What to Expect at a Courthouse Wedding in Houston

Note: most 'courthouse weddings' don't actually happen at the courthouse

In Houston, the marriage license comes from the courthouse but the ceremony itself usually happens elsewhere — most often at a chapel like ours. This guide covers what to expect either way.

Arrival and security

If you're at the actual Harris County courthouse, expect a security checkpoint. Belts off, bags through the scanner, no pocket knives, no firearms. Build in 20 extra minutes.

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 JP courthouse ceremony, you'll wait in a hallway with other couples until the judge calls you.

The ceremony itself

A standard ceremony — JP or chapel — runs 10 to 20 minutes. 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.

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.