Short answer: you don't need a $40,000 wedding to be married. A courthouse wedding in Orlando costs very little. You can still dress up, bring your closest people and get photos you'll love, and then have the big celebration a year or two later, when you can pay for it without debt or family strings. For a lot of couples, it's the smartest move they'll make.
Why more couples should do this
Everybody wants the beautiful wedding. I do this for a living, so trust me, I love a beautiful wedding. But I've also seen what happens when couples stretch for a day they can't afford:
- They borrow, or take money that comes with conditions.
- They cut the things that matter, like photos, to pay for the things that don't.
- They spend the first year of marriage paying off one night.
Your marriage is the foundation. The party is the celebration of it. There's nothing wrong with building the foundation first.
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What a courthouse wedding costs in Orlando
The Orange County Clerk of Courts handles marriage licenses and ceremonies. At the time of writing, their site lists:
- Marriage license: $86, or $61 if you complete a premarital preparation course.
- Ceremony at the clerk's office: $30.
- Waiting period: Florida residents who skip the premarital course wait 3 days after the license is issued. Taking the course removes the wait and saves you money.
- Your license is good for 60 days, anywhere in Florida.
Fees change, so check myorangeclerk.com before you go. Ceremonies there are first come, first served once your license is in order.
How to make it feel like your day
A courthouse wedding doesn't have to feel like running an errand.
- Dress for it. Wear the dress, the suit or your traditional outfit. You'll look at these photos forever.
- Bring your people. Parents, siblings, best friends. Keep it small and meaningful.
- Plan the hour after. Portraits downtown or at a park, then a nice lunch or dinner with your family.
- Hire a photographer for an hour or two. This is the one thing I'd spend on. The day goes fast, and your phone won't catch your mom's face when you say "I do." I photograph courthouse weddings, starting at $750 to $1,200 depending on the location and how far I'm driving from Orlando.
- Write your own words. Even if the ceremony is short, say something to each other that's yours.
Then plan the reception, on your terms
Once you're married, the pressure is off. Now you can plan the celebration the right way:
- Save first, then book. Give yourselves a year or two.
- Do the traditions properly. If your families want a Hindu ceremony, a church blessing or the full weekend with the maticoor (matikor), haldi and reception, you can plan it without rushing.
- Keep control. When you pay for it yourselves, it stays your celebration. (More on that in Who Pays for the Wedding Gets a Say.)
- Celebrate a milestone. Some couples hold the reception on their first anniversary. It gives the night a story.
Is a courthouse wedding "less" of a wedding?
No. It's the same marriage. The certificate doesn't know how many guests came. What matters is that you start your life together on solid ground, and that you have the memories to show for it.
Common questions
How much does a courthouse wedding cost in Orlando? At the Orange County Clerk, the marriage license is listed at $86 ($61 with a premarital course) and the ceremony at $30. Check the clerk's website for current fees.
Is there a waiting period to get married in Florida? Florida residents wait 3 days after the license is issued unless they complete a premarital preparation course. Check with the clerk for the current rules.
Can we have a reception a year after a courthouse wedding? Yes. Many couples get legally married first and hold the reception, or their religious or cultural ceremony, months or years later.
Should we hire a photographer for a courthouse wedding? If there's one thing to spend on, it's this. An hour or two of coverage captures the ceremony, your family and portraits afterward.