How to Plan a Courthouse Wedding in Sangamon County

You’re here, you’ve found your person, and you’re planning a stress-free wedding day, which is why you’ve decided to plan a courthouse wedding in Sangamon County.  Courthouse weddings are my jam, there is SO much to love about them.  The intimacy, the simplicity, and the small details, all come together and create such a beautiful and unique experience for you and your boo.  If this kind of wedding day sounds like you, but you’re not sure where to start, here is everything you need to know about planning a courthouse wedding in Sangamon County.

How to Plan Your Courthouse Wedding

1. Choosing Your Date

Because you’re planning an intimate wedding day, you’re going to have a lot more flexibility in choosing your date, so if you do have must-have vendors, inquire with them first!  Ask them what dates they have available near your ideal date or date(s) for your courthouse wedding and then plan around them!

It’s important to note that the Sangamon County Courthouse only performs weddings Monday-Friday at 11:30am or 1:15pm.  So when contacting vendors be sure to let them know that your wedding ceremony will happen within these windows of time.

Typically your photographer is the most important vendor on your elopement day, as well as one of the hardest vendors to book.  If you have a must-have photographer on your list, contact them first to see what their availability is like and then plan from there.  After choosing your photographer, you will also have to obtain your marriage license and make an appointment at the Sangamon County Court House to schedule your elopement.  You will have to apply for your marriage license before you make your appointment and then make sure your wedding day is no later than 60 days after applying for your license.

2. Booking Your Vendors

Once you have chosen your photographer and your courthouse appointment, you’ll have locked down a wedding day!   Your next step will be able to book any other vendors you hope to have as a part of your day.  Other vendors you will want to look into are florists, a hairstylist, or makeup artists, and if you want to have dinner afterward or go somewhere special after the ceremony such as a restaurant, you will want to make a reservation.  Once you have your vendors booked you can start planning out the timeline for your courthouse wedding day.

3. Make a Plan, But Be Flexible

Contact anyone you hope to have with you on your elopement day, parents, friends, or other members of your family.  You don’t have to have a witness during your marriage ceremony, but friends and family are welcome to join you for your courthouse ceremony.

You can send them a little save-the-date text or just give them a call and ask them to mark their calendars.  Or if it’s just the two of you, start to put together your dream elopement day!

You’ll want to plan the rest of your day around your appointment at the courthouse as that will be the only time constraint on your timeline.  Outside of your ceremony, you’ll want a little bit of time for wedding portraits, your meals, and any other activities you hope to have planned for your day!

Note: As of December 2022, I have photographed three courthouse weddings in downtown Springfield. Through the last two years, the courthouse has changed the number of how many people can attend the ceremony. The number of guests has fluctuated from six people to fitfteen people. And honestly, they keep changing the number. If you are planning to have family + friends come with you, please check with the courthouse to see how many people they will allow on the date of your ceremony. Be sure to include your photographer in that guest number. Be prepared to be flexible with your ceremony guest list based on the courthouse’s limits. Family members can wait outside the courthouse and help with a bubble / rose petal exit!

4. Do Your Research for Getting Married at the Sangamon County Courthouse

It is always important to look into the requirements for the local courthouse you plan to elope at.  It’s important to remember that the Sangamon County Courthouse requires you to obtain your marriage license which you can do here, prior to booking your appointment.  Then once you have your appointment you can continue your planning!

I have listed the full list of requirements for planning a courthouse wedding in Sangamon County at the bottom of this post.

5. Celebrate!

After your wedding celebration, we can walk around town, get some epic wedding portraits, and then finish by celebrating at a local restaurant.  Plan a small reception at Arlingtons, or go out just you and your boo to Mauldener’s, VELE or Mariah’s!  The best thing about elopements is that the sky is the limit in terms of what you plan into your wedding day.

Requirements for Getting Married at the Sangamon County Courthouse

In order to get married at the Sangamon County Courthouse, you will need the following:

-Your marriage license

-An appointment at the courthouse scheduled at least two weeks in advance

-$10 to pay the registration fee

-Though no witnesses are required, you can bring your friends and family!

If you’re a Springfield local and are planning your elopement day, I would LOVE to be a part of it!  For more details on my elopement day packages, and how to inquire, head to my investments page for more information!