How to Get Married at the Clark County Courthouse - Vancouver, WA
Heading to the Clark County Courthouse for your marriage ceremony and not sure where to start? Lucky for you, this is right where you need to be. This is your guide on how to get married at the courthouse in Vancouver, Washington, and get photos that look and feel truly celebratory of your love.
After photographing and helping several couples get their dream photos here, I’m finally writing it all down in the hopes I can help so many more! And if you’re deciding whether or not it’s worth bringing a photographer along, I bet this post will give you some unexpected ideas and inspiration.
Make It Official
First, you need to make sure you both meet these requirements to obtain a marriage license in Washington as stated by the Clark County Auditor:
Be at least 18 years old
Apply for and receive a marriage license through Clark County at least 3 days before your ceremony ($172)
Participate in a civil or religious ceremony in Washington State ($100 in cash ONLY, paid the day of your ceremony)
Complete and Return the Certificate of Marriage to the marriage license department
2 witnesses age 14 or older
Second, make a plan for the day you’d like to have your ceremony. The quickest way to find out if your date is available, call the customer service line at (564) 397-2424. You can also go into the courthouse in person, or apply online.
Once you have your date, make sure you obtain your marriage license within the validity period. The license is valid for 60 days, and there is a 3 day waiting period after you receive your license.
Booking Your Photographer
A courthouse wedding is just as special and important as every other traditional wedding. Photography illustrates those memories for you to keep, share with friends and family, and look back on for years and years. And your photos don’t have to be boring! While the indoor area of the Clark County Courthouse is small, you can still have beautiful photos in and around the building. And you’re not limited to this location, either.
I always encourage my couples to consider a second location for more variety in their photos. This could be a nearby location in downtown Vancouver, like Vancouver Lake, Esther Short Park, or the waterfront. If you book a little more time, you could do photos at your home before the ceremony, at a reception location afterwards, or a place that’s special to you as a couple.
Photos are the one of the few things you get to keep from your wedding day forever. With a package starting at just 2 hours of coverage, I have options for budgets of all sizes.
Creating Your Wedding Timeline
One thing to know about getting married at the Clark County Courthouse is that wedding ceremonies 1) start at 4pm always, and 2) are first come first serve. These are two important components when planning out your wedding day around the ceremony. Organizing a timeline for the day will help you do everything you want to do to celebrate, and I have some examples for you to get started.
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12:30 pm - Getting ready
3:45 pm - Arrive at courthouse
3:50 pm - Check-in on 2nd floor
4:00 pm - Ceremony begins
4:30 pm - Family/group photos if desired
4:45 pm - Couple photos around courthouse
5:00 pm - Second location couple photos
5:45 pm - Head to reception/dinner
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11:30 am - Getting Ready
2:25 pm - Arrive at second photo location
2:30 pm - Family/group photos if desired
2:45 pm - Couple photos
3:45 pm - Arrive at courthouse
3:50 pm - Check-in on 2nd floor
4:00 pm - ceremony begins
4:30 pm - head to reception/dinner
Other notes for timelines:
These are based on my base photography package with 2 hours of coverage. This is only the beginning, not your limit! I’m happy to add photography for your getting ready and reception dinner after the ceremony.
These are separated by summer and winter seasons based on lighting for photos, since the winter sunset is going to be during, if not before your ceremony.
More Tips For A Stress-Free Wedding
Now that you have the necessary pieces to getting married at the Clark County Courthouse, here are a few more tips to help you feel prepared and have the best experience possible.
Weddings at the courthouse are first come, first serve. That means you want to get there a few minutes before they start (4pm) if you don’t want to be waiting around in the hallway for a while for your turn.
In the same vein as the above tip, the wedding season at the courthouse is similar to the regular wedding season. Weekends and summer dates are going to be busier, so there may be a higher chance of waiting for your own ceremony to start.
You’re allowed up to 10 guests with you during the ceremony. This does not include you and your partner, but it does include your witnesses, and your photographer. That being said, if you only have one person who can be there with you to be a witness, I as your photographer can be your second witness (which is always so cool and special for me 🥹)
The average length of a courthouse ceremony is around 15 minutes from start to finish.
They do allow photography and video inside the courtroom during your wedding ceremony. So you can definitely have a camera or phone set up for video while I’m taking care of the photos.
You made it! I hope this guide has helped you feel confident and prepared about planning your wedding ceremony at the courthouse. It’s a great option for many reasons, and just as special. Your love is deserving of celebration, and gorgeous photographs to remember it by.
Want to get ahead on your checklist and book your photographer while you’re here? I’d be honored to help! Click the button below and we’ll get in touch to plan your perfect day with photography.
