A courthouse wedding can keep the ceremony simple while still leaving room for personal details and meaningful photographs. In Raleigh, start with the marriage license and the magistrate’s appointment process. Dinner reservations and photography timing come after those arrangements are confirmed.
A license and an appointment are different things.
North Carolina requires a marriage license before the wedding. A license can be obtained through any county’s Register of Deeds, and the state requires at least two witnesses. There is no required waiting period after issuance; an unused license expires after 60 days. Read the Judicial Branch’s marriage requirements.
Start with our Raleigh marriage planning overview and Wake County’s application instructions for the paperwork. Confirm the documents and payment method needed for your circumstances before visiting.
Contact the magistrate about your ceremony.
The Wake County Magistrate Weddings published FAQ directs couples to obtain the license first, then email [email protected] with the license number and issuing county. It lists Courtroom 901 at the Wake County Justice Center and a $50 cash ceremony fee.
That FAQ also contains older pandemic-era references. Treat it as a starting point: confirm the current appointment process, address, room, fee, payment method, guest limit and photography rules directly with the magistrate. Do not assume walk-in availability or that a photographer can accompany you inside. The Judicial Branch advises contacting your county’s magistrate office because availability varies.
Build a little space around the appointment.
Choose witnesses who can arrive reliably. Share the confirmed entrance and meeting point, and allow for parking, security and finding the room. Avoid booking a restaurant so tightly afterward that a delay would make the whole day feel rushed.
Keep your documents organized and follow the court’s instructions for what to bring. Ask the officiant how the completed license will be returned and where you can request certified copies afterward.
Plan photographs around the access you actually have.
Tell your photographer whether indoor ceremony photography has been approved. If it has not, plan portraits before or after the appointment instead of promising ceremony images. Agree on a nearby meeting location and an indoor backup where you have permission to photograph.
A small family list helps: portraits together, each witness, and any other guests who can attend. Leave a few unhurried minutes for the two of you. Our rain-plan guide can help with the backup.
Choose what happens afterward.
You might want a quiet meal, a private dinner with family or a reception on another day. Compare small Raleigh venues if you need a separate gathering space.
Ask about photography for your ceremony plans. Availability and any shorter-coverage pricing need to be discussed; the advertised six-hour wedding package is not a separate courthouse offer.