How to Have a Denver Courthouse Wedding
A courthouse wedding can be just as romantic as any other type of marriage celebration—the two of you get to make your love legal and mark the occasion in a way that suits you! Curious about what it’s like to have a courthouse wedding in Denver? As a Colorado-based wedding and elopement photographer, I know how the process goes and put together this guide to give you all the information you need to know for peace of mind!
A Courthouse Wedding vs an Elopement
While a courthouse wedding is often considered an elopement, it doesn’t have to be. A courthouse wedding just means that you have a legal ceremony in a courthouse—you can choose to have guests with you or not, and can keep things intimate or throw a big party for all of your loved ones afterwards!
Meanwhile, an elopement is much more open-ended. You can elope at the top of a mountain, at home on the couch, or pretty much anywhere in between. (At least in Colorado, since it’s a self-solemnization state.) Unlike a courthouse wedding, which needs to be scheduled in advance, you can choose to elope spontaneously…as long as you’re able to pick up a Colorado marriage license along the way.
A Courthouse Wedding vs a Traditional Wedding
A courthouse wedding is typically smaller than a traditional wedding. You may choose to bring people with you to the courthouse, but you probably won’t have a full sit-down ceremony there the way you might for a traditional wedding. Like a traditional wedding, though, you can certainly have a reception after a Denver courthouse wedding. Some couples choose to say their vows in the relative privacy afforded by a courthouse before partying it up with their favorite people.
Why Have a Denver Courthouse Wedding
- Denver Has Nice Courthouses. Just because you’re choosing a courthouse wedding doesn’t mean it should be any less special or beautiful than a traditional wedding! And the great thing about Denver is that it has nice courthouses—really. You have three different courthouses to choose from, each of which provides interesting architecture that makes for gorgeous photos. If you don’t mind going a little bit outside Denver, there are even more photogenic courthouse options…
- You Can Save Some Money. The latest figures put the cost of the average traditional wedding at around $33,000. (For context, that’s almost as much as the cost of a new car or a down payment on a house.) A courthouse wedding, however, costs somewhere around $100-$200 all-told. Just think of all you can do with that extra money you’ve saved by choosing a courthouse wedding over a traditional one!
- It Feels More Official Than Self-Solemnization. Colorado is a self-solemnization state, which means you don’t need a court official or even a witness in order to get legally married. While this gives you a lot of freedom to mark the big day however you want, it also feels less official in some ways than a traditional wedding. That’s why you may want to opt for a Denver courthouse marriage—what’s more official than signing the papers in a legal building?
- There Are Lots of Fun Ways to Celebrate Near Denver. Just because you’re choosing to tie the knot in a courthouse rather than a church or wedding venue doesn’t mean you have to skip the celebration. And luckily for you, there are lots of fun ways to celebrate in the Denver area. Maybe you want to mark the moment by hiking a 14-er, planning a mini-honeymoon in a Colorado ski town, or taking advantage of all the fun activities right in the city—museum visits and Michelin-starred dining, anyone?
Best Places for a Courthouse Wedding in Denver, CO
There are only three courthouses in Denver, so I’ve thrown in a nearby courthouse in Golden, too:
Byron White Courthouse
Byron White is truly a Denver landmark, and a great place to get married. The marble building looks like something out of ancient Greece, with grand columns, statues, and even a coat of arms. The front steps make for a great wedding photo background.
What’s nearby:
- Union Station, which is both a transportation hub and a renovated building home to some nice restaurants, bars, and cafes.
- The new Museum of Illusions downtown!
- Ellie Caulkins Opera House, the Paramount Theater, McGregor Square, and other unique event venues where you can buy tickets to exciting shows and concerts.
Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse
Located on West Colfax, this Denver courthouse is more modern in style than the rest, with a facade made up entirely of windows. There are nice sculptures outside as well, and it’s close to places like the Denver Art Museum and a few different parks that make great photoshoot backgrounds.
What’s nearby:
- Indoor attractions like the Denver Art Museum, Bellco Theater, and History Colorado Center.
- The sculpture park outside of the Denver Performing Arts complex, where you can take photos with outdoor art installations.
- Outdoor spaces like the Civic Center Park, Sunken Gardens Park, and La-Alma Lincoln Park where you can take a picnic after you tie the knot.
