6 Tips for Getting Married at City Hall in Chicago
please read!
STARTING November 2023, appointments needed for SATURDAY ceremonies only
Written and photographed by Curator Lisa of lisa kathan photography
updated: november 2023
Getting married at Chicago's City Hall is the perfect choice for lots of couples, and is a very affordable option at only $10 (cash only). You might not want the work and cost of a full-blown wedding, so having your ceremony at City Hall might be perfect for you. So we’ve pulled together some tips for planning your wedding at Chicago’s City Hall (aka marriage court).
Getting married at City Hall
TIP #1: find out all the info about when you can get married
Call the Marriage Court at (312) 603-5660 — you can find out all this info, plus make an appointment if you need one
Effective November, 2023:
Tuesday through Friday: In-person ceremonies, NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED
Ceremonies performed in person, Tuesday through Friday — 9am-11:30am & 2pm-3:30pm
Saturday: In-person ceremonies, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY at 9am
NOTE: the Marriage Court is only booking appointments about 6-8 weeks in advance. For the most up-to-date info about City Hall ceremonies, call the Marriage Court at (312) 603-5660.
IMPORTANT FOR COUPLES TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY TO CHICAGO TO BE MARRIED…
Appointments for marriage ceremonies are made by calling and leaving a message with your planned date, and someone at the marriage court calls back to confirm. However, the marriage court does return calls made from international numbers; therefore, you won’t be able to make an appointment. If you’re traveling from outside the US to Chicago to be married, you should plan your ceremony for a Tuesday through Friday to avoid needing to make an appointment.
If you want other options for planning your destination elopement to Chicago, check out SIMPLY WED, specially curated packages for international couples who want to be married in Chicago.
tIP #2: Get your license - BUT CHECK BEFOREHAND TO SEE IF/WHEN IT’S OPEN!
To get married in Cook County (where Chicago is located), you must both acquire your marriage license through the Cook County Clerk’s office. The cost for a marriage license is $60.
You must get your marriage license the day before your ceremony.
Marriage licenses are valid for 60 days, and you must acquire your license in the county you plan to be married.
Check the link below for the most up-to-date info on office hours, locations and other requirements.
If you plan to get married at one of the Chicago area collar counties, check out their websites for guidelines, costs and rules. The county guidelines for courthouse weddings vary greatly, so definitely look at the county site where you plan to be married!
LAKE COUNTY
KANE COUNTY
DUPAGE COUNTY
WILL COUNTY
MCHENRY COUNTY
TIP #3: MASK UP!
The Marriage Court is still requiring that everyone in the building/waiting areas wear a mask, so come prepared!
The judge performing your ceremony may allow you to remove your masks for your ceremony, but that’s at the judge’s discretion.
TIP #4: a few guests are allowed in the very tiny ceremony room
Starting November, 2023, up to 10 guests are allowed in the Marriage Court for your ceremony.
However, take note! The rooms where the ceremonies are performed are very small, and that many guests will be crammed, so eliminating other guests will give your photographer more space to get the best photos.
TIP #5: MAKE SURE YOU GO TO THE RIGHT PLACE for your ceremony
You can enter through the entrance at 118 N. Clark Street at City Hall, and head to the Lower Level — where the Marriage Court is located.
If you have an appointment, you MUST BE on time or you could risk losing your appointment.
And don’t forget! You’ll need to bring your marriage license, valid IDs for each of you, and $10 CASH to pay for your ceremony. And if you plan to exchange rings, remember those, also!
TIP #6: Enjoy the experience
Wedding ceremonies are performed in the lower level of City Hall and are about 3-5 minutes long. Don’t feel like you have to prepare something to say to one another during the ceremony. But if you want to write a few brief words to personalize your ceremony, be sure to tell the judge before you get started.
Also, especially since your friends and family won’t be able to witness your ceremony, don’t forget to hire a photographer to capture the moments! There are NO photographers there to capture your day last minute, so if this is something you want to do, be sure to secure a photographer beforehand.
Looking for more tips to make your City Hall wedding extra memorable?
