Faith & Chance

Tarrant County Courthouse - Fort Worth, Texas

When you think of a courthouse wedding, you usually think of a couple running off to get "hitched in a hurry". You might think of those yellowing walls, peeling paint, vending machines, security guards, completely terrible lighting, and all of those out-dated curtains and furniture. No doubt, that's exactly what you'll find in most (if not all) courthouses. It's a legal playground, and not really something that society views as "romantic". So, when this couple reached out, I was a little hesitant. Without all the florals, the gorgeous tablescapes, and perfect lighting, I knew that this was going to be a true test of my skill. Since, I'm hard-headed and I absolutely LOVE what I do, I said YES.

Exterior view of a grand historic courthouse building with stone columns and architectural details.

Styling a courthouse wedding

When styling a courthouse wedding, you'll want to go for simple elegance. Against the neutral and sometimes-faded walls and very dim or yellowed lighting, choosing delicate, shimmery, or lace materials on your wedding dress, will create an eye-drawing contrast against a very pallid background, not to mention when standing in front of the judges bench, which is often some version of wooden material.

Faith and Chance opted for this elegant, romantic, and somewhat-traditional wedding day look. Faith's courthouse ceremony dress was stunning and made her stand-out against the courthouse and courtroom where their wedding took place. Chance chose a tailored black tux, a nice watch, and cufflinks. As we move toward more untraditional looks for a groom, I loved seeing this classic combo of ivory dress + black tux. Whether "in" right now or not, this look was a choice that elevated their wedding, and brought timelessness to their photographs. In an effort to maintain a cohesive and classic wedding day look, they also requested that the guests in attendance wear all-black, a trend that I LOVE, because it looks great in photos, everyone looks good in black, AND it contrasts perfectly against the bride's look and the courtroom.

Elegant wedding ceremony taking place in a traditional courtroom with wooden furnishings.

Intimate wedding ceremony moment in a historic courtroom with warm lighting.

Wedding guests watching ceremony in a formal courtroom setting.

Celebrating after your courthouse wedding

Okay, so you're getting married on a weekday, during business hours, your guests are fabulously dressed, and everyone is ready to celebrate with you. Where do you go? Well, Faith & Chance moved the party to a local bar and restaurant for a cocktail hour followed by a private wedding dinner party. They chose Del Frisco's Grille in Fort Worth, Texas, which I suggest to ALL of my clients getting married at Tarrant County Courthouse. It's a gorgeous restaurant, lots of natural lighting, and absolutely perfect to host a group of your closest family and friends for both cocktail hour and delicious dinner. The massive windows, the beautiful staircase, and classic set-up made for a perfect celebration space. To add to the dinner space, Faith and Chance chose white roses, placed in clear glass vases, with a sheer black ribbon for a final touch. Simple. Elegant. Romantic. They placed their wedding cake front and center-stage and used canvas prints of their engagement session to personalize the space. Just like a traditional wedding reception, they had an entry table dedicated for cards, gifts, and a marriage advice box.

Wedding reception celebration in a rustic venue with exposed brick walls.

Formal wedding reception table settings with elegant white decor and glassware.

Modern bar interior with hanging wine glasses and wooden accents.

Wedding reception gathering in an industrial-style venue with brick walls.

all in all,

If you're considering a courthouse wedding, don't feel like you have to "give up" some of those beautiful and traditional wedding day aspects, just because you're tying the knot in a judges chambers versus a church or venue. You can absolutely have a gorgeous wedding, beautiful photos, and maintain an elevated and elegant experience. Some of the things "most beautiful" about Faith and Chance's wedding was sticking to a simple aesthetic and using details in the bridal gowns and trusting the classic contrast of white roses, white tablecloths, black accent linens (napkins). Faith also had THREE wardrobe changes, to switch it up and keep things fun and modern! Courthouse weddings might not be for everyone, but they are STUNNING, money-saving, and can be absolutely glamorous. We hope that we've been able to help you envision your own courthouse wedding, especially for those planning on getting married in Dallas, Texas region. Tarrant County Courthouse is, hands-down, one of the most beautiful places to get married. We hope you'll consider Forever October for your Dallas or Fort Worth, Texas Courthouse wedding.