Michelle & Moses’s Beverly Hills Courthouse elopement and their photos were anything but ordinary. The feel of their elopement felt editorial, candid and they really wanted iconic, artful photos. We explored the surrounding areas of City Hall, we played with shadows and sunlight, and they had smiles on their faces through every stop. They wanted a slow vibe where they could try posing and prompts throughout their photos together to get a more cinematic feel. Everything resulted in absolutely stunning imagery that felt like it was out of a movie. The best parts were them showing off their big smiles and their rings to the camera!

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.

Here is a bit more on what we did during their beautiful elopement photos! We leaned in to color, movement, play and shadows the most. One of my favorite candid prompts is simply to run hand in hand. Another fun prompt was the palm tree shadow play and they began slow dancing and twirling among them. Another incredible stop you must do for your Beverly Hills Courthouse elopement is to walk across the road lined with palm trees, Cannon Drive. It feels incredibly Californian and I recomend going earlier in the morning to avoid traffic as it does pick up during the day.

A Heads Up: Shooting on the outside of the building is going to be much prettier than the inside. The inside isn’t iconic, it’s just a building with basic interior! The ceremony is also quick, which doesn’t feel too personal.