Minnesota Courthouse Wedding Guide & Photography

To get married in Minnesota, you’ll need a valid Minnesota marriage license, an authorized officiant, and two witnesses. If you want a judge to perform the ceremony, arrange that with the judge’s office ahead of time. The process and the building where you meet vary by county, so confirm the exact location before sharing an address with your guests.

Explore this guide: How to plan · Where to get married · Real courthouse weddings · Photos and Celebrations · Questions couples ask

How to plan a courthouse wedding in Minnesota

Choose where you want to get married and your officiant

Start with where you would like to say your vows. The courtroom, the government building, and the historic city hall can be very different  even when people casually call all three “the courthouse.”

Check the county court’s ceremony information and ask where your officiant can perform the wedding. A building reservation, when one is available, does not book a judge for you.

For a ceremony with a Hennepin County judge, the court explains how to contact a judge’s clerk. If your dream is the historic Minneapolis City Hall rotunda, tell the judge’s office that specific location when you inquire, and check the building’s use or rental rules separately

Get a Minnesota marriage license

You can obtain a marriage license from a Minnesota county registrar even if you don’t live in the state. You’ll need the license before the ceremony; it is valid for six months and can be used for a marriage anywhere in Minnesota. Hennepin County’s marriage license page lists its current application options and fees. As of September 2026, Hennepin lists a $125 standard fee or $50 with qualifying premarital education. Check the issuing county before applying, since processes and fees can change.

Confirm witnesses and day-of plans

Minnesota marriage law requires two witnesses who are at least 16. Individual ceremony providers may have stricter requirements: Hennepin County District Court currently instructs couples marrying with a judge to bring two adults with photo ID, along with the couple’s license and photo IDs.  Follow the requirements of the court or officiant you have booked.

Before the day arrives, confirm the ceremony time, exact building and entrance, guest count, accessibility needs, photography rules, and any fee with the court or officiant you’ve booked. It’s a short list that can save you a surprisingly confusing afternoon.

Where to get married in Minneapolis?

“The Minneapolis courthouse” can mean two different buildings: the Hennepin County Government Center at 300 South 6th Street or the historic Minneapolis City Hall and Courthouse at 350 South 5th Street. They have different ceremony arrangements, so confirm the exact location with your officiant and give guests the building name and address.

Hennepin County Government Center, Minneapolis

300 South 6th Street, Minneapolis. This is the county government center where many couples arrange a civil ceremony with a Hennepin County judge. Start with the court’s marriage ceremony instructions to find a judge and confirm where your ceremony will take place. Give yourselves time to arrive, find the right entrance, and go through any security screening.

One couple I photographed here brought their closest family for the ceremony. Afterward, we took portraits around downtown before everyone met again for dinner. It was a good reminder that a short ceremony can still have a whole story around it.

Minneapolis City Hall and Courthouse

350 South 5th Street, Minneapolis. This is the historic building with marble, stained glass, and the rotunda, not the Government Center. The Municipal Building Commission publishes current information about small events during public hours and private rotunda rentals. You still need a marriage license and an authorized officiant; if you hope to use a judge, confirm that judge can perform the ceremony at City Hall.

 The City Hall is becoming increasingly popular and you may share the public spaces with other visitors or celebrations, so ask about a private rental if having the rotunda to yourselves matters to you.

I love photographing the scale of this building and the quieter moments tucked inside it. In summer, a couple can step into downtown for portraits; in winter, we can make beautiful photographs indoors without going outside too much! For the details specific to this building, see my Minneapolis City Hall wedding guide.

Minneapolis City Hall Rotunda Photos

Saint Paul and other Minnesota locations

Ramsey County Courthouse, Saint Paul

15 West Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul. The Ramsey County Courthouse is another Twin Cities option with a very different look from the Minneapolis buildings. Ramsey County District Court’s marriage page lists judges who perform ceremonies. Contact the judge’s office to confirm availability, location, guest arrangements, and fees. Apply for your Minnesota license through a county registrar separately.

Minnesota State Capitol

75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard., St Paul. It can be a beautiful ceremony setting, but it isn’t a county courthouse. Treat a Capitol ceremony as a separate venue plan, with its own space permissions and officiant arrangements. To get married at the Capitol in St Paul you will need to first secure a permit for your ceremony.  You can contact the State of Minnesota’s Department of Administration to apply for a public event permit for a public space within the Capitol Complex.  

You will still need to get a marriage license from a Minnesota county registrar, such as Ramsey County. Finally, you will want to arrange the ceremony with a judge who performs wedding ceremonies to schedule your date, time, and location, as well as any fees.