Jefferson County Courthouse
If you’re willing to drive 20-30 minutes from downtown Denver, Jefferson County Courthouse in Golden is a great option for a courthouse wedding. The building has an interesting skylight and hills in the background, plus gives you easy access to Golden, a cute town to celebrate your marriage in.
What’s nearby:
- Downtown Golden, a small town founded in 1859 with lots of cute restaurants, breweries, and shops to check out.
- Lookout Mountain Park, where you can go after your courthouse wedding to take pictures or just enjoy the view as a married couple!
- Apex Park, a great place for a hike if you’re up for some outdoor adventure.
Denver County Courthouse
If you’re going for the whole classic courthouse wedding experience, Denver County Courthouse delivers. It’s right next to Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse across from Civic Center Park, and is a grand building with gardens out front, providing lots of interesting options for wedding day photos. It’s in a prime location to be walking distance from several downtown hotels, so it’s also easy to get to.
What’s nearby:
- Ninth Street Historic Park, where you can take a lovely walk and check out the historic Victorian houses that line the street.
- Lots of great restaurants ideal for a cozy, romantic meal, like Lo Stella Ristorante, Fire Restaurant and Lounge, and tapas at The 9th Door Capitol Hill.
- Denver’s museum quarter, where you can find a few art and history museums all within a few steps of one another.
How to Get Married at a Denver Courthouse
- Get a Marriage License. To pick up a marriage license, make sure you bring your IDs, and then find a Denver courthouse or County Clerk office. Some require appointments, so make sure you look into this before you go.
- Find an Officiant. Now it’s time to find a court official for your wedding ceremony. You can check out the list here and reach out to them to find the one who matches your ideal courthouse and wedding date. Some may even be willing to officiate a ceremony outside on the steps rather than in the courtroom, so it’s worth asking!
- Schedule a Date and Time. Once you’ve found the right magistrate, make an appointment directly with them.
- Check the Rules. Make sure you look over the marriage license requirements and any courthouse rules before you go so you know things like how many people you can bring, what time slot you have, and more.
- Make Plans for the Special Day. Now that the date and appointment are set, you get to come up with what you’ll do for the rest of the day! Make a dinner reservation, plan a fun activity, or invite your friends and family to celebrate with you.
- Get Married. That’s it—it’s time for the big day! Get dressed, steal some moments for reflection, and then bask in this special love you’ve found. Check out the next section for some ideas on how to celebrate, or my Denver elopement guide for even more information.
How to Celebrate Your Denver Courthouse Wedding
Once the Denver courthouse marriage is signed and sealed, make the most of this special occasion. Here are a few ideas for celebrating your Denver courthouse wedding in the area:
- Go Into the Mountains. There are a few idyllic little mountain towns not far outside of Denver, so for something special, plan a getaway to places like Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs, Lyons, or Nederland. You can rent a cute Airbnb in the mountains, hike, ski, or just soak up the peace and quiet during a Colorado honeymoon.
- Have a Nice Dinner. Denver is a foodie destination for sure—did you know there are four restaurants in the city with Michelin stars? But you don’t even have to go that fancy to enjoy a special meal in the area. There are restaurants of all types of cuisines that offer romantic ambience and a meal you’ll always remember.
- Throw a Party. Just because you chose to have your ceremony in a courthouse rather than a wedding venue doesn’t mean you have to skip the party! Whether you throw an intimate house party or a full-on wedding reception is up to you—there are lots of event spaces you can rent in Denver, and some Airbnbs that allow smaller parties as well.
- Opt for an Adventure. Denver is perfectly located to allow easy access to Colorado’s magical great outdoors. Take advantage of that by opting for an adventure as newlyweds—you can climb a 14-er, drive into the mountains in search of fresh powder, swim or scuba dive with sharks in the Denver Aquarium, wander around the Denver Zoo with a cup of wine (yes, this is allowed there), take a hot air balloon ride above the Rockies, and so much more!
A Special Photoshoot. Having a professional photographer capture all the love-filled moments of your marriage is one wedding tradition you won’t want to skip. You’ll be so caught up in the moment during your wedding that you’ll swear time passed faster on your special day! So make it last by preserving those moments forever in photographs. Maybe you want photos taken on the courthouse steps before and after the ceremony, or you can schedule a session for later in the day—there are lots of beautiful indoor and outdoor photo locations in Denver, and I’m happy to help you choose the right one for your ideal wedding photos!