Orange County Elopement & Courthouse Wedding Photography

There are 3 Orange County locations where you can obtain and pick up your marriage license: Anaheim City Centre, the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana, or Laguna Hills.

Your first step is to apply for the application online here

Once you apply online you have  90 days from the date your online application is submitted for both parties to appear together in person to complete and obtain an official marriage license.

I always recommend couples give themselves plenty of time and arrive early 15-20 minutes before the scheduled appointment time. This gives you time to park, find and meet your photographer, and or have a first look with your fiancé. 

Your appointment time is kind of for both. First, you check in for your appointment when you get there. Be sure to wait for your photographer we like to document this so you have memorable photos. After you check in they call you up on or near your appointment time to sign the marriage certificate, show ID, and pay the fees. Once the paperwork is taken care of and you are sworn in you wait to be called for your ceremony.  Depending on how busy the Clerks office is will ultimately determine how quickly the process goes. 

Ceremony appointments can be scheduled up to 60 days in advance. Some Saturday appointments can be scheduled further out than that. Always check with the official website. 

You will be appointed an officiant and are not able to choose who officiates your ceremony. 

Each location has a different number of guests that can attend indoors for the ceremony. It is typically between 15-20 guests. If you want to have more guests I would recommend reserving the original courtroom upstairs in the Old Orange County Courthouse.

A courthouse civil marriage ceremony is between 7-10 minutes long. It's a very nice non-sectarian ceremony performed by an appointed Deputy of marriage officer. 

Couples do not have time to read their own vows during the civil ceremony. This can be done before or after your appointment time outside not in the designated room. 

A professional photographer does not need a permit to photograph your wedding ceremony at the courthouse or other OC branches. 

It typically takes between 7-10 business days to receive your marriage certificate. Some couples have said it could take up to 6 weeks. A marriage certificate costs $17 for each copy. The easiest way to get your certificate is to purchase it when you are signing your marriage license certificate at the OC County Clerk's office. 

Absolutely. I like to show you what I am taking usually at the start of the session. This helps you see and feel confident in what we are creating.

Dogs are not allowed in the building unless it's a service dog. However, couples do bring their fur babies with them for photo ops outside. I recommend bringing a pet sitter or handler to watch the dog while you are inside the building. 

Yes, a bridal party can attend the ceremony as part of your guest count. However, due to limited space in the ceremony rooms, there might not be room for them to stand next to you during the ceremony. 

We have multiple packages for our courthouse wedding couples, including custom packages. We do not offer to come out for 30 minutes. However, there is plenty to do during our time together. 30  minutes would not be a sufficient amount of time to capture your courthouse wedding. 

I deliver your online gallery which has all the best photos from the day in 2-3 days. 

Your photos are delivered via a secure online gallery. Here you can download the images and do as you please with them. 

No, I don’t just photograph courthouse weddings. Christopher Todd Studios is a full-service photography studio. I offer family portraits, engagement sessions, and special event coverage. Including, weddings, corporate, and private events. I also specialize in branding photography.

• To document your elopement
• To have beautiful photos of your ceremony
• To share your elopement with family and friends
• Professional photos will outlast your iPhone pictures
• Being able to announce your elopement to the world with a stunning portrait