San Diego Courthouse Wedding Guide: All 4 Locations, Parking, Process & What to Expect
Planning a courthouse wedding in San Diego? Many couples don’t realize there are four different courthouse locations where you can get married in San Diego County—each with its own experience, scenery, parking situation, and ceremony process. In this complete guide, we break down the San Diego County Administration Center, San Marcos, El Cajon, and Chula Vista courthouse wedding locations, including the pros, cons, parking tips, and what to expect on your wedding day. After photographing hundreds of intimate weddings and civil ceremonies across Southern California, we know how quickly these moments pass. If you’re planning a San Diego courthouse wedding, this guide will help you choose the right location—and show you how to capture the moment you officially become husband and wife.
How Does a Courthouse Wedding Work? A Personal Story from Our Own “I Do”
A courthouse wedding might seem simple, but it carries a beauty all its own — intimate, heartfelt, and timeless. Before we ever became wedding photographers, Stephanie and I experienced it firsthand. On May 20, 2016, at the Moreno Valley Courthouse in Riverside County, we said “I do” with borrowed outfits, a few family members, and a whole lot of love. That experience taught us that marriage isn’t about the size of the venue; it’s about the commitment behind it. In this guide, we walk you through exactly how a courthouse wedding works in California — from scheduling your ceremony and getting your marriage license to what to expect the day of. We’ll also share photography tips and real-world insight from our own journey. Whether you’re planning a civil marriage at the OC Historic Courthouse or eloping in Riverside, this is everything you need to make your courthouse “I do” unforgettable.