Beverly Hills Courthouse Wedding: A Complete Planning Guide

Ceremony options, photo advice, and insider tips from photographing more than 100 weddings here

A short ceremony, portraits among the palms, and a really good lunch afterward. A Beverly Hills courthouse wedding can be that simple.

By Elyana | Planning information checked September 22, 2026

Real Talk: What does the Beverly Hills ceremony space actually look like?

Ceremony Room Photos at the Beverly Hills Courthouse

Couples are sometimes surprised when they see the ceremony space for the first time.

It has bright yellow walls, and feels a little more like a DMV than the grand courthouse setting people sometimes picture.

That’s because most of the beautiful Beverly Hills Courthouse wedding photos you see online aren’t taken at the courthouse itself. They’re taken around Beverly Hills City Hall, about a five-minute walk away, where photography requires a permit.

The Beverly Hills Courthouse and Beverly Hills City Hall are two different buildings, and they look completely different.

Most couples have their ceremony documented at the courthouse, then walk over to City Hall for couple portraits, family photos, or a private vow reading..

Real Beverly Hills Courthouse Wedding Photos

I’ve photographed more than 100 weddings here, so the gallery below shows what the experience really looks like…from the simple courthouse ceremony space to portraits around Beverly Hills City Hall, with its palms, tiled details, and classic Southern California architecture.

Take a look through the photos and see whether this kind of wedding feels like you.

Jump to: Ceremony options · Booking · Costs · Photo permit · Photos and light · Timeline · Photography · Weather

Select your ceremony type: private room vs public clerk’s window

First things first, decide what type of Beverly Hills Courthouse wedding ceremony best fits your vision. There are two options:

Express: a simple ceremony at the window

This takes place at the marriage-license window, not in a private room. It’s a good fit if you want a straightforward appointment and would rather spend more of the day on portraits or celebrating afterward.

The setting feels like a government office, because it is one. I’d choose this for simplicity, not for a grand ceremony backdrop.

Family and friends must wait outside. If you have a public marriage license, you’ll need a witness; a confidential license doesn’t require one.

Civil ceremony: a separate room with guests

If having your people watch you get married matters to you, this is the option I’d look at first. The County schedules these ceremonies in 15-minute slots and gives you the room’s capacity when you book. Confirm your total headcount, including your photographer, before inviting everyone.

The room has bright yellow walls and a simple setup. It isn’t the dramatic City Hall backdrop you may have pictured, but it gives the ceremony its own space.

In my experience, ceremonies in this separate room usually allow for personalized vows, music, or a short reading. However, I would still reach out to the courthouse with your plans to see if these requests can be accommodated.

My take: choose the ceremony around who you want beside you. We can plan the architectural portraits separately.

How to book your Beverly Hills Courthouse wedding

Start with LA County’s online marriage-license application and save your confirmation number.

• For express: select the combined marriage-license and express-ceremony appointment, then choose Beverly Hills. You don’t need a separate license-pickup visit for this option. Everything will take place on the day of the ceremony.
• For the ceremony room: make a license appointment first. When you purchase your license, arrange the ceremony.

Appointments open up to three weeks ahead. If your date is farther away, it may simply be outside the booking window. If the available dates are full, keep checking for openings; the County doesn’t maintain a waitlist.

What days and times are available?

The County’s Beverly Hills branch listing lists Wednesday and Friday for ceremonies from 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM. The express booking calendar can also offer other weekdays, so check the appointment type you actually want.

What do you need for the marriage license?

Both partners must attend the license appointment with valid identification, such as an unexpired driver’s license or passport. Review the County’s eligibility requirements, especially if either of you was previously married or has documents in another language.

If a divorce was finalized within the past two years, bring a certified copy of the final divorce order. For an older divorce, you’ll still need the final date.

Your license is valid for 90 days after it is issued. A confidential license has eligibility requirements, including already living together as spouses; it isn’t simply a cheaper version of the public license.

How much does a Beverly Hills Courthouse wedding cost?

These are the County’s published fees:

Item	Fee
Public marriage license	$91
Confidential marriage license, if eligible	$85
County ceremony	$35
County-provided witness, if needed	$20

That makes the basic license-and-ceremony cost $126 with a public license or $120 with a confidential license. Photography, photo permits, parking, certified copies, and any applicable payment-processing charges are separate.

For a public-license ceremony, you can bring your own witness. If I’m photographing your wedding, I can also be your witness…just let me know beforehand so we can plan for it.

Do you need a permit for Beverly Hills City Hall wedding photos?

Yes. Beverly Hills requires a wedding photography permit for City Hall’s exterior and locations including Palm Court, Boat Court, Beverly Gardens Park, and Rodeo Drive.

• Photo rate: $86 per hour, booked in whole hours, with a two-hour maximum. Processing or other applicable charges can add to that; confirm the full amount with the City.
• When to apply: at least seven business days ahead to avoid additional late-processing charges, and no more than 60 days ahead.
• What’s needed: an application and insurance documentation. Coordinate this with your photographer, and bring the printed, issued permit on the day.

Use the City’s wedding-photography page for the application and current requirements. Last-minute requests aren’t guaranteed.

One important distinction: a photography permit doesn’t authorize a ceremony at City Hall.

While sometimes couple do a private reading of their vows their to each other, full on ceremonies with guests aren’t allowed. For this reason, ceremonies need to take place at the Beverly Hills Courthouse.

