Beverly Hills Courthouse Wedding | Intimate City Hall Ceremony
On a bright February afternoon, L & M were married at the Beverly Hills Courthouse, trading a big traditional wedding for something intimate, chic, and completely true to them. Their Valentine’s Day ceremony was simple and heartfelt, followed by portraits at the iconic Beverly Hills City Hall with its grand architecture, palms, and warm Southern California light.
Modern, Intimate Beverly Hills Courthouse Wedding
When it came time to get engaged, L & M didn’t initially lean into a big surprise proposal—they decided together, with intentionality and purpose, that that they were ready. The couple designed L’s ring side by side, planning to pick it up together and walk out of the store an engaged couple. But life had other plans: L had to catch a flight before the ring was ready, so when she returned, M proposed right there at the arrivals terminal, the most unintentionally romantic moment ever.
Their Beverly Hills Courthouse wedding had the same energy: uncomplicated, intentional, and full of joy.
Their ceremony was held inside the courthouse, an intimate and relaxed moment. Afterwards, we walked over to the Beverly Hills City Hall to take portraits with its dramatic architecture—the tiled dome, arched entry, and palm trees that make the building and grounds feel like a classic California landmark rather than a traditional city hall.
Tips for a Beverly Hills Courthouse Wedding
If you’re dreaming of your own Beverly Hills Courthouse wedding, here are a few things I’d recommend as a photographer:
Plan extra time for portraits at Beverly Hills City Hall. The building is so photogenic—tall archways, carved details, and palm-lined walkways—and it’s worth setting aside at least 30-45 minutes after your ceremony.
Your ceremony will be in the Beverly Hills Courthouse, not Beverly Hills City Hall. It’s a separate building about a five-minute walk from each other. The Courthouse is not particularly photogenic itself—it’s just your basic government building, to be honest. And photography is not allowed inside the building, other than inside the actual room where your ceremony will take place. So I usually plan with my couples to take portraits at City Hall either before or after the courthouse ceremony.
Aim for late morning or golden hour. Midday light can be bright. The architecture of City Hall’s courtyard does offer pockets of shade. However, for that iconic photo in front of the City Hall building’s dome, you’ll be in direct sunlight, and the closer to golden hour you are, the softer and more flattering the light will be.
If you love the idea of something modern, chic, and low pressure, a Beverly Hills Courthouse ceremony with portraits at City Hall can be the perfect way to celebrate your marriage in an elevated yet relaxed way.
Beverly Hills Courthouse Wedding FAQs
Do you need an appointment to get married at the Beverly Hills Courthouse?
Yes, you’ll typically need to schedule both your marriage license appointment and your ceremony time in advance. Wedding slots open on the first of each month for that month. For the best outdoor photo lighting, I’d recommend grabbing the first or last appointment of the day.
Can we take wedding photos at Beverly Hills City Hall after our courthouse ceremony?
Absolutely. Many couple choose this building specifically because of its iconic architecture and how close it is to the courthouse.
Do I need a permit to take photos at Beverly Hills City Hall?
Make sure to get a permit for photography at Beverly Hills City Hall! As of writing this blog post, the cost is $80 for one hour of wedding/group photos. Your photographer will need to provide the city with proof of liability insurance.
How long should we plan for photos on our courthouse wedding day?
Most couples schedule about 1.5-2 hours of intimate wedding photography coverage: a bit of time before the ceremony, the ceremony itself, and then portraits at City Hall. Whether you need a little more or less usually depends on whether you want to work family photos into the plan or just stick to pictures of the two of you.
HI THERE, I’M PAMELA!
I’m the owner and lead photographer at Pamela Tatz Photography, a Los Angeles-based wedding photography studio capturing love stories authentically and naturally.
With a modern aesthetic and a documentary approach, my goal is to create photos that feel honest, nostalgic, and true to your day—just like these beautiful moments from this wedding at the Beverly Hills Courthouse in Beverly Hills, California.
