
Have you become overwhelmed with the idea of planning a huge traditional wedding? Unless you've been involved in the wedding scene more people don't understand what an undertaking planning a conventional wedding is. There are SO many more things that you need to consider that more people wouldn't even think about. And the number of decisions you must make leading up to your wedding day can feel overwhelming. Talk about decision fatigue from the jump. If a wedding planner is its own job, you can guess how much of an undertaking planning a wedding day can be.
So, what are some of your other options if this is just too much for you and your partner? You can have a courthouse ceremony! But what if you love the idea of celebrating with your friends? Just throw a party and invite them all to celebrate with you!
I wanted to make a Baltimore City Court House guide for the couples that just don't want to deal. And you know, since we are dealing with the city, that can also be a bit confusing. So let's simplify some of the details of what's necessary then we can get into the extra fun creative stuff.

Here's your Step-by-step-guide to your Baltimore City Courthouse Wedding
Obtain your marriage license
(Marriage License Department, Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Courthouse, Room 628, 100 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202)
The hours they are open are Mon-Fri 8:30am - 4:00pm (I would avoid getting close to that 4pm time, I've had couples tell me that sometimes the offices close early for no apparent reason)
What do you need to obtain the license?
Both parties must appear together.
Valid government-issued photo IDs (driver’s license, passport, etc.).
Social Security numbers.
$85 fee (cash, credit card, or money order).
You MUST wait at least 48 hours after you obtain your license before you can actually get married. A positive is that you can do this way ahead of time because you have 6 months to tie the knot before it expires.
2. Parking
Parking can be challenging in downtown Baltimore. There are parking garauges within walking distance of the courthouse. If you have guests attending they should consider carpooling with each other or just doing ride-share.
Think about timing. Avoid scheduling your wedding during peak hours or major city events to minimize traffic and congestion. There are many events that occur in the city that close down easy access to the street near the courthouse. Especially the marathons.
The weather is a hard one. I wouldn't stress to much about it be rainy vs not but you should think about which month would work best. I would avoid peak heat and cold motnhs. So the end of July-August and Jan-Feb. It's just hard to look cute when you're sweating through your shirt or sliding on the frozen sidewalks.
3. Ceremony time
Ceremonies are only done on weekdays between 8:30 am - 3:30 pm. You can schedule your appt time online. But there are a few things you do need to make sure to bring with you.
More money - it's a $25 fee for the ceremony cash/credit card. (it's another $5-$10 for certified copies of your paperwork)
Your marriage license & ID's.
At least one witness (this could be your photograph if they are cool with it.
Your guests! If you want, there is a limited number of people allowed in the space and that number includes you and the photographer.
The ceremony takes about 10-15mins from start to finish, one of the things to keep in mind is that the space in which this happens isn't the best looking thing in the world (pictured above) it's in the middle of the building...looks like someone spent some time at the dollar store for "decor". But it gets the job done.
There isn't a dress code which is great, you can truly be who you want to be and wear what makes you feel your best. One thing to keep in mind, when you enter the building you need to go through a metal detector. And you can't have extra clothing with you. What does that mean? If you want to wear heels for the ceremony and then change into something more comfortable for the photos after, you can't bring those extra shoes in the courthouse with you. You need to be wearing everything you want to bring in, anything extra, even a jacket for later. They will make you take it back to your car.
4. Ceremony space
This is what the ceremony space looks like at the Baltimore City courthouse. You go into this office space to check in with your people (or just yourselves), and then once the room is ready, we are all moved into the ceremony space. This might not look the best, but it gets the job done. You only get a limited amount of time in this space, so the photography portion is just from start to finish with the officiant, and then there is a moment at the end to take some portraits without the officiant behind you.
After the Courthouse
When planning your courthouse wedding in Baltimore, the timing and flexibility of your schedule can greatly impact your portraits. Here’s what to consider to make the most of your special day:
Time of Day Matters
Baltimore is known for its sunny weather, and the lighting between noon and 3 PM is typically the most intense. During this timeframe, the light is brighter and harsher, which can affect the overall look and feel of your photos. To work around this, we’ll choose portrait locations with plenty of shade or unique architectural backdrops to soften the light.
Pre-Ceremony Portraits
One great option is to schedule your portraits before heading to the courthouse for your ceremony. For example, I recently worked with a couple who booked the earliest timeslot available for their ceremony. This allowed us to capture beautiful pre-ceremony portraits in Fells Point during the softer morning light. This also meant fewer distractions—less foot traffic and more serene backdrops. Bonus: they included their adorable dogs, making their day even more special!
Looking for the perfect spot near the Baltimore City Courthouse for your wedding portraits? Check out this blog for a curated list of wonderful locations 5 minutes away (in a car) to make your day unforgettable!

Flexibility Creates More Opportunities
If you and your partner are open to being flexible, we can customize your portrait experience to fit your vision. Whether it’s finding hidden gems around Baltimore, incorporating meaningful locations, or even including your pets, we’ll create a tailored experience that reflects your love story.
Comments