Where to take Beverly Hills Courthouse wedding photos, & when the light looks best

The City Hall and Civic Center area is where I’d start for Beverly Hills Courthouse wedding photos. It includes palms, arches, staircases, and architectural portraits. You don’t need to spend the afternoon driving between locations to have variety in your photographs.

I’d rather leave time to walk, pause, and enjoy being together than squeeze every possible backdrop into an hour.

Morning: my first suggestion for a quieter feel

I like mornings here for the softer light and generally quieter surroundings. They also work nicely if you want to get married, take portraits, and head straight to lunch.

Think about whether you’d prefer photos before or after the appointment. A morning ceremony doesn’t automatically mean all your portraits happen in early-morning light.

Midday: a different look, not a ruined photo session

If midday is the appointment you can get, don’t panic. Strong sunlight creates more contrast and dynamic lighting, which can be really visually interesting and beautiful. It’s a different approach from photographing everything out in the open near sunset.

In warm weather, I’d definitely bring water. It can get pretty hot! Comfortable shoes for the walk are a good idea, even if you change back into your wedding shoes for portraits.

Near sunset: warm light, with a little more planning

If you love that warm, golden hour look, plan the portrait time around sunset on your actual wedding date.

Note: your Beverly Hills Courthouse wedding appointment and the best portrait light may be hours apart, especially in summer. You can separate the two, but decide whether that gap fits the kind of day you want—and make sure the photo-permit time matches the portraits.

What if it Rains?

While the ceremony is located indoors at the courthouse, 95% of photos are typically taken outdoors at the Beverly Hills City Hall.

This area does not have any covered sections.

For this reason, if it’s looking like it’s going to rain, I highly recommend bringing clear umbrellas for you and your guests. This is because they let light pass through onto one’s face, creating a more flattering look. One umbrella is typically enough for every two guests.

A simple wedding-day timeline

For a ceremony and portraits nearby, I usually recommend starting with about two hours of photography coverage. The right amount depends on your appointment type, guest count, and whether you want getting-ready or restaurant photos too.

Here’s my go-to two hour plan for a ceremony-room appointment, with the license already purchased:

Part of the day	Time set aside
Meet, check in, and settle in	15 minutes
Ceremony slot	15 minutes
Congratulations, any remaining paperwork, and walk toward City Hall	15 minutes
Family and friend portraits	25 minutes
Couple portraits	50 minutes

Note: For express appointments, allow time for the license paperwork as well as the ceremony; don’t put a 15-minute ceremony-room slot into that timeline since the paperwork aspect for express ceremonies typically takes around 45 minutes.

In the case of express ceremonies, I’d recommend having your photographer start after the paperwork portion is done, about 10 minutes before your ceremony time.

Photo Tip: My suggestion is to photograph the family groups first once everyone is together outside. Your guests can then head toward the celebration while you have some time for portraits as a couple.

Getting there without feeling rushed

Send guests the Burton Way address for the ceremony, not City Hall. If anyone is meeting you only for portraits, give them a separate meeting point.

The City lists a Civic Center parking structure at 450 N. Rexford Drive. Check current parking information and posted restrictions before choosing where to park. Allow time to walk from your car and get upstairs.

I recommend being at the marriage office 20 minutes before your appointment. The County’s published late-arrival grace period is only five minutes.

Before you leave, check that you have:

• Your appointment confirmation, required identification, and payment method.
• Your issued license if you’re attending a separate ceremony appointment.
• Your witness arranged, if required.
• Your rings or bouquet, if you’re including them, and anything you’ve agreed with the office for the ceremony.
• Water and the issued photo permit printed out

Where to celebrate afterward

You don’t need a full reception to make the day feel special. A table for two or lunch with your closest people is just as memorable.

Tree nearby options I highly recommend are Il Pastaio for Italian food and Avra Beverly Hills for Greek seafood. Both offer group-dining options; ask directly about your party size, date, and preferred setup.

Leave a buffer between the photographs and your reservation. It’s much nicer to finish without watching the clock.

A few other questions couples ask

Can we bring our own officiant into the ceremony room?

The County doesn’t allow outside officiants to conduct ceremonies in its chapels. If someone you know will officiate, you’ll need to plan a different ceremony location.

Can we write our own vows?

From my experience documenting over 100 courthouse weddings, typically this is allowed as long as they are not super long. I would still ask the office about adding them to a ceremony-room appointment.

Is the Beverly Hills Courthouse and Beverly Hills City Hall Wheelchair Accessible?

Yes

What if we need to change the ceremony date?

The County’s ceremony policy allows one reschedule; another requires a new ceremony fee. Confirm availability before changing your other bookings.

Beverly Hills Courthouse wedding photography

If you like photographs with color, architecture, and a sense of the place, alongside the little moments between you both, that’s what I love to document. I also offer 35mm film and wide-format Polaroids.

My courthouse photography packages start at $2,000. Tell me your date, which ceremony you’re considering, and whether guests will be joining you. I can help you work out how much coverage makes sense for your plans.

Ask about your wedding date.

Beyond Digital, I Also Offer 35 mm Film Photography & Wide Format Polaroids

Reach Out Here!

I’ve documented over 100 weddings at the Beverly Hills Courthouse. Elopement photography begins at $2,000. I typically recommend 2 hours of coverage. This covers the ceremony, family and friend portraits, and couple portraits.

Inquire here