Denver Courthouse Wedding Guide
So you want to have a courthouse wedding in Denver?
well Guess what? Here’s Everything you need to know about getting married at the Courthouse in Denver
Unfortunately, finding information on the locations, and how to get married in them is hard!! The court websites are annoying to navigate and don’t make it super easy to find information on how you actually get married in the courthouse itself. There’s a ton of great information on getting your marriage license, but that’s only the first step of the process.
But, don’t worry!! I did the research for you. Below, I’ve got overviews of the Denver courthouse locations, the best photo spots to use, and most importantly, how you actually book a wedding ceremony at the courthouse!
How to get married at a Denver Courthouse
- Get a marriage license from Denver County at the Wellington Webb Building. Appointments for marriages are by appointment only! You can also bring a license from another county to your Denver County Courthouse wedding.
- You’ll need to complete an application online before you make an appointment.
- Then, schedule your appointment to pick up your license — Don’t forget your ID!
- You’ll need to sign your license within 35 days of receiving it, then return it within 63 days of receiving it, so plan accordingly!!
- You can have a Denver County judge sign a certificate from another county, but you CANNOT return that certificate to the office in the Webb Building, you have to take it back to the county where it was issued to you.
- Book your judge by emailing the list of magistrates who are available to officiate weddings at the Denver County Courthouses. The judges each work at different locations on different days, so if you have a preference for one over the other, mention it in your email! There’s no better way to kick this off than just emailing the judges and chatting to whomever responds. I highly recommend Reneé Goble and Kate Boland.
- There are magistrates who (weather depending) will officiate a ceremony on the Denver County Court steps. This is by far the most aesthetically pleasing option as the courtrooms aren’t always the prettiest to photograph in. But, don’t try and navigate through the county court website to try and find information about using a courthouse room or the steps for your ceremony. The information just isn’t there, and only the magistrate will be able to book this for you.
- Finalize the time, location, and courthouse with the magistrate. Make sure to let them know if you are planning on hiring a photographer so they can communicate any restrictions they have. The magistrates typically require payment in cash the day of the ceremony, so plan ahead to grab that from the ATM a few days before the ceremony.
- Book your vendors like florals, hair and makeup, photographer, reception venue or picnic caterer!
- GET MARRIED!!! And, don’t forget your license, vows, rings, and payment for your judge!!
Denver Courthouse Wedding Locations
Denver County Court
1437 Bannock St. Denver, CO 80202
This is the “classic courthouse” that you see lit up with holiday lights in the winter, and is across from Civic Center Park. Like Byron White, it has really unique architectural elements and beautiful columns and staircases. The flower gardens at the front make for beautiful portrait spots as well! Plus, it’s super easy to just walk across the street for photos with the state capitol in the background.
I love this location during the summer!! You can ask your magistrate to do the ceremony outside on the steps, which is absolutely stunning, and saves you the hassle of going through security before your ceremony.
Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse
520 W. Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80204
The most modern of the three Denver Courthouses by far! The outside of this building is glass and metal, and there are some really neat scupltures outside. If you like a more clean, modern feel, this is definitely the spot for you! If you want to visit more spots in the style of Lindsey-Flanigan, it’s also a short walk over to the Denver Art Museum or over to the Convention Center. Both have awesome modern architecture, murals, and interesting outdoor sculptures for a modern artistic flair to your photos.
I also love the view out to 17th street from the inside of the courthouse building. It makes for a cool cityscape through the glass walls — very street photography editoral chic.
Denver Courthouse Wedding FAQs
Photography Locations for Denver Courthouse Weddings
Civic Center Park
This is the park directly across from the Denver County Court. It’s definitely easiest to access if you have your wedding there, but it’s only a two block walk from Lindsey-Flanigan. There are some more columns and architectural features, as well as stellar views of the Capitol Building and the downtown Denver skyline!
Denver Art Museum
This building is one of Denver’s wildest architectural highlights! The area around it has some great spots for photos, but if you buy entry into the museum you can photograph around for free. I love it as an indoor option for photos (hello air conditioning) but also love using the unique lines and angles for portraits outside!
capitol building
If the columns and marble of the inside of the Denver Courthouse make you swoon, wait until you see the Capitol! It’s open to the public during weekday business hours, and is so stunning. There’s a staircase that will make you scream out loud when you see it, and just oh-so-stunning editorial vibes.
NOTE: This image is often published as if it is INSIDE the Denver Courthouse. It isn’t, but I know how to get you there!!
byron white building
Unfortunately, weddings can’t be held here, but like the County Court building it has beautiful columns and is totally dreamy to photograph at! It does require your photographer to secure a (free) permit, so make sure to give them a heads up if you want to use the location.
Denver performing arts complex
The covered walkway and iconic “dancing” statues are an iconic Denver landmark. If you love plays, or just want to include some cool statues and stairways in your photos, this is a super fun spot!
Make sure to avoid it during the evenings when there are events at the theaters.
Denver Diner
Just classic diner energy, what more could you want? If the fancy columns and cool architecture isn’t your speed, but you DO want to go eat a stack of pancakes or a slice of pie, maybe this humble little classic diner is the perfect spot to celebrate. As with any public space, make sure to give the staff a heads up before photographing there.
Colorado Convention Center
You’ve seen Denver’s big blue bear right? Well, if you want him to be an iconic part of your wedding photos, just hop on a scooter and boogie down to the Convention Center in your wedding fit! There’s more cityscape architecture nearby, and the outside of the convention center is also fun to photograph around.
Courthouse Wedding Photography Pricing & Packages
thinking about hiring a photographer for your courthouse wedding?
Just because you’re not having a “big wedding” doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a photographer there to make the most of your memories!!
Wedding photographers will often have elopement and intimate wedding packages that are more accessible than their full wedding packages. Definitely ask the photographers you like to see if they offer custom rates for shorter packages. If you’re having your wedding on a weekday, your odds of finding a photographer for a smaller package are much better!! You can expect to spend anywhere from $1,000-$5,000 for a photographer to document your elopement or courthouse wedding depending on the photographer and the length of time you want photographed.
Typically, you can expect your photographer to deliver an online gallery of your photos, and either give you a digital download or a USB drive with your final edited images. Editing times can vary from 4 weeks to 12 weeks for a full gallery to be edited and delivered to you! Some photographers offer a personal printing release for your images, whereas some may require you use their online printing services. Make sure you fully understand what you’re deliverables are, and that the delivery time frame is written into your contract, before hiring someone to photograph your elopement!
My pricing for Courthouse Weddings
Who me?? Why yessss. Because I often work intimate weddings and elopements, I just offer an hourly rate for Denver courthouse weddings. Most of my couples wind up booking a 2-3 hour block of time, which runs about $1,000-$1,500. You can check out more detailed information about my pricing here, or check out my Courthouse Special package below!
book your photos with Kate
The Courthouse Special
You’re trying to keep it simple with this whole courthouse wedding thing, right?? If you just want a few photos to prove it happened, with some cute shots to hang up on the wall, this is for you!!
My Courthouse Special includes 45 minutes of photos which covers the ceremony, and about 20-30 minutes of photos afterwards. We’ll stay close to the courthouse to maximize photo time!
You’ll get 50+ edited photos delivered 4 weeks after your courthouse elopement, and a sneak peek delivered the same week of your elopement so you can share with friends and family!!
Is it too good to be true?? NO. I live 7 minutes from the courthouse, and LOVE being present for this little slice of your life and love. I just want to make it easy for you to document this special moment on something other than an iPhone.
$600
$250 required to book
AVAILABLE MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ONLY
