Courthouse elopements in Springfield are always such a vibe. The comfort of a shortened timeline while also getting married to your chosen human and getting some rad pics along the way? Say less!

An Intimate Springfield, IL Courthouse Elopement

Your wedding day doesn’t ALWAYS need to be a big all day party. It takes SO much planning and months and months of decisions for one day. Plus timing out all aspects of the day can be stressful and not everyone’s cup of tea. Maybe you want to be in bed by 9:00pm! (Valid, btw).

Enter this intimate and meaningful courthouse elopement Estefonia and Salvador had. It was emotional and heartwarming, these two just wanted to be married.

There are two timeslots to pick for a marriage ceremony at the Sangamon County Courthouse / Clerk’s Office: 11:30am or 1:15pm. (Why? It’s the bookend of the judge’s lunch break, in-bteween their court cases). ((Yes I am dead serious)).

They picked the 1:15pm time slot and paid the $10 judges fee 20 minutes before the ceremony started.

Then, brought their son and a few other family members and said “I do”. The ceremony was short, but the emotions were high and some tears were shed.

They did it!!!

After your ceremony, remember to head down to the first floor to grab copies of your marriage license!! Now it’s official. 😎

Inviting Family To Your Courthouse Elopement

Estefonia and Salvador chose to share their ceremony with a few family members which really made this day special for them.

One thing to note is that you absolutely CAN bring family to your courthouse elopement, although you will want to keep the number of guests small. You can always call the courthouse directly to confirm the number of guests allowed at that time!

Sometimes all you need is to just marry your person and fully enjoy the day. Estefonia and Salvador’s courthouse elopement and Illinois Capitol Building portraits were the perfect way for them to document this beautiful memory for them, their son, and family to look back on years from now. 

Romantic Portraits at the Illinois Capitol Building

What can I say about the Illinois Capitol Building besides it is literally such an amazing spot for photos in Springfield. If moody and romantic portraits are on your bucket list, this is the spot to take them. 

I kept Estefonia and Salvador outside to start on their portraits. The building, the windows, and the grounds are a perfect spot to just BE with your new spouse (if you need additional ideas for outdoor elopement photo spots, check this out).

We then headed inside to play with some of the architecture!!

PLEASE NOTE: As of 2026, if you want photos done in the Capitol Building, you need to have to complete a Special Event Form.

Also if you go on a Saturday you CANNOT GO UPSTAIRS BEYOND THE 1ST FLOOR. Weddings have been going in on Saturdays up to other floors, but they are not staffed for that kind of secuirty and I am afraid all photographers will be banned if the rules are continuously broken.

We have some fun around different parts of the Capitol. It was nice for it to be just the 3 of us now.

You know I love some flash photos!!! Ugh and her shoes were such a great detail.

Finally, they were off to meet up with family for a late lunch to celebrate!

Planning a courthouse wedding in Springfield? I gotchu! Read this for info on how to plan your courthouse wedding in Sangamon County.

Don’t want to hold your ceremony at the county building? Learn how to elopement anywhere in Illinois here.

And then make sure to contact me to help ya capture the goods!