Chicago · Cook County Clerk
Courthouse wedding in Chicago
Last checked: . Courthouse pages are re-checked every 3 months.
As of Oct 28, 2026, a courthouse wedding in Chicago costs $70 in official fees: $60 for the marriage license (Cook County Clerk) and $10 for the civil ceremony (Circuit Court of Cook County, an administrative fee).
A full courthouse day with a dress, flowers, photos and a dinner room: about $1,970 all in
Every figure below is the official page's own wording, with its link and the day we read it.
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The fees and the steps, from the official pages
Copied word for word from Cook County Clerk. Each row links to the page it came from.
| What | The official page says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage license fee | $60Official wordingPay the marriage license fee of $60. | Cook County Clerk read Oct 28 |
| Civil ceremony at the courthouse (Circuit Court of Cook County, Marriage and Civil Union Court; the fee is the court's, not the Clerk's) | $10administrative feeOfficial wordingA valid marriage or civil union license and a $10 administrative fee are required. | Circuit Court of Cook County read Oct 28 |
| Waiting period | 1 day: the license takes effect 1 day after it is issuedOfficial wordingEffective 1 day after issuance. | Cook County Clerk read Oct 28 |
| How long the license is valid | 60 days from the date of issuanceOfficial wordingValid for 60 days from the date of issuance. | Cook County Clerk read Oct 28 |
| ID you bring | Valid photo ID with proof of age (one form, or a combination of two)Official wordingPresent valid identification with proof of age. | Cook County Clerk read Oct 28 |
| How to get the license | Both partners go together to a Clerk's Vital Records office; downtown is 118 N. Clark St., Room 120. The application can be started online first.Official wordingAll couples must appear together at one of the Clerk’s locations for marriage licenses. | Cook County Clerk read Oct 28 |
| Where the civil ceremony happens in Chicago | Marriage and Civil Union Court, 119 W. Randolph St. (lower level), a Cook County judge marries you; no prior scheduling for in-person ceremoniesOfficial wordingIn-person ceremonies are held at 119 W. Randolph St. | Circuit Court of Cook County read Oct 28 |
| Ceremony booking in Chicago | No appointment for an in-person ceremonyOfficial wordingFor those interested in an in-person marriage or civil union, no prior scheduling is required. | Circuit Court of Cook County read Oct 28 |
| Ceremony days and hours in Chicago (in person) | Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.Official wordingCeremonies are held Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. | Circuit Court of Cook County read Oct 28 |
| Saturday ceremonies in Chicago | Saturdays 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., by appointment onlyOfficial wordingSaturdays 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. By Appointment Only | Circuit Court of Cook County read Oct 28 |
| Return the signed license | Within 10 days after the ceremony, by mail or in personOfficial wordingMust be returned to the Cook County Clerk's Office within 10 DAYS after the ceremony, by mail or in person | Cook County Clerk read Oct 28 |
| Certified copy of the marriage certificate | $15and $4 for each additional copyOfficial wordingCertified legal copies of marriage records are $15 and $4 for each additional copy. | Cook County Clerk read Oct 28 |
Not shown, because no official page states it:
- Whether witnesses are required
- The Clerk's downtown opening hours
- Whether the Chicago courtroom takes cash only
The steps in order
- Both of you go together to a Cook County Clerk Vital Records office (downtown: 118 N. Clark St., Room 120), with valid ID showing proof of age; you can start the application online first.
- Sign the application and pay the $60 marriage license fee; the license is issued while you wait.
- Wait 1 day: the license takes effect 1 day after it is issued and is valid for 60 days, for ceremonies in Chicago and suburban Cook County only.
- Get married with your own officiant, or in person before a Cook County judge at the Marriage and Civil Union Court, 119 W. Randolph St. (lower level), Tuesday to Friday, no appointment; bring the license, ID and the $10 administrative fee.
- Make sure the signed license is returned to the Clerk within 10 days after the ceremony; a certified copy of the certificate is $15.
Make it feel like a wedding, for less
The license is the legal part. Here is one real find in each category couples still buy for a courthouse day, each from its own page and dated.
Your courthouse wedding, all in
| Marriage license fee | $60 |
|---|---|
| Civil ceremony at the courthouse (Circuit Court of Cook County, Marriage and Civil Union Court; the fee is the court's, not the Clerk's) | $10 |
| The dress | $250BHLDN · Casey dress |
| The flowers | $200Flowers for Dreams: bridal bouquet, white and cream (self-service shop) |
| The photos | $1,050The Adri Photo Co.: courthouse and small-ceremony coverage, 2 hours |
| Room for a 10-person dinner (room only) | $400Garfield Park Conservatory: Jensen Room |
| All in | $1,970 |
An example, not part of the $70 answer above: the official fees plus one real find per category from the cards. It is a sum of dated listings, not a quote; prices change.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to get married in a Chicago courthouse?
As of Oct 28, 2026, the Cook County Clerk charges $60 for the marriage license and the Circuit Court of Cook County asks a $10 administrative fee for an in-person civil ceremony: $70 in all. Certified copies of the marriage certificate are extra ($15, and $4 for each additional copy).
Where do you get married at the courthouse in Chicago?
In-person civil ceremonies are held at the Marriage and Civil Union Court, 119 W. Randolph St. (lower level), where a Cook County judge marries you. You first get the license at a Clerk's Vital Records office; downtown it is 118 N. Clark St., Room 120.
What days can you get married at the courthouse in Chicago?
In person, Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., plus Saturdays 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. by appointment only. Virtual (Zoom) ceremonies are on Mondays, by appointment.
How long does it take to get married at the courthouse in Chicago?
The Clerk issues the license while you wait, but it takes effect 1 day after it is issued, so the earliest ceremony is the next day (the license is valid for 60 days). The court takes no appointment for an in-person ceremony Tuesday to Friday; arrive no later than 30 minutes before closing.
Is it cheaper to get married at a courthouse?
The official fees here total $70. The lowest small-venue price we verified in Chicago is $400 (Garfield Park Conservatory: Jensen Room), so the courthouse is the cheaper start; see both pages before you decide.
Every price on this page links to the page it came from and shows the day we read it. No affiliate links: we earn nothing from these sellers or venues. How we check.