I'm a courthouse elopement photographer in San Diego, and I'm moving to Portland, so learning this process start to finish was the first thing I did. Not the neighborhoods. Not the school districts. The marriage license, because courthouse weddings are most of what I do.
Here's the TLDR version, because you probably have enough on your plate.
The whole thing, in order
- Get your marriage license at 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd
- Wait three days, or pay $5 to skip the wait
- Schedule your ceremony with a judge at 1200 SW First Ave
- Sort out photography permission when you schedule
- Get married
- Go celebrate somewhere good
First, the license
Start with Multnomah County's online application. Then both of you go in person to the Recording & Customer Service office at 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Suite 175 to have it issued.
Worth being clear about, because it trips people up: this is not the courthouse. The license comes from one building on the east side, and the ceremony happens at the courthouse downtown. Two different addresses, two different days, usually.
It costs $60, and you oddly do not need an appointment — hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30. Bring photo ID. That's kinda it.
The three-day wait is the part people miss
It's a bit unexpected, but I guess the state wants to be sure you're sure, and has decided three days is what that takes.
Your license becomes effective three calendar days after it's issued. So you can't get the license in the morning and get married that afternoon.
You can waive it by promising them you're meant to be. Jk — you ask for the waiver when you apply, and it costs $5, which makes the whole thing $65 and is still the cheapest line item in this entire post. The one condition is that you actually intend to have your ceremony within those three days.
If you have any flexibility at all, get the license the week before. Then it's done and off the radar. It stays valid for 60 days once it's effective, so there's no rush on the other end.
Getting married in the courthouse itself
The Multnomah County Courthouse is at 1200 SW First Avenue, downtown.
If you want a judge to marry you there, there's a separate $117 courthouse ceremony fee, paid to the Multnomah County Circuit Court before the wedding. This surprises people, because they've already paid $60 and reasonably assumed that was the wedding part. It wasn't. The $60 was the paperwork.
Judicial availability is published by the court and it is actually limited. There's a handful of judges, specific windows, and it fills. Check it early and contact the offices through this info sheet. As you can see, different judges have different availability.
Your ceremony is usually in a courtroom, but not always — some judges will do it elsewhere on the property, including the front steps. Worth asking, because it's a much better backdrop.
You can also skip the courthouse entirely and have your own officiant. Oregon allows ceremonies performed by someone authorized by a religious congregation or a secular organization, and online ordination counts as long as it meets the state's requirements. You don't need to register the ordination with Multnomah County beforehand. So if a friend or a family member wants to do it, you can get the license from the county and get married anywhere you want. I have photographed a sister officiating and it is consistently one of the better decisions a couple makes.
Can you have a photographer there?
Yes, and this is worth sorting out early rather than turning up and hoping.
Photography inside the courthouse is handled by the court, not by you or me. The court's own wedding information says ceremony photos are allowed and that a camera permit is provided — but the rules cover the courtroom and the public areas of the building, and they can change. So ask about photography when you call to schedule your ceremony. One question, at the same time you're booking anyway.
What I'd plan for regardless: give yourself time after the ceremony, outside. The courtroom portion is short and the building is a building. Once we're out of there, a ten-minute civil ceremony turns into an actual wedding day.
What the day actually looks like
The ceremony is short. Ten minutes, sometimes less. Then, you guessed it, you're married!
So the day is not really the ceremony, but of course that's a big deal. The day is what you do with the hours around it - getting ready somewhere or having a morning coffee together, walking somewhere afterward, having a celebratory meal and/or drinks, or however makes the most sense for you. One of my couples I worked with had a spa day after, and I loved that for them.
When I photograph a courthouse wedding, most of my job is 1) photographing your wedding (duh) but 2) making sure it's celebrated authentically to you. I know where the light is, the process, and I'm here to help plan a meaningful day (whether that's downtown or a road trip elsewhere).
Where to go after
The courthouse is downtown, which means you have the whole west side within about fifteen minutes.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park is the closest — you can walk it. Good if you want to stay in the city and keep everything very brief.
Washington Park is the one I'd pick. The International Rose Test Garden peaks in June, but the paths and the tree cover work year-round, and there's a lot of it, so you're not stuck in one spot with everyone else's photos.
Hoyt Arboretum is next door to Washington Park and is iconic and also massive. Firs tall enough that it stops feeling like a city, despite being right there. It's shaded, which in Oregon means it works on the bright days and the grey ones, and there is more of it than one afternoon can cover.
All three are a short drive from each other, so you can do two in an afternoon without it feeling rushed.
Questions I get about courthouse weddings
Can we have guests? You can ask the judge about bringing family and friends, but courthouse ceremonies are intentionally small and the courtroom may have limits. Ask when you schedule. If you want more than a handful of people there, get married outside the courthouse with your own officiant instead.
Do we need witnesses? Yes — two, both 18 or older. Neither of you counts, and neither does your officiant. If it's just the two of you, this catches people off guard, so figure it out early. I've been a witness for my couples before and I'm always glad to help you sort it out.
What should we wear? Whatever makes you feel like a celebratory and special version of yourself. Who cares if it isn't "wedding attire", or if it's a ballgown at a courthouse.
Is winter a bad time? No. Portland winter light is soft and constant, which is soft and flattering. Bring a coat you like the look of, because you will likely be wearing it in a lot of the photos.
How long should we book a photographer for? An hour and a half covers the ceremony and one location after. Three hours lets you add a second spot and stop worrying about the clock. Planning a day trip? There are so many places within an hour for a full adventure.
I'm booking Portland now
I'm in San Diego now and moving to Portland in early 2027. If you're planning a Multnomah County courthouse wedding for next year, I'd love to hear about it. Courthouse weddings are my specialty in San Diego - I love their simplicity and intentionality, and I'm excited to work with Portland couples.
Tell me about your day, or look at what a courthouse wedding costs if you want the numbers first. My first 10 PNW bookings for 2027 get 20% off any package.