Everything You Need to Know About a Fort Collins Courthouse Wedding
One of the best things about planning a wedding is that you get to make the day whatever you want. For some people that may look like a huge party with all their friends and family and for others it may look like an intimate courthouse elopement.
As a Colorado elopement and wedding photographer, I love that I get to spend my time helping couple remember their perfect wedding, whatever it may look like. I’ll say, though, that there is something special about having a more private wedding with just your partner to start this next chapter of your life together.
If that is something that has been in the back of your mind, a Fort Collins courthouse wedding may be the perfect option for you. Here’s everything you need to know about what an elopement here looks like and what you have to plan for!
What You Need to Know About a Fort Collins Courthouse Wedding
While planning a courthouse elopement is definitely easier than planning a full-scale wedding, there are still a few things you need to know to make sure you have all of your boxes checked before you say I do!
Apply for a marriage license online
The first thing you’ll want to do is apply for your marriage license online. This isn’t super complicated to do and you can find the form that you need to fill out here. You’ll find basic information on this form, like your name, address, birthdate, and information about your parents.
Book an appointment to get your marriage license
Once you have filled out the form, it’s time to book an appointment to actually pick up your marriage license. There are a few things you need to know here. First, both you and your partner have to be there in person to pick up your license.
There is an affidavit you can fill out if one of you isn’t able to be there, but be sure to plan a time that both of you can go.
You also need to have approved identification with you when you go to this appointment, so be sure to double-check that you have it before you head over to the courthouse. Keep in mind, too, that this isn’t your appointment to actually have your ceremony with a judge. That is going to be a different one than the one you booked to get your license!
Sign your license
Now that all of the paperwork is done, it’s officially time to get hitched! Since Colorado is a state that allows self-solemnization, you actually have a few different options here.
Ceremony with a judge
The first option you have is a ceremony with a judge. You’ll have to book an appointment separately with the judicial branch (I promise this is the last appointment you have to make!).
To do this, you can go through the Larimer County Justice Center. I’ll say, though, that they are often super busy with court cases and only have very limited availability for wedding ceremonies so you could run into some trouble actually booking your date.
Thankfully, you can also book an appointment with a retired judge instead to avoid the delay due to other cases in the court! If that sounds more your speed, the Larimer Clerk and Recording office recommends Ret. Judge Ronald L. Schultz (Phone #: (970) 372-1537).
Self-solemnizing
One of the coolest things about getting married in Colorado is the option to self-solemnize. This means you and your partner don’t actually need anyone to perform or sign your marriage certificate to officially tie the knot.
When you get your marriage license, there will be instructions on how to actually do this if that’s what you want to do. Since you don’t need anyone there to perform your ceremony, you can also just sign the marriage license right there and hand it right back to the clerk!
While nothing beats that speed, if you want to have a ceremony for you and your partner, you can also get the license and return it within a few days! I have had couples do both and both options can still be really special and meaningful to you.
Return your license
Now that all of the fun (and paperwork) is over, the last thing you’ll want to do is return your marriage license to the clerk’s office. It needs to be returned within 63 days so be sure to plan out a time to do this so you don’t miss the deadline!
What actually happens when you return it? They’ll keep the license for a couple of days so that they can make some copies of it. Once that is done, they’ll mail you back your original certificate within 2 weeks.
And voila! You and your partner are officially married.
What Happens After?
Now that you know all of the logistics that go into actually applying for, getting, signing, and returning your marriage certificate, what happens after? The great part about this is that you can do anything you want after!
Even if you are having an intimate Fort Collins courthouse wedding with just you and your partner, that doesn’t mean you have to just go back home once you’re finished. This is still your wedding day and you deserve to celebrate if you want.
Since you are right in Fort Collins, many of my couples choose to do a little newlywed photo session around Old Town. This way, you’ll still remember this day and have wedding photos to look back on for years to come.
There are also a ton of different restaurants and bars around that you can go to and celebrate. If you still want to have a bit of that reception feel without having a full wedding, why not invite some of your closest friends and family out to dinner to toast to your new life together.
While Old Town is beautiful, there’s an endless amount of stunning places all around Fort Collins that you can also explore after you tie the knot. Whether you want to do something adventurous or find a peaceful and quiet overlook, you’ll have everything you need right in the surrounding area.
Plus, as a Colorado local, I have plenty of recommendations that I can give you to help make this day as special as possible!
What to Wear for Your Elopement?
The other thing I often get asked is what to actually wear for a courthouse elopement. After all, it’s not necessarily as formal as a larger wedding, so how do you choose what to wear?
My answer? Whatever you want! This is still your day and whether you are getting married at the courthouse or the Four Seasons, you get to make it look however you want.
Some of my couples will still get dressed up in full traditional wedding gear, and some will go more casual. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and confident in what you are wearing because it’s still your wedding day.
The other most important thing is that you and your partner are on the same page. You don’t want one of you to show up in a formal outfit and the other in shorts, so make sure you sit down with each other and decide together what you want to do!
Now You’re Ready for Your Courthouse Wedding in Fort Collins!
I hope this guide has helped you as you start to plan your Fort Collins courthouse wedding. At the end of the day, always remember that this day is for the two of you, no one else. That means you can make it look like whatever you want.
If you’re still looking for your perfect photographer to capture that day, whatever it may look like, I’d love to talk! You can click here to learn more about my wedding photography services or you can head over here to get in touch and start planning your dream wedding day!
Read these next:
Everything You Need to Know About a Fort Collins Wedding at The Elizabeth Hotel
