How a courthouse wedding works in Charlotte
A "courthouse wedding" in Charlotte is really two separate stops in Uptown, run by two different offices:
- The license. Both of you apply in person at the Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds, 720 E. 4th Street, Room 105. Bring photo ID and proof of your Social Security number. The license is good for 60 days. Full license checklist.
- The ceremony. The Register of Deeds doesn't perform weddings. For a civil ceremony at the courthouse, you go to the Magistrate's Office at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse a short walk away, on the schedule they set.
That second step is where most couples get stuck. Magistrates handle weddings in between their other court duties, so the times on offer are limited to their schedule, the setting is an office, and you may wait your turn with other couples and court business.
The short version
You need the license from the county either way. The ceremony can be done by a magistrate on the court's schedule, or by a private officiant on yours.
Magistrate vs. a private officiant
| Courthouse magistrate | Charlotte Elopements | |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduling | On the magistrate's schedule | Book online, pick your time |
| Where | Inside the courthouse | Near 720 E. 4th St., a park, or your spot |
| Ceremony | Brief civil wording | Brief or personal, always non-religious |
| Witnesses | Bring your own | Bring your own, or add two for $50 |
| Weekends | Generally not | Select weekend times |
| Cost | Small fee set by state law | $120 express, $175 elopement |
| License returned | By the magistrate | By us, within 10 days |
If you want the lowest possible cost and don't mind waiting for a slot, the magistrate is a perfectly good option. If you want to choose the time, skip the queue, or have photos somewhere nicer than a hallway, a private officiant is the alternative.
The express signing: a courthouse wedding without the courthouse
Our Express Uptown signing was built for couples who want exactly what a courthouse wedding offers (quick, simple, official) without depending on the court's calendar.
- Get your license at the Register of Deeds.
- Meet Colin a few minutes away, at Marshall Park, Romare Bearden Park, or another nearby spot.
- A short, warm ceremony with the legal declaration and no religious language. About five minutes.
- You, your two witnesses, and Colin sign. We return the license to the county.
$120, or $170 if you'd like us to bring the two witnesses. Many couples do the license and the signing in the same visit.
A same-day courthouse-style wedding, step by step
- Before: fill out the Register of Deeds online pre-application (it saves time at the counter) and gather your documents.
- Morning: both of you visit Room 105 at 720 E. 4th Street during weekday business hours and pick up your license.
- Late morning or afternoon: meet your officiant and witnesses nearby. Five minutes later, you're married.
- Within 10 days: the officiant returns the license. After it's recorded, order certified copies from the Register of Deeds for name changes, insurance, or immigration paperwork.
Courthouse wedding questions
Can you get married at the courthouse in Charlotte?
Yes. Magistrates at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse perform civil marriage ceremonies. You'll need your marriage license from the Register of Deeds first. Contact the Magistrate's Office directly for current days, times, and fees, since they set their own schedule.
Is a private ceremony as legal as a courthouse wedding?
The license is identical. What makes any NC marriage valid is a valid license, two adult witnesses, a qualified officiant, and the license being returned to the Register of Deeds. Colin is completing his endorsement as a Humanist Society Celebrant. The Humanist Society is a long-standing national body that endorses humanist clergy and celebrants, which is the path secular officiants in North Carolina rely on instead of one-click online ordinations. We only confirm ceremony dates once that endorsement is in place.
How fast can we get married in Charlotte?
North Carolina has no waiting period. If you get your license in the morning, you can be married that afternoon, as long as your officiant and two witnesses are available.
Are you part of the courthouse or the county?
No. Charlotte Elopements is an independent officiant service. We're not affiliated with Mecklenburg County, the Register of Deeds, or the NC courts. We simply meet you nearby.
Charlotte Elopements is an independent officiant service and is not affiliated with Mecklenburg County, the Register of Deeds, or the North Carolina Judicial Branch. Office hours and procedures change, so confirm details with those offices.