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Courthouse Wedding vs Sign and Go Wedding: Comparing the Benefits

Published Wednesday, Jun. 26th, 2024


Bride and groom newlyweds walk down a city sidewalk carrying a white wedding balloon. They are young and stylish and are wearing sunglasses.
Want to dress up for a sign and go ceremony or courthouse wedding? Go for it! (Photo: Jovana Stojanovic / iStock)

Should you get hitched at City Hall or in a private Marriage License Signing Ceremony? 

 

 

Courthouse weddings are more popular than ever as a simple and affordable way to get married. With the average cost of a wedding hovering around $35,000, it’s easy to see why so many couples say ‘f*ck it’ and skip the traditional wedding in favor of a quick trip to city hall. 

 

But courthouse weddings aren’t the only affordable alternative to a traditional wedding: a lesser-known (and very sweet) option is the ‘sign and go’ license signing ceremony. 

 

The ‘sign and go’ ceremony is also known as a ‘marriage license signing ceremony,’ or a ‘make it legal’ marriage ceremony.

 

This option is just what it sounds like: you meet with a wedding officiant who confirms you want to marry, they sign your marriage license to make it legal, and then you go celebrate!

 

License-signing ceremonies are more private and personal than the courthouse variety, and can be booked for any location and any time of day you choose. 

 

So, how does a ‘sign and go’ marriage license signing ceremony compare with a courthouse wedding? Let’s take a look! 

 

 

♡ Let's Compare: 

 

Sign and Go Wedding/
License Signing Ceremony

 

City Hall or
Courthouse Wedding

 

 

Number of Guests

 

Q: How many people can come to a courthouse wedding vs a sign and go ceremony? 

 

Required witnesses; Usually 1-3 guests depending on your officiant’s guidelines

 

Required witnesses; Each courthouse makes its own rules, expect 0-10 guests allowed 

 

Witnesses provided

 

Q: How many witnesses are allowed / needed, and are they provided? 

 

You usually need to bring your own witness/es (if required); Some officiants may provide witnesses for an added fee

 

You usually need to bring your own witness/es (if required); Some offices may provide witnesses for an added fee

 

Location & Hours

Varies; Your officiant may have an established office or chapel with set hours, or they may meet you at a time and location of your choosing

 

Office at the local courthouse or city hall building during set hours; A few jurisdictions may offer virtual appointments

 

Average cost

 

Q: How much does a courthouse wedding cost vs a sign and go elopement? 

Varies by officiant: $0-150*, does not include cost of the marriage license

 

*Friends can officiate for free; professional officiants charge $100-150 on average

 

Varies by location: $30-120+, does not include cost of the marriage license






 

Unique benefits

 

Q: What are the unique benefits of a courthouse wedding vs a private elopement? 

More private and intimate; can be scheduled at any time of day or on a weekend; can be performed at any location or at home; can ask a friend or relative to officiate

 

Feels ‘official’ and you will not need to find an officiant; can file paperwork immediately after ceremony

 

 

 

 

Wait time

Varies: Depends on the marriage waiting period in your state and officiant availability

 

Varies: Depends on the marriage waiting period in your state and clerk availability

 

Marriage license

 

Q: How to prepare for a courthouse wedding vs a sign and go elopement?

 

You will need to apply for a marriage license separately before your ceremony

 

You will need to apply for a marriage license separately before your ceremony

 

Exchange Rings

 

Q: Do you exchange rings at a courthouse wedding or a sign and go ceremony?

 

Up to you! Traditional but not legally required

 

Up to you! Traditional but not legally required

 

Custom ceremony script

 

Q: What does the officiant say at a civil ceremony or elopement? 

 

No: Your officiant will read from a standard wedding script 

 

No: Your officiant will read from a standard wedding script

 

Custom written wedding vows

 

Q: Do you say vows at a courthouse wedding or a sign and go ceremony? Can you say your own vows / custom vows? 

 

Varies: Some officiants will encourage you to exchange personal vows during your license signing, others will stick with a standard declaration of intent

 

Varies: Some officials will allow you to exchange personal vows during the civil ceremony, others will stick with a standard declaration of intent

 

 

Religious or non religious

Up to you: Your officiant will read from a prewritten script, but may offer religious or nonreligious variations to choose from

 

Nonreligious: Weddings at a courthouse are civil ceremonies and usually avoid religious wording

 

 

 

Length of ceremony

 

Q: How long does does a courthouse wedding take vs a sign and go license signing? 

 

Varies; The shortest possible ceremony can be finished in just a minute or two; the average sign and go wedding lasts 5-15 minutes.

 

Varies; The average courthouse wedding / civil ceremony lasts 10-15 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bride and groom get married at courthouse, look at wedding rings

Photo: martinedoucet / iStock

Do you exchange rings at a courthouse wedding? What about a sign and go elopement? It's up to you! Exchanging wedding rings is a symbolic tradition and very common, but it's not required for a marriage ceremony to be legally binding. An increasing number of young couples are choosing not to exchange rings, or are exchanging nontradition rings instead.

 

 

So, which affordable wedding option is right for you? 

 

 

Check out the articles and scripts linked below to learn more: 

 

 

Ask a friend or relative to get ordained online to officiate your sign and go wedding! 

 

If a private sign and go wedding sounds like just what Cupid ordered, you can hire a professional wedding officiant or ask a friend to officiate! 

 

Many wedding chapels and professional wedding officiants offer affordable sign and go weddings. Las Vegas sign and go weddings are well known -- you just sign on the dotted line right at the counter! -- but these quick and easy options are popping up in cities and towns across the country. 

 

Friends and relatives can also officiate your marriage license signing ceremony! This is a great way to save money and add a personal touch to the day for couples on an extra-tight budget. Click the links below to get started: 

 

 

 

 

Bride and groom watch as their friend wedding officiant signs the marriage license

Photo: Marc Dufresne / iStock

Ask a close friend to get ordained to officiate your signing ceremony, or hire a professional officiant to do the honor. Ask your officiant how many guests you can invite, in addition to the witness requirements in your state.

 


 

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Jessica Levey
Jessica Levey

Lead Staff Writer & Illustrator

Jessica loves exploring the history and magic of ritual, the connections between people and places, and sharing true stories about love and commitment. She's an advocate for marriage equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and individuality, and is an ordained Minister with AMM. When she’s not writing or illustrating for AMM, she enjoys city hikes, fantasy novels, comics, and traveling.

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