I bet if you have found yourself here, you’re baffled at the cost of weddings these days. The average Austin wedding is $50,000! If a traditional wedding day doesn’t sound appealing, a courthouse elopement at Travis County Courthouse in Austin might just be for you! Get hitched and make a day that centers around YOU and your LOVE, not anyone or anything else. As long as you two are happy, nothing else matters. It’s only $280 for total marriage fees at the courthouse, so you really don’t need much to make the experience your own.
Let’s dive into the process so you’re equipped to plan the most perfect courthouse elopement:
Get Your Marriage License
This is the absolute first step in how to elope at the Travis County Courthouse. Texas marriage licenses require a 3 day wait before you can get married and sign it. Get your license more than 3 days out from your wedding day. BUT it also is only valid 90 days, so make sure your ceremony takes place before that time period too.
Complete a marriage license application, make an appointment, and go to the Travis County Clerk’s office to get your license. Bring your drivers license, birth certificate or passport and $80.
Once you have a marriage license, you can make an appointment at the courthouse to have a ceremony!
Schedule Courthouse Ceremony
With your *official* marriage license in hand, now it’s time to get the ceremony scheduled! THIS is the list of all the Judges who perform ceremonies. Each judge has a different fee, and some charge more on weekends, but generally it’s $200 for a weekday appointment.
Hire an Elopement Photographer
Preserving your elopement at Travis County Courthouse is not something I would skip. I’m biased as your Austin elopement photographer, but you won’t regret having photos to freeze this precious moment in time! If you’re including friends and family, capturing their joy on your wedding day is priceless too. Once you have your date, hire an elopement photographer (like me!) to capture your day. And I mean, get an ELOPEMENT photographer – not a wedding, family, or “cousin who has a nice camera” photographer. A specialized elopement photographer can help guide your planning and timeline of the day, so you’re confident and less stressed. They’ll know how to run the day as well as taking great photos.
Plan outfits and coordinate post-ceremony plans
To keep it ultimate cost friendly, you don’t need to buy anything new or plan on a fancy dinner or post-ceremony outing. But! If you’re wanting to make this day feel special, getting a nice suit and dress, short veil, and reserving space at a restaurant for social celebration may help make the day feel different than any other. I love Lulus, Azazie, or Asos for more casual bridal dress options (shoes too!) and Amazon for a veil. If you’re buying a veil, be sure to buy ivory so it doesn’t look too blue in photos.
For dining options, parkside is great, go to ATX Cocina for superb Mexican food, or celebrate with a steak at Driskill Grill.
Arrive Early Day Of With Required Materials
Once your wedding day is here, be sure to arrive early and bring these items with you:
- marriage license
- cash payment for ceremony
- drivers license or other ID type just in case.
- You could also consider picking up Trader Joe’s flowers for a bouquet!
Get Married & Capture the Memories!
The moment you’ve been waiting for is here! Soak it all in and enjoy! The ceremony lasts 20-30 minutes with a judge then you’re done! If you hired an Austin elopement photographer, definitely take some time for some romantic portraits outside the courthouse and maybe at one more location to capture the sweet “just married” feeling! Here are some good locations around Downtown Austin:
- Texas Capitol
- South Congress
- Republic Park
- Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Court House (pictured in this article)
Now Go Do Something FUN!
The ceremony and formal portraits are done, now go do something fun! Austin has so many fun ways to celebrate! As an Austin elopement photographer, I’ve seen a lot of different celebratory activities. Here are some of my favorite ideas:
- Meet friends and/or family for dinner
- Hire a Private Chef at your Airbnb
- Retro gaming arcade with BYOB
- Ice cream at your favorite location (the one pictured above is Gati Ice Cream, a dairy free ice cream shop that my couple Kristin and Matt LOVE)
- Paddle board on Lady Bird Lake
- Hike 360 Overlook for a sunset picnic
- Stop for a latte at your go-to coffee shop
- Reserve a OTOKO Austin experience, unique Japanese cuisine
- Grab a drink at an iconic rooftop bar overlooking the city (such as Rules & Regs)
But planning an Austin elopement is more than running off to the courthouse…
It’s about creating moments that reflects your story. Your elopement deserves to feel intentional, personal, and curated. As your elopement planner and photographer, I’m here to guide you through every step so you can focus on what truly matters: the love you’re celebrating. I’d be honored to help craft an experience that’s both meaningful and beautifully documented. I’ll help you find the space, the light, and the personal moments that make your day unforgettable.
Let’s curate your vision into a one-of-a-kind Austin elopement.
