Courthouse Wedding in Fredericksburg, TX: License, Cost, and Where to Celebrate After
A courthouse wedding in Fredericksburg, TX takes two stops. First you pick up your marriage license from the Gillespie County Clerk at 101 W Main St. Then, at least 72 hours later, a judge marries you. The license costs $80 for Texas residents. The ceremony itself usually happens with a city municipal judge, not at the clerk’s counter, and that’s the part most couples don’t expect.
Below is the full process, what it costs, and a few relaxed places downtown for a meal or toast afterward.
Prices and hours can change, please confirm with each business before booking.
Step 1: Get Your Marriage License From the Gillespie County Clerk
The County Clerk’s office is in the Gillespie County Courthouse building on Main Street. This is the only place in town that issues marriage licenses.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 W Main St, Mail Unit 13, Room 109, Fredericksburg, TX 78624 |
| Phone | 830-997-6515 |
| Office hours | Monday–Friday, 8 am–4 pm, closed holidays |
| License hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–3:30 pm (except county holidays) |
| Fee (Texas residents) | $80 |
| Fee (out of state) | $180 |
| ID | Valid photo ID for each applicant |
| Waiting period | 72 hours after the license is issued |
| License valid for | Expires if no ceremony by the 90th day after issue |
| Certified copy | $7 |
| Appointments | Not mentioned on the county website. Call 830-997-6515 before you go. |
Plan around the shorter license window. The office is open until 4 pm, but licenses stop at 3:30 pm. Arriving at 3:45 means coming back another day.
Plan to go together, in person. Bring photo ID for both of you, since the clerk requires ID for every transaction. If one partner truly can’t come, call the clerk before your visit and ask whether they accept Texas’s absent-applicant affidavit.
Out-of-state couples pay $100 more. The $180 fee applies when neither of you is a Texas resident.
Recently divorced? Texas generally requires 30 days after a divorce is final before you can remarry, unless the court waived that wait. If your divorce is recent, bring a certified copy of the decree, and call the clerk ahead to confirm what they need to see.
The 72-hour wait, and how to skip it
Texas law says the ceremony can’t happen during the 72 hours right after your license is issued. So a license picked up Monday morning works for a Thursday morning ceremony at the earliest.
The waiting period doesn’t apply if one of you is on active military duty, if a judge grants a written waiver, or if you complete Twogether in Texas, the state-approved premarital course. In Texas, the course certificate also removes the $60 state portion of the license fee. Ask the clerk for Gillespie County’s exact reduced amount when you call.
Step 2: Choose Who Marries You
Fredericksburg Municipal Court judges
The city’s Municipal Court judges perform weddings, and they’re the most clearly documented courthouse-style option in town. You book by calling the court at (830) 997-9935. The court is at 103 Industrial Loop, Ste. 1000.
What makes this option nice is the choice of setting. Ceremony locations include:
- Inside the courtroom
- The outdoor water fountain
- The outdoor gazebo
- The garden at Marktplatz, downtown
- Anywhere within 5 miles of the court
- Farther out, including Luckenbach and wineries on US 290
- Enchanted Rock
The fee depends on the time, date, and location you choose, and it’s cash only. The city doesn’t post the amounts online, so ask for a quote for your date and location when you call to book.
Bring your marriage license to the ceremony. The Municipal Court does not issue licenses, so that still happens at the County Clerk.
Justices of the Peace at 125 W Main St
All four Gillespie County Justice of the Peace courts work out of 125 W Main St (Gillespie County Annex No. 1), Monday–Friday, 9 am–4 pm. The county doesn’t publish wedding information for its JPs. If you’d rather be married by a JP, call 830-307-3737 and ask whether a judge is available for ceremonies.
Your own officiant
If a friend or minister marries you instead, the clerk’s office notes that officiants must be ordained to officiate in Texas and may ask to see an ordination certificate.
Where the Courthouse Actually Is (and What’s at 125 W Main St)
People searching for the “Fredericksburg TX courthouse” often land on a few different buildings. Here’s the short version:
| Building | Address | What happens there |
|---|---|---|
| Gillespie County Courthouse | 101 W Main St | County Clerk: marriage licenses, certified copies |
| Gillespie County Annex No. 1 | 125 W Main St | Justice of the Peace courts, County Attorney, Texas DPS driver’s license office |
| Fredericksburg Municipal Court | 103 Industrial Loop, Ste. 1000 | City court; judges perform weddings by appointment |
| Marktplatz | 100 block of W Main St | Downtown square; one of the Municipal Court’s ceremony spots |
If you came across “Fredericksburg TX warrants” or “ticket payment” in your search, those go to the Municipal Court’s citation side. They have nothing to do with weddings. You only need that court for booking a ceremony.
What a Courthouse Wedding in Fredericksburg Costs
Here’s the bare minimum:
| Item | Texas residents | Out-of-state couples |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage license | $80 | $180 |
| Certified copy of license | $7 | $7 |
| Municipal judge ceremony | Quote by phone, cash only | Quote by phone, cash only |
| Total before ceremony fee | $87 | $187 |
Is a free courthouse wedding possible here? We couldn’t find a published $0 option. The license fee drops with the Twogether in Texas course, but there’s still a ceremony fee for the municipal judge. Call both offices if you want to price the lowest possible total.
