You can get married for free at the Gwinnett County courthouse on most Friday afternoons. The Probate Court holds no-cost ceremonies at the Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville, and the only things you have to bring are a valid Georgia marriage license and a confirmed reservation.1Gwinnett County Courts. Free Wedding Ceremonies The ceremony itself costs nothing; the license does.
Ceremony Times and How to Reserve a Slot
Ceremonies run most Fridays, excluding court holidays. English-language services are scheduled at 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., and a Spanish-language service is held at 2:00 p.m. The Spanish slot is reserved for couples who will actually have a Spanish-language ceremony.1Gwinnett County Courts. Free Wedding Ceremonies
Reservations are mandatory. The Probate Court is explicit about it: no reservation, no ceremony. You book through the court’s online reservation system. Walk-ins are not accommodated, so plan the date before you plan anything else around it.
What to Bring on the Day
Bring your original, physical Georgia marriage license. The presiding judge conducts a brief exchange of vows and signs the license to certify that the marriage took place.1Gwinnett County Courts. Free Wedding Ceremonies Georgia does not require witnesses at the ceremony,2Athens-Clarke County, GA – Official Website. Weddings – Section: FAQs so you can come with guests or come alone.
Getting the Marriage License First
You cannot skip this step. The ceremony is free, but the license is not, and you have to have it in hand before the judge will marry you. Both applicants must appear together at the Probate Court to finalize the license.3Georgia.gov. Apply for a Marriage License The court verifies your identities, administers an oath, and has you sign the application in front of a clerk.
Both of you must be at least 18 to apply without parental consent. Bring proof of age: a driver’s license, passport, birth certificate, or another form of government-issued identification.4Justia Law. Georgia Code 19-3-36 – Proof of Age of Applicants A 17-year-old may only be issued a license after a court-ordered emancipation through Juvenile Court and additional requirements.5Gwinnett County Courts. Probate Court – Marriage Licenses and Certificates
You will also need to provide your Social Security number and the full names and birthplaces of both parents. If either of you was previously married, bring the final divorce decree with its stamp and seal, or proof of a former spouse’s death.5Gwinnett County Courts. Probate Court – Marriage Licenses and Certificates The court also offers an online pre-application portal; completing it before you visit shortens the counter time.
The standard license fee is $77.00. There is no waiting period between getting the license and holding the ceremony, and the license does not expire, so you can pick up the license any time before your Friday slot.
Cut the License Fee to $37 with Premarital Education
If you want the wedding to cost as little as possible, this is the lever. Couples who complete a qualifying premarital education program pay $37.00 for the license instead of $77.00.5Gwinnett County Courts. Probate Court – Marriage Licenses and Certificates Combined with the free ceremony, that brings the total out-of-pocket cost of a legal Gwinnett County wedding to $37 plus whatever the course itself costs.
The course must run at least six hours and cover conflict resolution, communication, financial planning, and parenting responsibilities. It has to be taught by a licensed professional counselor, social worker, marriage and family therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, or an active member of the clergy trained in premarital education. Both of you must complete it together, within 12 months before applying for the license.6Justia Law. Georgia Code 19-3-30.1 – Premarital Education and Fees The provider gives you a certificate of completion, which you present at the Probate Court when you apply.
After the Ceremony
Because the Probate Court performed the ceremony, the court handles the return of the signed license internally. State law requires the signed license to be returned to the Probate Court within 30 days regardless of who officiates.8Justia Law. Georgia Code 19-3-30 – Issuance, Return, and Recording of License
Once the license is recorded, it becomes a permanent public record. Your marriage certificate typically arrives by mail within about 30 days, though processing times vary.7Georgia.gov. Apply for a Marriage License Certified copies cost $10.00 each and can be ordered in person or by mail.5Gwinnett County Courts. Probate Court – Marriage Licenses and Certificates Order at least two or three; you will need them for name changes, insurance updates, and other legal purposes.
If a Friday Courthouse Ceremony Won’t Work
Georgia authorizes a broad range of people to solemnize a marriage: any judge of a state or federal court of record in Georgia, a magistrate, a city recorder, the Governor or any former Governor, and ministers or other individuals authorized by their religious organization’s own rules. Ministers do not have to register with a government office before performing a ceremony, and the statute protects marriages that both parties believed were valid even if the officiant lacked proper authority.9Justia Law. Georgia Code 19-3-30 – Issuance, Return, and Recording of License If you go that route, the officiant, not the court, is responsible for returning the signed license within 30 days.