Other Minnesota courthouses

You can also explore courts outside Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Start with the Minnesota Judicial Branch court directory, then check the specific county’s marriage ceremony instructions. I would choose the place that works for your people and the kind of day you want, rather than assume the closest courthouse is your only option. 

Real Minnesota courthouse weddings

A Hennepin County courthouse wedding with family

At this Hennepin County wedding, the couple’s closest family joined them for the ceremony. Afterward, we wandered downtown for portraits before everyone reunited for a small celebration and dinner. The photographs I love most aren’t only the ceremony itself; they’re the family reactions, the laughter outside, and that relaxed feeling once the official part was over.

Hennepin Courthouse Wedding

Wedding photos at Minneapolis City Hall

City Hall can look different from one wedding to the next. For one summer celebration, a joyful group of friends filled the space, and we made portraits downtown afterward. For a winter wedding, we stayed inside and used the building’s architecture as the backdrop. Both felt completely personal to the couples who planned them.

Minneapolis City Hall Gallery and Guide

Courthouse Wedding Photos and Celebrations

The ceremony may be brief. Your wedding day doesn’t have to be. You can get ready together, invite family for the vows, go for portraits, and meet everyone for dinner. You can also keep the ceremony private and celebrate with a bigger group later.

I like to leave a little room after the vows for the part nobody can schedule precisely: the hugs, the laughter, and the moment it sinks in that you’re married. After that, we can make portraits inside the building, walk somewhere nearby, or head to another place that means something to you.

What should you wear?

Whatever you’d love to see yourselves wearing when you look back at these photos. A tailored suit, a dramatic dress, color, something vintage, something wonderfully simple—it all belongs at a courthouse wedding. Think about the weather and how much walking you want to do for portraits, and bring comfortable shoes if that gives you more freedom to enjoy the day.

How to celebrate after your courthouse wedding

The ceremony may be short, but you can make a whole day of it. Have your family meet you outside for hugs and photos. Bring a bottle of champagne to open somewhere you’re allowed to celebrate, make a dinner reservation with your favorite people, or invite everyone over for a backyard party. If you’re dreaming of an exit with confetti, check the building’s rules first.

You can also take a little time for just the two of you. Go for a walk, get portraits somewhere meaningful, or stay at a favorite Twin Cities hotel for the night. The Hewing has a rooftop pool, just sayin’.

Where should we take photos?

We can keep things easy and take portraits around the courthouse and nearby downtown streets. If you’d like more time to explore, Minneapolis has plenty of options: the Stone Arch Bridge area, Nicollet Island, St. Anthony Main, Boom Island Park, and the North Loop all give us a different feel. We could also head toward the Sculpture Garden or Minnehaha Falls if that’s where you’d rather spend part of your day.

I’ve photographed a couple taking a relaxed walk around a lake at sunset, and those photos felt just as much like their wedding as the ceremony did. The best location is one that fits your plans, the season, and how you want the day to feel.

Minnesota courthouse wedding questions and FAQ

Can we get a marriage license and get married on the same day?

It may be possible to obtain a license on your ceremony day, but the ceremony still needs its own arrangements. Hennepin County, for example, says a same-day license and service-center ceremony require separate appointments. A judge, City Hall space, and a county service-center ceremony are different bookings. Make those calls before you plan on a same-day wedding.

Do we need to get married in a courtroom?

Not necessarily. The available location depends on your officiant, the building, and any permission or reservation required for the space. Ask for the exact ceremony location when you book.

Can we bring guests, say our own vows, or exchange rings?

Ask the judge or officiant about the guest count and ceremony format. You can request personal vows and exchange of rings if this is part of your priorities, mention them while scheduling rather than waiting until everyone is standing in the room.

Can we get married on a weekend?

That depends on the officiant and building access. Do not assume a courthouse is open for a weekend ceremony. Minneapolis City Hall publishes separate information for private rotunda rentals outside public hours; an officiant must still be arranged.

How long does a courthouse ceremony take?

The ceremony itself is often brief, but leave more time than you think you’ll need for arriving, meeting your officiant, gathering guests, and enjoying a few moments afterward. Your judge or officiant can tell you what to expect for your particular appointment.

What happens in a courthouse wedding?

Your officiant will tell you where and when to meet. Once your guests and witnesses are gathered, they’ll lead the ceremony. There usually isn’t a formal processional or recessional, though you can ask how much you can personalize the vows and format.

Courthouse wedding photography in Minnesota

I photograph the whole feeling of the day: the nerves beforehand, the vows, your people, the spontaneous moments after, and portraits with just enough guidance to let you relax. You can keep it intimate or build a bigger celebration around the ceremony. I photograph full wedding days, too, so we can talk about the amount of coverage that actually fits your plans.

Tell me about your courthouse wedding—where you’re thinking of marrying, who you hope will be there, and what you want to remember.