How to Get Married At The Travis County Courthouse In Austin, TX
If you're here, then you've decided to get hitched at the Austin courthouse! Congrats!
Getting married is so exciting, and if you're looking to have a courthouse ceremony, then you're also eager to have a low-key experience.
People often have tons of questions about getting a wedding license in Travis County or where to get started even before that.
Let's go over everything you need!
So, How Do You Get Married At The Courthouse In Austin?
Anyone choosing to get married in Austin needs to get a marriage license ahead of time. Three days ahead of time, to be exact.
In order to get a marriage license, you're definitely going to need:
A completed marriage license application. You can complete this online to make it easy!
Make sure to go to the ATM to pay with cash!
Schedule an appointment for the license. You can do this by calling the phone number below. Both you and your partner need to be present at the county clerk's office, located at 5501 Airport Boulevard, Austin, TX 78751.
Bring proof of identity/age via birth certificate, driver's license, and/or social security number.
There are other qualifying factors, like not being married already.
You must be the age of 18 or older to get married in Texas.
If you have other questions, then you can call the county clerk's office at this phone number: 512-854-7700.
Note: You have 29 days to use the wedding license—after that, you'll need to go through the process all over again for a new license.
Waiving The Three-Day Waiting Period
According to the Travis County Courthouse, the three-day waiting period can be waived under the following circumstances:
Is a member of the armed forces of the United States and on active duty (heading to military deployment)
Performs work for the United States Department of Defense as an employee or contract worker;
Obtains a written waiver from a judge of a court with jurisdiction in family law cases, a justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the court of criminal appeals, a county judge, or a judge of a court of appeals;
Completes a premarital education course described by Texas Family Code Section 2.013 and provides the County Clerk with a course completion certificate indicating completion of the course within one year of the date the marriage license application is filed with the Clerk.
How Much Does A Marriage License Cost In Austin?
You'll need to keep in mind they want payment only in cash; the fee for a marriage license in Austin is $81. If you and your partner complete the Texas Twogether Program, it's only $21.
How Do I File My Marriage License in Austin, Texas?
You can mail the marriage license to:
Travis County Clerk
P.O. Box 149325
Austin, TX 78714
Or a professional officiant will actually mail it for you! Make sure to ask your ceremony officiant if this is a service they offer to take one less detail to keep track of off the list!
Do I Need A Witness At My Courthouse Ceremony?
A valid question since a lot of states require an authorized person to sign the marriage license but also have witnesses.
However, in Texas, you do not need a witness on the marriage license. However, there will be spaces for up to two witnesses.
Austin Courthouse Wedding To-Do List
Apply for the marriage license.
Make an appointment at the county clerk's office.
Take you and your honey to the county clerk's office with proof of identity to officially obtain a marriage license! They'll want you to pay in cash, so don't forget that!
I recommend you make an appointment, albeit the courthouse's website said walk-ins can happen if the judge's schedule permits it.
Show up for the scheduled appointment on time and get married! At the courthouse, it will most likely be Judge Holmes (this is what the website says).
How Long Does A Courtroom Ceremony Take?
Since there are normally a few people behind you waiting for their own wedding ceremony, your provided judge will most likely have it completed in 10-15 minutes. A quick ceremony, to be sure!
A traditional wedding ceremony is about the same length, so don't worry about that.
Can I Have A Photographer At My Courthouse Wedding?
Yes! Absolutely! I love being there for a courthouse wedding ceremony because these intimate elopements are always so sweet.
The Travis County Courthouse permits photographers to be in the same room, and when we're done, we can go take gorgeous photos around the courthouse!
Outdoor Photo Locations Near The Austin Courthouse
Downtown Austin is such a beautiful and unique spot to take photos. Some people don't mind driving around and finding inspiration, but if you're looking to plan things ahead of time for your wedding day, then here's a great list!
The Texas State Capitol — The iconic Texas State Capitol building is a stunner in any backdrop for elopement photos! The sprawling lawns are gorgeous
South Congress — The whole length of South Congress is so exciting, with food trucks, murals, and bars that won't mind you stopping in for a quick nip!
Tau Ceti — Easily one of the most beautiful murals in Austin, Texas, the Tau Ceti mural is a glorious rainbow backdrop that looks gorgeous in any photo!
Sixth Street — If you're looking for an iconic grunge feel, then Sixth Street can offer some of the cutest murals and stairwells!
Butler Park — Next to Ladybird Lake, Butler Park offers gorgeous downtown Austin backdrops that you'll love cuddling up to your partner!
Can You Just Show Up To The Courthouse And Get Married?
Technically, once you have the marriage license, you can do a walk-in at the courthouse.
The wedding ceremonies are short but generally only done during lunchtime, so you might be battling appointments or a court case running long, shoving everything back.
Make sure to check your date if you have an idea of when you want to do a walk-in.
Wrapping Up
It might seem intimidating to visit the Travis County Clerk's Office, but it is really one of the easiest ways to get married in Austin. The courthouse is an absolute stunner, with Art Deco architecture, and you're going to love it!
If you're looking to plan an elopement at the Travis County Courthouse, then make sure to check out my guide to eloping in Austin, Texas, as well!
