Raleigh Courthouse Wedding

I have such a special place in my heart for courthouse weddings. E and N did their maternity photos with me and about a month later I got a text from them asking if I’d be available to document their courthouse wedding in downtown Raleigh. It’s beautiful to watch life unfold so spontaneously sometimes.

In Raleigh, courthouse weddings take place on the ninth floor of the Wake County Justice Center on S Salisbury St. The dark glass walls on the exterior of the building create the perfect backdrop for family photos. I like starting post-ceremonies photos there, just outside the doors, and then walking around the surrounding areas for the rest of our couples portraits. In downtown Raleigh, there are an abundance of coffee shops and bars to go to for celebrating and taking post-ceremony photos. The ceremony itself is quick, usually lasting around 10 minutes. Wedding appointment walk-ins are welcome, and i’ve yet to experience a long wait time. All in all, I absolutely adore the intimacy, ease, and personalization of courthouse weddings.

Personalization is one of my favorite parts of a courthouse wedding. On their wedding day, E and N went with a classic black suit and a satin wedding dress. E accessorized with the most perfect pointy heels, a headband, and designer shades. N also brought his designer shades and together they just pulled off the most iconic look that represented their style as a couple so well. The final touch was a gorgeous bouquet of all white roses for E. Putting extra thought into the small details that might often be overlooked is so worthwhile and can make your courthouse wedding even more memorable.

Outside of Raleigh, I’ve also photographed courthouse weddings in Durham and Hillsborough. I have a few more courthouse celebrations coming up this fall, and I’m so excited to spend more time there!