I love small weddings. No huge timeline, no pressure, just the two of you (and maybe a few people you love) saying "I do." My wife and I eloped in her home country of Costa Rica, and it's still one of the best days of our lives. So I'm a little biased.
If you're thinking about eloping or getting married at the courthouse in Miami, here's how it actually works, step by step, plus what I've learned from photographing these days.
Step 1: Get Your Marriage License
Everything starts with your marriage license from the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller. Here's what to know, based on the Clerk's current guidelines:
Apply together, in person. Both of you need to be there with a valid ID, like a driver's license or passport. You can walk in, but booking an application appointment online saves you a long wait.
The fee is $86. It drops to $61 if you complete a registered premarital course (minimum 4 hours) and bring your certificate when you apply.
Florida residents have a 3-day waiting period. You can skip it by completing that same premarital course. If neither of you lives in Florida, there's no waiting period.
Your license is good for 60 days. You have to get married within 60 days of the date it's issued.
It works anywhere in Florida. A Florida license lets you get married in any county in the state, but not outside Florida.
Rules and fees can change, so always double check with the Clerk before your date. My Miami courthouse wedding guide has more on this too.
Step 2: Book Your Ceremony
You have two main options.
A courthouse ceremony with a deputy clerk
The Clerk's deputies perform ceremonies at the Central Marriage License Bureau (601 NW 1st Court, Suite 1900) and at the Clerk's district court locations, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm, not counting legal holidays. The ceremony fee is $30. They take walk-ins, but I always tell my couples to book a ceremony appointment so you're not waiting around in your wedding outfits.
One thing a lot of people don't know: the ceremony itself doesn't happen at the historic courthouse on Flagler Street. It happens at the Clerk's office, and then we head over to the old courthouse columns and steps and around downtown for portraits.
Most of my couples bring a few guests, flowers and a photographer. If you're planning to bring more than a handful of people, check with the Clerk's office ahead of time.
An elopement somewhere else
You don't have to get married at the courthouse. In Florida, a ceremony can be performed by a minister or other clergy, a judge, a clerk or a Florida notary public. So you can get your license, find an officiant and say your vows on a beach, in a garden or at a restaurant you love. If someone other than a deputy clerk marries you, they have to return the signed license to the Clerk within 10 days.
Step 3: Pick Your Photo Spots
This is the fun part. Here are a few of my favorites for elopements in Miami.
The old courthouse steps
The courthouse columns and wide steps are one of the most classic backdrops in Miami. They look amazing in black and white. Eymi & Sebastian's courthouse wedding is a good example of everything you can get downtown in a short amount of time, and Zeidy & Sandy's elopement was small, simple and all about their people.
Downtown streets and a vintage car
Downtown has so much texture: old buildings, palm trees, quiet side streets. Add a vintage car and it feels like an old movie. My 3-hour elopement collection leaves room for a second location like this.
Vizcaya
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens is one of the most beautiful places in the city for portraits. A few things to know before you plan it, based on Vizcaya's photography page:
You need a portrait photography permit, booked online in advance. There are no walk-ins and the number of permits per day is limited.
Permits are currently listed at $250 on weekdays and $350 on weekends.
A permit covers up to 5 people, and that includes your photographer, makeup artist and anyone else helping.
It's gardens only, the permit is for personal portraits only, and they're issued rain or shine.
Vizcaya is open 9:30 am to 4:30 pm and closed on Tuesdays.
The standard permit is for portraits, not a ceremony. If you want to actually get married at Vizcaya, reach out to Vizcaya directly about their wedding and event options. You can see what a session there looks like in Victoria & Leo's Vizcaya engagement session.
Step 4: Plan Your Timing
A few tips from the days I've shot:
Book your ceremony appointment first, then build everything else around it.
Weekdays are your friend. The Clerk's ceremonies are weekdays only, and places like Vizcaya cost less during the week.
Watch the heat. Downtown in the middle of a summer afternoon is no joke. If you can, plan portraits for later in the day when the light is softer. My guide on Miami's heat and rainy season has more on this.
Bring the license. Sounds obvious, but bring the original, plus your IDs, to the ceremony.
What I Offer for Elopements
My courthouse elopement collections are simple:
90 minutes for $2,000. Your ceremony plus portraits on the courthouse steps and around downtown. Perfect for just the two of you or a few guests.
3 hours for $3,000. Getting ready, your ceremony and portraits, with time for a second location or a vintage car and room for family photos and a toast.
If you're planning something a little bigger, like a dinner with 20 or 30 people after the ceremony, my micro wedding collection starts at $3,995. And if you're eloping outside Miami, I travel, and I'll quote based on location.
You'll get sneak peeks, and your full gallery is delivered within 90 days in a downloadable online gallery you can share and print.
FAQ
How much does it cost to get married at the courthouse in Miami?
According to the Miami-Dade Clerk, the marriage license is $86 ($61 with a registered premarital course) and a ceremony with a deputy clerk is $30. Always confirm current fees with the Clerk.
Is there a waiting period to get married in Miami?
Florida residents wait 3 days after getting their license, unless they complete a registered premarital course. Non-residents have no waiting period.
How long is a Florida marriage license valid?
60 days from the date it's issued.
Can we take photos at Vizcaya after our courthouse ceremony?
Yes, with a portrait permit booked online ahead of time. It covers up to 5 people, including your photographer, and it's gardens only.
Let's Plan Yours
Small days are some of my favorites to photograph. If you have a date in mind, send it over with a little about you two and I'll help you plan the rest. Reach out here, or check out my courthouse elopements page first.