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a savannah Courthouse Wedding
Couples search for this all the time, so here is the part nobody tells you. The courthouse gives you the license, not the ceremony.
What The Court Does
The Chatham County Probate Court is in Room 509 of the courthouse at 133 Montgomery Street. It says it does not offer or conduct wedding ceremonies. So if you picture a quick courthouse wedding, you will still need an officiant and a place to stand.
Getting The License
- Fill out the court's online application.
- Book an appointment. Both of you must be present.
- Bring proof of age, such as a driver's license or passport. If you were married before, bring the final divorce decree or a death certificate.
- Pay $76, or $36 with a qualifying premarital education certificate.
- Hold your ceremony anywhere in Georgia, then mail the completed license back to the court.
If neither of you lives in Georgia, you get the license in the county where the ceremony will happen. The court's page does not state a waiting period, so call if your timing is tight.
What I Would Do Instead
What most people want from a courthouse wedding is small, simple and soon. Savannah does that better than any courthouse. The City says a wedding of fewer than fifty people with no setup at all may go ahead in a square without a permit, first come first served. Check the City's wedding page for your date. Pick a quiet hour, bring an officiant, and you are married under the oaks. Read my elopement guide for how I plan these.
Courthouse Wedding Questions
Can you get married at the courthouse in Savannah?
The Chatham County Probate Court says it does not offer or conduct wedding ceremonies. It issues the license, and you bring your own officiant somewhere else.
How much is a marriage license in Savannah?
The court lists $76, or $36 with a certificate from a qualifying premarital education program of at least six hours. There is a 5 percent service fee on cards, and it does not take checks.
Do you need an appointment?
Yes. The court says all applications are by appointment only. You submit the online application first, then schedule, and both of you must be there.
Your Date
Tell me where you are getting married and I will tell you how I would photograph it.