New York · NYC City Clerk
Courthouse wedding in New York
Last checked: . Courthouse pages are re-checked every 3 months.
As of Oct 28, 2026, a courthouse wedding in New York costs $60 in official fees: $35 for the marriage license (NYC City Clerk) and $25 for the civil ceremony (City Clerk's office, any borough).
A full courthouse day with a dress, flowers, photos and a dinner room: about $1,555 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 NYC City Clerk. Each row links to the page it came from.
| What | The official page says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage license fee | $35Official wordingThe fee for a Marriage License is $35. | NYC311 (City of New York) read Oct 28 |
| Civil ceremony at the City Clerk's office (any borough) | $25Official wordingThe cost is $25, payable by credit/debit card or money order. | NYC311 (City of New York) read Oct 28 |
| Waiting period | 24 hours after you receive the licenseOfficial wordingThe marriage ceremony needs to take place at least 24 hours after you receive the License. | NYC311 (City of New York) read Oct 28 |
| How long the license is valid | Usually 60 days (180 days for active military)Official wordingMarriage Licenses are usually valid for 60 days. For active military personnel, the License is valid for 180 days. | NYC311 (City of New York) read Oct 28 |
| ID you bring | The same type of photo ID you used for the license: you, your spouse and a witnessOfficial wordingYou, your prospective spouse, and at least one witness must bring the same type of photo identification that was used to obtain the Marriage License. | NYC311 (City of New York) read Oct 28 |
| How to get the license / book the ceremony | Appointment only, online (Project Cupid, nyc.gov/cupid) or by phone; no walk-insOfficial wordingCity Clerk offices do not provide walk-in services. You must make an appointment online or by phone. | NYC311 (City of New York) read Oct 28 |
| Ceremony group size | No more than 6 attendees including the couple and the witnessOfficial wordingThere can be no more than 6 attendees, including you, your prospective spouse and the witness. | NYC311 (City of New York) read Oct 28 |
| Ceremony arrival hours | Arrive between 8:30 AM and 3:15 PM, Monday to FridayOfficial wordingYou, your prospective spouse, and witness should arrive between 8:30 AM and 3:15 PM, Monday through Friday. | NYC311 (City of New York) read Oct 28 |
| Witness | At least one witness over 18Official wordingAt least one witness over the age of 18 | NYC311 (City of New York) read Oct 28 |
| Marriage certificate after a City Clerk ceremony | Same dayOfficial wordingOnce the civil marriage ceremony is complete, you will get a Marriage Certificate on that same day. | NYC311 (City of New York) read Oct 28 |
| License the same day | You leave with the license the same day if your documents are completeOfficial wordingIf you provide all necessary documents, you will get a Marriage License on the same day. | NYC311 (City of New York) read Oct 28 |
| Marrying inside the 24-hour wait | A Judicial Waiver from the County Clerk, no feeOfficial wordingYou can request a Judicial Waiver from the County Clerk in the borough where you obtained your Marriage License. There is no fee. | NYC311 (City of New York) read Oct 28 |
Not shown, because no official page states it:
- The fee for a certified copy of the marriage certificate
- Appointment times and lead times (the booking system is not readable as a web page)
The steps in order
- Book your appointment: City Clerk offices take no walk-ins, so you make an appointment online through Project Cupid (nyc.gov/cupid) or by phone.
- Both of you go to a City Clerk borough office with valid photo ID and the $35 fee (card or money order); with complete documents you get the license the same day.
- Wait at least 24 hours after you receive the license before the ceremony (a judge's waiver is possible, no fee). The license is usually valid for 60 days.
- Book the City Clerk ceremony ($25) at any of the five borough offices and arrive between 8:30 AM and 3:15 PM, Monday to Friday.
- Bring the license, at least one witness over 18 and the same type of photo ID used for the license; no more than 6 attendees in all.
- After the ceremony you receive your Marriage Certificate the same day.
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 | $35 |
|---|---|
| Civil ceremony at the City Clerk's office (any borough) | $25 |
| The dress | $250BHLDN · Casey dress |
| The flowers | $150NYC Flower Pop: elopement bouquet, 8 to 10 inch, seasonal (pickup) |
| The photos | $500Erica Morris Photography: City Hall ceremony plus a 30-minute shoot |
| Room for a 10-person dinner (room only) | $595Occasions Hall (Queens Party Hall) |
| All in | $1,555 |
An example, not part of the $60 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 do you get married at a courthouse in New York City?
Make an appointment online through Project Cupid or by phone (City Clerk offices take no walk-ins), then go to a borough office with valid photo ID and the $35 fee. After the 24-hour wait, book the $25 City Clerk ceremony at any of the five borough offices and bring at least one witness over 18.
How much does a courthouse wedding cost in NYC?
As of Oct 28, 2026, the City Clerk charges $35 for the marriage license and $25 for the civil ceremony, $60 in all. Both figures come from the City's own NYC311 pages linked in the table.
How many people are allowed in a courthouse wedding in NYC?
The City Clerk's ceremony page says no more than 6 attendees, including the couple and the witness. For a bigger party, see the small-venue prices on our NYC venues page, from $595.
How quickly can I get married in NYC?
With complete documents you leave the City Clerk office with the $35 license the same day, but the ceremony must be at least 24 hours after you receive it. A judicial waiver from the County Clerk can allow a ceremony inside that wait, with no fee.
Is it cheaper to get married at a courthouse?
The City Clerk's fees total $60. The lowest price we verified for a small venue in NYC is $595 (Occasions Hall (Queens Party Hall)), so the courthouse is the cheaper start; compare 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.