Ways to keep it cheap:
- Take the Twogether in Texas course before applying, for a lower fee and no 72-hour wait
- Book the ceremony at the court itself rather than an outside location, since fees vary by location
- Order just one certified copy at first; you can get more later
Simple Reception Spots Near Fredericksburg
After a ten-minute ceremony, most couples want a good meal with a handful of people. These places host private or semi-private groups. None of them post event pricing online, so contact each one for a quote.
| Spot | Address | Group size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fredericksburg Brewing Company | 245 E Main St | Biergarten up to 165 | Enclosed, air-conditioned biergarten with a private bar; private rentals Sunday–Friday only, no Saturdays |
| Altstadt Brewery | 6120 Hwy 290 East | Grand Hall: 8–40 guests | $10 per person hold for Grand Hall seating; full private events by request form |
| Hill Country Herb Garden | 405 Whitney St | Ask when booking | Restaurant, gardens, and event space; private dinners available |
| Crossroads Saloon & Steakhouse | 305 W Main St | Ask when booking | Restaurant and bar with outdoor space and in-house catering; walking distance from the courthouse |
| Sage Restaurant & Lounge | 241 E Austin St | Ask when booking | Restaurant and lounge with outdoor space, a block off Main Street |
A weekday ceremony pairs well with the Fredericksburg Brewing Company biergarten, since it doesn’t book private events on Saturdays anyway.
Best Time of Year for a Fredericksburg Courthouse Wedding
| Month | Avg high (°F) | Avg low (°F) | Avg rain (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | 34 | 1.60 |
| Feb | 64 | 38 | 2.01 |
| Mar | 70 | 44 | 2.45 |
| Apr | 78 | 53 | 2.34 |
| May | 84 | 62 | 3.90 |
| Jun | 90 | 67 | 3.80 |
| Jul | 93 | 69 | 2.40 |
| Aug | 94 | 69 | 2.20 |
| Sep | 88 | 63 | 2.91 |
| Oct | 79 | 54 | 3.71 |
| Nov | 69 | 44 | 2.20 |
| Dec | 61 | 35 | 2.01 |
If you want an outdoor spot like the gazebo or the Marktplatz garden, March, April, October, and November are the comfortable months. July and August average highs in the 90s, so an indoor courtroom ceremony makes more sense then.
Watch the festival calendar. Downtown gets very busy on big weekends, and several events use Marktplatz itself:
- Oktoberfest: the weekend of the first Saturday in October (October 2–4 in 2026, October 1–3 in 2027), on Marktplatz
- Texas Mesquite Arts Festival: October 8–11, 2026, on Marktplatz
- Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival: October 20–24, 2026, on Marktplatz
If you’re hoping for a Marktplatz garden ceremony, ask the court whether those dates are available before you lock anything in. Hotel prices also tend to climb on festival weekends.
Getting Guests Here and Where They Can Stay
Fredericksburg has no commercial airport. Out-of-town guests usually fly into:
- San Antonio International (SAT): about 68 driving miles, roughly 1 hour 18 minutes
- Austin–Bergstrom International (AUS): about 84 driving miles, roughly 1 hour 43 minutes
Downtown is walkable, so a hotel near Main Street keeps everyone close to the courthouse and the reception. Rates change by season, so check current prices for your dates:
| Hotel | Address | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| The Albert | 213 E Austin St | About 1 minute walk to Main St |
| Whitetail Court Hotel | 211 W Austin St | About 2 minute walk to Main St |
| Fredericksburg Inn & Suites | 201 S Washington St | Within about a 5 minute walk of Main St |
| Hampton Inn & Suites Fredericksburg | 515 E Main St | On Main St |
With guests flying in from two different airports and spread across several hotels, it helps to keep the ceremony time, address, and parking notes in one place. A simple wedding website with travel and location details lets far-away family check directions from their phone instead of digging through texts.
Practical Tips From Planning This Kind of Day
- Book the judge first, then time the license. Pick up the license at least 72 hours before the ceremony, but no more than 90 days.
- Bring cash. The Municipal Court asks for the ceremony fee in cash.
- Get to the clerk before 3:30 pm. That’s the cutoff for license issuance, even though the office stays open until 4.
- Make two phone calls first. One to the clerk (830-997-6515) about appointments and the course discount, and one to the court ((830) 997-9935) for your ceremony quote.
- Double-check the building. Licenses come from 101 W Main St. The building next door at 125 W Main St houses the JP courts and the DPS office.
- Avoid Saturdays if you want the brewery biergarten. Fredericksburg Brewing Company doesn’t take private events that day.
- Plan an indoor backup for summer afternoons or rainy May and October days.
FAQ
How much does a courthouse wedding in Fredericksburg, TX cost?
The marriage license is $80 for Texas residents or $180 if neither of you lives in Texas, and a certified copy is $7. The judge’s ceremony fee is separate, paid in cash, and depends on time, date, and location. Call the Municipal Court for a quote.
Where is the Gillespie County Courthouse for marriage licenses?
The County Clerk is at 101 W Main St, Room 109, Fredericksburg, TX 78624. Licenses are issued Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–3:30 pm.
Does the Fredericksburg Municipal Court issue marriage licenses?
No. Its judges perform ceremonies, but you must get the license from the Gillespie County Clerk first.
Can we get married the same day we get our license?
Not usually. Texas requires a 72-hour wait after the license is issued. It’s waived for active-duty military, couples with a judge’s written waiver, and couples who complete the Twogether in Texas course.
Can we have our courthouse ceremony outdoors?
Yes. Municipal Court judges can marry you at the outdoor fountain, the gazebo, the Marktplatz garden, or a location you choose, including Enchanted Rock and wineries on US 290.
Sources:
- Gillespie County – Marriage Licenses
- Gillespie County Clerk Fee Schedule
- Fredericksburg Municipal Court – Weddings
- Gillespie County Justices of the Peace
- Texas Family Code § 2.201
- Fredericksburg Climate Averages
- Oktoberfest – Visit Fredericksburg
- Fredericksburg Festival Calendar – Hill Country Passport
Plan a courthouse wedding in Fredericksburg, TX: Gillespie County license fees, the 72-hour wait, who marries you, and small reception spots.
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