What to Expect During a Courthouse Wedding at the San Diego County Administration Center – A Real Timeline

Courthouse Ceremony Timeline 0009 — San Diego County Administration Center building at 1600 Pacific Highway

If you’re planning a ceremony at the San Diego County Administration Center, you may be wondering what the actual courthouse appointment is like.

Couples often ask questions like:

• How long does the ceremony take?
• What happens during the appointment?
• When do we sign the paperwork?
• When do photos happen?

Since I’ve photographed many courthouse weddings here over the years, I thought it might be helpful to walk you through what to expect during a courthouse wedding appointment, from arriving at the building to taking photos afterward.

If you’re still in the early planning stages, you may also find my Ultimate San Diego Courthouse Wedding Guide helpful, where I explain how to book your ceremony and what couples should know before their appointment.

Below is a real timeline based on the flow of a typical courthouse wedding day.

Courthouse Ceremony Timeline 0008 — A couple stands outside the San Diego County Administration Center, before their courthouse wedding.

Arriving at the Courthouse

I always recommend arriving a little early for your appointment so you have time to get through security and find the correct room without feeling rushed.

Parking is available underground off Ash Street, and it’s free for up to three hours (or until 6 PM). This is usually more than enough time for the appointment itself and photos afterward.

When you enter the building on the first floor, you’ll go through security. Don’t worry though—it’s much simpler than airport security. You won’t need to remove your shoes or anything like that.

After security, you’ll head upstairs to the second floor to check in for your appointment.

Courthouse Ceremony Timeline 0004 — A couple sit and smile inside a bright room with large windows at the San Diego County Administration Center before their courthouse ceremony.

The Marriage License and Paperwork

The courthouse appointment is scheduled for one hour total, and it’s typically divided into two parts.

The first half of the appointment is used for completing your marriage license paperwork.

In my experience, the paperwork itself usually takes about 20 minutes.

Once that’s completed, couples are asked to wait in a large and comfortable waiting area across the hall, where friends and family can sit together until the officiant comes to get you.

The wait is usually about 5–10 minutes.

Courthouse Ceremony Timeline 0003 — A couple signs a document for their San Diego marriage license.

The Ceremony

The second half of your appointment window is reserved for the ceremony, although it’s actually very short.

Most ceremonies last about 5–10 minutes.

Sometimes the office can fall slightly behind schedule, so the ceremony can happen anytime within that second half-hour window, but generally they do a good job staying close to schedule.

When it’s time, the officiant will come out and lead you to either the indoor ceremony space or the outdoor ceremony area, depending on what you selected when booking your appointment.

The ceremony itself is simple and meaningful.

Personalized vows typically aren’t part of the ceremony, but couples are often given a few minutes afterward in the ceremony space if they’d like to exchange personal vows privately or take a few photos.

Courthouse Ceremony Timeline 0002 — Ceremony at the San Diego County Administration Center

How Long Does a Courthouse Wedding Take?

One of the most common questions couples ask is how long a courthouse wedding actually takes. While the ceremony is short—usually about 5 to 10 minutes—the full courthouse appointment is typically scheduled for one hour to allow time for paperwork, waiting, and the ceremony. Most couples spend about 20 minutes completing their marriage license paperwork, followed by a short wait before being called in.

A typical courthouse wedding appointment often looks something like this:

• Paperwork and marriage license: about 20 minutes
• Waiting area: around 5–10 minutes
• Ceremony: about 5–10 minutes

Although the ceremony is brief, the full appointment window allows time for everything to move smoothly.

Courthouse Ceremony Timeline 0006 — A smiling couple embrace, holding a bouquet of flowers inside the San Diego County Administration Center.

Where Do You Take Photos After a Courthouse Wedding?

After the ceremony, most couples take a few minutes for group photos with family and friends.

I usually recommend keeping these photos close to the courthouse building, especially if you have a larger group. This keeps things simple and avoids having to move everyone around too much—particularly if there are elderly family members present.

Once group photos are finished, we typically move into couple portraits around the courthouse architecture or nearby downtown areas.

Some couples also like to take photos across the street near the harbor, which offers beautiful views of the San Diego waterfront.

Courthouse Ceremony Timeline 0001 — Family photos after a downtown courthouse ceremony

Lighting and Portrait Locations

One thing many couples don’t realize is that lighting can make a big difference in how portraits look.

The courthouse receives a lot of direct sunlight during the middle of the day, which can create harsh shadows in photos. Earlier or later appointments often have softer, more flattering light.

Depending on the timing of the ceremony, some couples choose to take portraits at Balboa Park or another nearby location with more shade and architectural variety.

Others prefer heading somewhere meaningful to them—like a favorite park, a scenic location in the city, or even a restaurant where they’re celebrating afterward.

Courthouse Ceremony Timeline 0005 — A bride and groom kiss outdoors after their Courthouse Wedding at the San Diego County Administration Center.

Capturing Your Courthouse Wedding

One of the things couples often appreciate about a courthouse wedding is how simple the process is. From paperwork to ceremony to photos, the entire appointment usually moves quickly and smoothly.

Knowing what to expect ahead of time can help the day feel more relaxed so you can focus on enjoying the moment.

If you’re planning a ceremony at the County Administration Center and are looking for a San Diego courthouse wedding photographer, you can learn more about my approach and coverage options on my courthouse wedding photography page.

Linda McDonald of Jalea Photography is a San Diego wedding and portrait photographer who photographs weddings, courthouse ceremonies, and family sessions throughout San Diego.

She is especially known for her work documenting intimate civil ceremonies at the San Diego County Administration Building and Waterfront Park and believes every couple deserves beautiful, meaningful photographs regardless of the size of their celebration.