How much do courthouse and city hall ceremonies cost in Chicago?

Across the 4 Chicago listings on this page, published starting prices run from $10 to $10, with a median starting price of $10. The cheapest is Cook County Marriage and Civil Union Court in Chicago at $10. Every figure comes from the venue's own pricing page or a public fee schedule, checked in August 2026.

What is the cheapest of the courthouse and city hall ceremonies in Chicago?

Cook County Marriage and Civil Union Court in Chicago, at $10. Rental fees do not include the marriage license, an officiant, or anything you bring in.

Which parts of Chicago have courthouse and city hall ceremonies?

The 4 listings here sit across 4 cities in the Chicago area, including Chicago, Waukegan, Geneva, and Wheaton. Some rates are lower for residents of the city or county that owns the site, so check whether a resident rate applies to you.

Are these prices current?

Each listing shows the date its price was checked against the source, most recently August 2026, and links straight to that source so you can confirm it yourself. Fee schedules change, peak-season and weekend surcharges are common, and nothing here is a quote. Confirm with the venue before you book.

Courthouse weddings in Chicago: 4 published fee schedules

Illustration of courthouse and city hall ceremonies in the Chicago area — Illustration. Not a photograph of any venue listed on this page.

Civil ceremonies performed by a court or clerk are the cheapest legal way to get married, and the fee is published in a public schedule rather than quoted by a salesperson. Every listing below is a real Chicago area site with a price published by the venue itself or in a public fee schedule, checked in August 2026. We do not publish estimates, and we do not take a cut of what you book.

Listings: 4
Cheapest: $10
Median start: $10
Highest start: $10

Cheapest is Cook County Marriage and Civil Union Court at $10. Prices last verified against their sources in August 2026.

The mix here is 4 courthouse & city hall, spread across 4 cities in the metro. Filter by price tier, guest count, indoor or outdoor, and ceremony versus reception below, then open any listing to see its source link.

4 of 4 venues

Cook County Marriage and Civil Union Court

$10

Chicago, IL

Courthouse & City HallIndoorCeremony only

A valid marriage or civil union license and a $10 administrative fee are required for the ceremony. Ceremonies are also available by appointment at the Skokie and Rolling Meadows courthouses.

Lake County Circuit Court Marriage Ceremony

$10

Waukegan, IL

Courthouse & City HallIndoorCeremony only

$10.00 marriage fee, cash only, for a ceremony performed by a judge. Weekday ceremonies at 2:00pm at 18 N. County Street (Annex Building lower level); Saturday/Sunday ceremonies 8:45-9:00am in 1st Appearance Court (T-020). No appointment needed.

Kane County Courthouse Wedding Ceremony

$10

Geneva, IL

Courthouse & City HallIndoorCeremony only

$10 ceremony fee, cash only, paid to the Circuit Clerk when checking in. Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles holds ceremonies at 3:30pm Monday-Thursday and the first Friday of the month; the Geneva courthouse (719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. B) holds ceremonies Fridays 2:00-4:00pm (excluding the first Friday).

DuPage County Courthouse Wedding Ceremony

$10 to $14

Wheaton, IL

Courthouse & City HallIndoorCeremony only

The ceremony fee is $10.00, collected by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, which charges an additional $4.00 convenience fee ($14.00 total). Couples must schedule the courthouse wedding online through Wedding Ceremony Registration before obtaining the marriage license.

Not finding the right fit in Chicago?

Tell us your date, guest count, and budget. We'll email you the Chicago venues under $5,000 that fit, each with its published price and source. We don't book or hold anything, you contact the venue yourself.

Common questions

How much do courthouse and city hall ceremonies cost in Chicago?: Across the 4 Chicago listings on this page, published starting prices run from $10 to $10, with a median starting price of $10. The cheapest is Cook County Marriage and Civil Union Court in Chicago at $10. Every figure comes from the venue's own pricing page or a public fee schedule, checked in August 2026.
What is the cheapest of the courthouse and city hall ceremonies in Chicago?: Cook County Marriage and Civil Union Court in Chicago, at $10. Rental fees do not include the marriage license, an officiant, or anything you bring in.
Which parts of Chicago have courthouse and city hall ceremonies?: The 4 listings here sit across 4 cities in the Chicago area, including Chicago, Waukegan, Geneva, and Wheaton. Some rates are lower for residents of the city or county that owns the site, so check whether a resident rate applies to you.
Are these prices current?: Each listing shows the date its price was checked against the source, most recently August 2026, and links straight to that source so you can confirm it yourself. Fee schedules change, peak-season and weekend surcharges are common, and nothing here is a quote. Confirm with the venue before you book.

Guides that go with this list

What Happens at a Courthouse Wedding: Step by Step, What to Bring, How Long It TakesA courthouse wedding is two errands: get the license, then have a judge or clerk perform a short civil ceremony. Here is exactly what happens at each step, what you need to bring, who has to be there, and how long the whole thing takes.How Much Does a Small Wedding Cost? Real Numbers for 20, 30, and 50 GuestsThe average cost of a small wedding depends almost entirely on the guest count and the venue. Here are worked totals for 20, 30, and 50 guests built on published venue prices from 1,000+ real listings, plus the line items that actually move the number.What a Civil Ceremony Is, Who Can Perform One, and What It CostsA civil ceremony is a legal, non-religious wedding performed by a judge, clerk, or other authorized officiant. It can happen at a courthouse, a park, or your living room. Here is who can perform one in the states we cover, what it costs, and how it differs from a religious ceremony.21 Questions to Ask a Cheap Wedding Venue Before You BookThe questions that decide whether a low published price is actually low: minimums, deposits, surcharges, what is included, alcohol rules, rain policy, and vendor restrictions.

Narrow it down in Chicago

Under $1,00014 venues in Chicago Parks and pavilions4 venues in Chicago Gardens5 venues in Chicago Historic estates4 venues in Chicago Outdoor10 venues in Chicago Indoor11 venues in Chicago Ceremony only9 venues in Chicago 50+ guests9 venues in Chicago

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