A Practical Guide to Getting Married at the Beverly Hills Courthouse—Marriage License Info, Ceremony Details, and City Hall Photo Permits

Skip to ☞ Courthouse Ceremony Appointment・Guest Limit・City Hall Photography Permit・Parking Cost

Beverly Hills City Hall vs. Courthouse—and Yes, You Need a Permit to Take Photos There

Although often spoken about as if they’re one and the same online and on social media, the Beverly Hills Courthouse and Beverly Hills City Hall are not the same building. To add to the confusion, image searches for both Beverly Hills Courthouse Wedding and Beverly Hills Elopement mostly show photos of newlyweds in front of the iconic Art Deco City Hall building. But no one gets married there. People get married at the courthouse—which, not gonna lie, looks like any other gloomy DMV office. It’s why you rarely see photos from inside the actual ceremony space.

That said, getting married at the Beverly Hills Courthouse does not automatically grant you permission to take photos at City Hall or nearby landmarks. A filming permit is required for professional wedding photography at the City Hall’s Palm Court, the Civic Center Plaza, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Gardens Park, and even outside the courthouse itself. You can probably get away with a few iPhone snaps, but taking professional photos at City Hall without a permit might get you stopped by security.

If you're planning—or even just considering—getting hitched at this courthouse, my hope is that the following advice helps you navigate these waters. While it’s not too difficult, it does require a lot of tape and a little bit of patience, so bookmark this page in case you need to come back to it.

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Beverly Hills Courthouse Wedding Ceremony: Appointment Scheduling, Costs, and Marriage License Details

The process of getting married at the Beverly Hills Courthouse is similar to the other six L.A. County Clerk offices but involves a few extra steps. For one, unlike the other offices, Beverly Hills does not accept walk-ins, appointments are required. The entire process can take three to four weeks, including purchasing your marriage license, scheduling your ceremony, and two to three trips to apply and pick up your marriage license. Of course, you can do most of it online.

Apply for Your Marriage License: The cost is $90 for a public license or $85 for a confidential license, and you can apply online HERE or in person at any of the seven county clerk offices.
Schedule Your Civil Ceremony: After purchasing your marriage license, you can schedule your civil ceremony for an additional $35 online HERE, in person at your office of choice, or by calling the Los Angeles County Registar-Recorder/County Clerk directly at (800) 201-8999.
Schedule Limitations: Ceremonies are held on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. You can book your ceremony no more than three weeks in advance, and only after purchasing your marriage license. Appointment slots open at the beginning of each month for that month only.
City Hall/Palm Court Ceremonies: This option comes at an additional cost with a special permit from the city of Beverly Hills. Contact the city directly HERE.

Civil Ceremony vs Express Marriage

While both ceremony options legally marry you, each offers a slightly different experience. A civil ceremony costs $35, lasts around 15 minutes, and allows you to have your guests with you in the ceremony room at the end of the hall. The Express Marriage option, on the other hand, is exactly that—express. You get married right at the clerk’s window, and you're out of there before you know it. Civil ceremonies are only available on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, while Express Marriages are available throughout the week.

Pro Tip: It’s my understanding that appointment slots for both ceremony options open at the beginning of each month—for that month. This is especially important if you’re planning to book during the summer, peak wedding season. Also, while either ceremony lasts only 10–15 minutes, you’ll spend more time waiting in the hallway. If possible, try to schedule the first or last ceremony of the day.

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Ceremony Witness and Guest Limit

Having family with you on your wedding is important, but when it comes to this courthouse, I recommend keeping it small and avoid maxing out your 20-guest limit. The marriage department is tiny, gets crowded on the quickness, and the hallway waiting area gets warm when the sun blasts through the glass windows. Plus, there’s nowhere to sit except outside in the sun, so it can get uncomfortable at times.

Likewise, if you're planning on taking photos at City Hall afterward, it gets very hot out there. There’s no shade and nowhere to put your things except the ground, so keep that in mind if you have elderly family or children with you. Add in the fact that your two-hour permit window will fly by faster than you think—especially if we're doing group combinations. You can take as many family photos as you want later at lunch or dinner, when everyone’s more relaxed and out of the heat.

Witness Requirement: A witness for the civil ceremony is mandatory. One can be provided for you for an additional $20, but your photographer, can serve as your witness with a government issued photo ID.
Guest Limit: Is 20 per party, including both of you and your photographer. So technically, you're allowed 17 guests. However, it's best to keep the number of guests to an absolute minimum because, as I mentioned earlier, the hallway waiting area can get warm and stuffy on the quickness.

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Beverly Hills City Hall Photography Permit: Application Process, Fees, and Insurance Requirements

Now, just because you're getting married at the courthouse doesn’t mean you’re automatically allowed to take photos at City Hall. If you’re planning to photograph in front of or around Beverly Hills City Hall, you’ll need a separate permit from the city—plus proof of insurance coverage. Don’t worry, though—so long as your photographer has the required insurance, it’s not hard to get the permit. That said, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Photography Permit Cost

The application and processing fee, as of July 1, 2024, is $67. Processing takes five business days.
The cost of the photography permit for either wedding or family photos is $80 per hour, with a maximum of two hours, totaling $227.
You can apply for the photography permit HERE or by calling the Beverly Hills Film and Photography Permit Office directly at (310) 285-2408.

Advance Application

You can apply for the permit a minimum of 7 business days in advance of your requested date, but no more than 60 days in advance.

Late Application Fees

If the application is submitted within 2 to 6 business days of the requested date, a $289 fee will apply.
If the application is submitted within 2 business days of the requested date, a $289 fee will apply, plus a $133 late permit fee.
The City of Beverly Hills might not grant a permit if you apply less than 2 business days of the requested date.

Insurance Requirement

You or your photographer MUST provide a certificate of insurance (COI) reflecting proof of general liability (or general aggregate) insurance coverage of $2 million, naming the City of Beverly Hills as additional insured.

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Parking Cost

My final bit of advice: arrive early. Because Beverly Hills is always in a constant state of road construction, new building projects, and random events—all mixed in with daily local traffic—so it’s easy to run late even if you arrive early, get redirected, or, in rare cases, be denied road access altogether. I recommend parking at the structure behind the courthouse on Civic Center Drive. It’s reliable and just a block away.

Street Parking: $1 per hour.
Parking Structure: I recommend the one behind the courthouse on Civic Center Dr. First 2 hours are free, then $1 per 30 minutes and daily maximums are $15 to $20.
Courthouse Parking: Underground parking beneath the courthouse is $10 cash only. The entrance is on the east side of the building on Burton Way.