Courthouse Weddings · Los Angeles

The courthouse is ten minutes. The memory should last forever.

Photography and film for LA courthouse weddings, from $1,500. Your ceremony, then golden hour portraits anywhere in the city, captured by one team.

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Why hire a photographer for a courthouse wedding

Most courthouse couples book zero media. Then they wish they had.

A courthouse wedding is still your wedding. The nervous laugh in the hallway, the moment the officiant says the words, the walk out into the sunlight as married people. Those happen exactly once, and a phone in a friend's hand rarely does them justice.

We cover the ceremony discreetly, then take you somewhere beautiful for an unhurried portrait session, the palm streets of Beverly Hills, a downtown rooftop, or straight to the coast for golden hour. Four hours of coverage means the whole story fits: about 50 hand-retouched photos, and if you book photo + film together, a scored 60 to 90 second wedding film too.

How a courthouse wedding works in LA County

  1. Book a marriage license appointment with the LA County Registrar-Recorder and appear together with photo ID.
  2. Have a civil ceremony the same day at select county offices, or take your license, valid 90 days, and hold your own small ceremony anywhere in California.
  3. Popular ceremony sites: Beverly Hills Courthouse, the Norwalk Registrar HQ, Van Nuys, and Grand Park ceremonies downtown by City Hall.

We help you plan the timing so your ceremony slot and your portrait light line up in one easy afternoon.

Courthouse pricing

One collection covers it all

The Elopement collection is built for courthouse days: ceremony plus a second-location portrait session, four hours total. Reserve with 33% down.

Photography
from$1,500
4 hours · 1 shooter · ceremony + portraits

~50 hand-retouched photos in an online gallery, sneak peek within the first week.

Best value
Photo + Film
from$2,700
4 hours · 1 shooter · ceremony + portraits

~50 photos plus a scored 60 to 90 second wedding film, one team for both. Film only from $1,700.

Add-ons: drone $400 · 60s social reel $300 · rush delivery $400. Having a reception later? See full-day collections →

Limited · August only

Golden Hour August

Marrying at the courthouse this August? Six weekday dates, Monday through Thursday: the full Elopement collection, photo and film together, plus your 60 second social reel included and a sneak peek within 72 hours. $2,400 flat. $800 holds your date.

Claim an August date
After the I do

Ceremony there, portraits anywhere

The pairings our couples love most.

Beverly Hills Courthouse → palm streets + gardensThe classic. Clean ceremony backdrop, then ten minutes to the most photogenic streets in the city.
Grand Park / City Hall → DTLA rooftopsCivic grandeur into skyline. The Arts District murals are minutes away for something looser.
Van Nuys → Lake Balboa or the hillsCherry blossoms in spring at Lake Balboa, golden grass hills the rest of the year.
Any courthouse → the coast at golden hourSign at noon, toast at sunset on the Malibu bluffs. The full elopement feel in one afternoon.

Want the full just-us treatment instead? See LA elopement photography.

Good to know

Courthouse questions, answered

How much does a courthouse wedding photographer cost in LA?
From $1,500 for photography, $1,700 for film, or $2,700 for both together by one team, with about 50 finished photos and a scored wedding film. Four hours covers the ceremony plus a real portrait session after.
Can you photograph inside during the ceremony?
Yes. LA County civil ceremonies allow guests, and photographers can shoot discreetly without flash. We have done it before and keep it invisible so you stay in the moment.
Which courthouse should we pick?
Beverly Hills is the favorite for looks and location. Norwalk and Van Nuys are easier appointments. Honestly, the portrait location afterward shapes your gallery far more than the ceremony room, and we help you choose both.
How far in advance should we book?
Courthouse dates move fast because license appointments set the schedule. Two to six weeks ahead is typical, and we can often cover shorter notice on weekdays. Send your date for a same-day availability answer.
What should we wear?
Whatever feels like you, from a suit and tea-length dress to full gown. Light, warm tones photograph beautifully in LA sun. Once you book we send a short guide with what reads best on camera.
Can our families come along?
Of course. The Elopement collection comfortably covers a handful of guests at the ceremony and a family photo round before your couple portraits. For anything resembling a small reception, look at micro wedding coverage.
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Tell us about your day

Share a few details and we'll reply with availability, our full pricing guide, and times for a relaxed, no-pressure call.

Courthouse coverage from $1,500 · payment plans · goldenglowweddings.com