Los Angeles · LA County Registrar-Recorder
Courthouse wedding in Los Angeles
Last checked: . Courthouse pages are re-checked every 3 months.
As of Oct 28, 2026, a courthouse wedding in Los Angeles costs $126 in official fees: $91 for the marriage license (LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk) and $35 for the civil ceremony (county office, prepaid).
A full courthouse day with a dress, flowers, photos and a dinner room: about $1,823.99 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 LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Each row links to the page it came from.
| What | The official page says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage license fee (public license) | $91Official wordingPublic Marriage License $91 | LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk read Oct 28 |
| Marriage license fee (confidential license) | $85Official wordingConfidential Marriage License $85 | LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk read Oct 28 |
| Civil ceremony at a county office (Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk) | $35Official wordingCivil Ceremony $35 | LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk read Oct 28 |
| Witness provided by the county for a civil ceremony | $20Official wordingRR/CC-Provided Witness for a Civil Ceremony $20 | LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk read Oct 28 |
| How long the license is valid | 90 daysOfficial wordingNow that you have your marriage license, which is valid for 90 days | LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk read Oct 28 |
| ID you bring | Both of you, together, with photo ID and proof of age (driver's license or passport); expired ID is not acceptedOfficial wordingAcceptable forms of I.D. are: Driver's license Passport | LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk read Oct 28 |
| Who must attend the license appointment | Both people, in person, togetherOfficial wordingboth parties must be present together and provide | LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk read Oct 28 |
| How to get the license (appointment) | Apply online, then book an in-person appointment at a county office, up to 3 weeks aheadOfficial wordingAppointments can be scheduled up to three (3) weeks in advance. | LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk read Oct 28 |
| How to book the civil ceremony | By appointment only, prepaid; the county gives no ceremony appointment until you hold your licenseOfficial wordingAll civil ceremonies are by appointment only and must be prepaid. | LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk read Oct 28 |
| Length of a civil ceremony | 15 minutesOfficial wordingAll ceremonies are scheduled for 15 minutes. | LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk read Oct 28 |
| Express ceremony (license and ceremony in one visit) | 45-minute appointment at the 7 county officesOfficial wordingAppointments are set for 45 minutes and available at all seven RR/CC branch locations. | LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk read Oct 28 |
| Main office (Norwalk): address and hours | 12400 Imperial Hwy., Norwalk, CA 90650; Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Official wordingNorwalk (Main Office) 12400 Imperial Hwy. Norwalk, CA 90650 M-F, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk read Oct 28 |
Not shown, because no official page states it:
- The waiting period (no page says in words that there is none)
- The fee for a certified copy of the marriage certificate
- Which weekdays each branch office holds ceremonies
The steps in order
- Both of you complete the county's marriage license application online, then book an in-person appointment (appointments open up to 3 weeks ahead).
- Both of you go to the appointment together with valid photo ID and pay the license fee: $91 for a public license, $85 for a confidential license.
- If you want the county to marry you, book a prepaid 15-minute civil ceremony ($35); the county only gives the ceremony appointment once you hold your license. A county-provided witness is $20, and a confidential license needs no witness.
- Marry within 90 days of getting the license.
- Return the signed license to the Norwalk office so it can be recorded.
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 (public license) | $91 |
|---|---|
| Civil ceremony at a county office (Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk) | $35 |
| The dress | $250BHLDN · Casey dress |
| The flowers | $98Hanamate Floral Design: bridal bouquet, customizable |
| The photos | $900Golden Vibes Photo: courthouse weddings, 1 hour, 10 guests or fewer |
| Room for a 10-person dinner (room only) | $449.99Lucky Wedding Day Chapel |
| All in | $1,823.99 |
An example, not part of the $126 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 a courthouse wedding cost in Los Angeles?
As of Oct 28, 2026, Los Angeles County charges $91 for a public marriage license ($85 for a confidential one) and $35 for a civil ceremony at a county office: $126 in all. A county-provided witness is $20 more.
Can you get married at the courthouse in Los Angeles?
The county marries you at its Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk offices: civil ceremonies are by appointment only, prepaid, and last 15 minutes. The county gives no ceremony appointment until you hold your license, and outside officiants are not allowed in its chapels.
How do you get a marriage license in Los Angeles County?
Both of you complete the application online, then book an in-person appointment at a county office (up to 3 weeks ahead) and go together with valid photo ID. The license costs $91 (public) or $85 (confidential) and is valid for 90 days.
Can you get married the same day in Los Angeles?
The county offers a 45-minute express appointment at all seven of its branch offices, which it describes as license and ceremony in one visit. You still need the application and the $126 in fees.
Is it cheaper to get married at a courthouse?
The county's fees total $126. The lowest small-venue price we verified in Los Angeles is $449.99 (Lucky Wedding Day Chapel), so the county office 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.