse Good for an Elopement or Micro Wedding?
I think it's one of Houston's best options for exactly that.
The courthouse works particularly well for couples who want:
- A small, intimate ceremony
- Historic architecture
- Beautiful wedding photographs
- A downtown Houston location
- A shorter wedding day
- The freedom to celebrate somewhere else afterward
I've photographed several weddings at the 1910 Harris County Courthouse, and each couple has made the experience their own.
Some couples keep things incredibly simple. Others add beautiful attire, flowers, family, portraits around Houston and an intimate reception or dinner afterward.
Both approaches work.
1910 Harris County Courthouse Wedding Photography
If you're planning a wedding at the 1910 Harris County Courthouse, photography coverage is currently $795.
Because I'm familiar with the courthouse, I can also help you think through the photography side of your timeline—when to arrive, what happens if the rotunda isn't available, where we can photograph inside, where to take portraits outside and how to make the most of the time we have together.
My approach is relaxed and guided. I'll give you direction when you need it without turning your courthouse wedding into an extended photoshoot.
Most importantly, I'll document the ceremony and the people who came to celebrate with you.
If you're planning a 1910 Courthouse wedding, elopement or intimate Houston wedding, I'd love to hear what you're planning.
See real weddings at the 1910 Courthouse here:
Intimate Houston 1910 Courthouse Elopement | Clean & Modern Micro Wedding
From "I Will" to "I Do": A Stunning Elopement at the Historic 1910 Harris County Courthouse
1910 Courthouse Wedding Photography: A Houston Elopement at the Historic Harris County Courthouse
