What to Expect at a Courthouse Wedding in Houston

Note: the license and the ceremony can happen in different places

In Houston, the marriage license comes from the County Clerk, but your ceremony can take place anywhere in Texas — at a court, at a chapel like ours, or elsewhere. This guide covers what to expect either way.

Arrival and security

If your ceremony is at a courthouse, most county buildings have a security checkpoint — bags through a scanner, no weapons. Screening rules and hours vary by county building, so check the county's site and build in extra time.

Check-in

For a chapel ceremony, you'll arrive 10 minutes early, hand us your original marriage license, and we'll seat your guests. For a court ceremony, check-in and waiting arrangements are set by that court — some schedule by appointment, others fit couples in as the docket allows.

The ceremony itself

Our chapel ceremony runs 10 to 20 minutes; court ceremony length varies by court. The officiant welcomes you, leads the vow exchange, asks for the rings, pronounces you married, and signs the license. That's the entire legal requirement.

Vows

Standard vows take about 60 seconds. Personal vows take 90 seconds each, so plan an extra 3 minutes total. Let your officiant know in advance if you're writing your own — we keep a backup copy at the front in case nerves take over.

Witnesses

Texas does not require any witnesses. Bring as many or as few people as you want. Our chapel seats up to 50.

Photos

Most couples take 5–10 minutes for posed photos after the ceremony. Our chapel allows your photographer or a guest's phone — no extra fee. Photography rules at government ceremony locations vary by court.

Signing the license

The officiant signs first, the couple signs second, witnesses (if any) sign third. We mail the completed license back to the county the same week.

Leaving married

You walk out legally married. The certified marriage certificate arrives in the mail 10–14 business days later from the county.