Courthouse wedding, elopement and micro wedding all describe a smaller way to get married, and couples often use the words interchangeably. The simplest way to tell them apart is guest count and how much celebration you plan around the ceremony. An elopement is usually just the two of you or up to about 20 guests, a micro wedding has about 20 to 50 guests with a meal or small reception, and a courthouse wedding is a legal ceremony at a county court that can be either one.
We have photographed courthouse ceremonies, elopements and micro weddings around Metro Atlanta since 2008, and one of the questions we hear most on planning calls is which of these a couple is actually planning. This guide puts elopement vs micro wedding vs courthouse wedding side by side, with what each one looks like in Atlanta and how much photography coverage each usually needs.
Courthouse Wedding vs Elopement vs Micro Wedding at a Glance
| Courthouse Wedding | Elopement | Micro Wedding | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guest count | Usually small; space and guest rules vary by court | Up to about 20 guests | About 20 to 50 guests |
| Where it happens | A county courthouse or probate court | A place you choose: a garden, park, chapel, home or small venue | A small venue, restaurant, garden or private home |
| Ceremony length | Often 5 to 10 minutes | Usually 10 to 20 minutes | Usually 15 to 30 minutes |
| Planning time | Depends on the court’s ceremony schedule | Can come together in a few weeks | Usually a few months for the venue, meal and invitations |
| Celebration | Optional portraits or dinner afterward | Portraits, and often a dinner for two or with your small group | A meal or small reception with toasts, a first dance or cake |
| Photography coverage | Starts at 2 hours | Starts at 2 hours for ceremony coverage | Often about 4 hours |
What Is a Courthouse Wedding?
A courthouse wedding is a civil ceremony performed at a county courthouse or probate court, usually by a judge or court officiant. It is the most direct path to being legally married, and many couples choose it because the ceremony is short, simple and focused on the vows.
In Georgia, every marriage starts with a marriage license from a county probate court, and both partners apply in person. What happens next varies a lot by county. Some courts hold ceremonies on a set schedule, such as Cobb County’s fixed group ceremony times or Gwinnett County’s Friday afternoon ceremonies by reservation. Others, including Bartow, Cherokee and Pickens counties, issue licenses only and don’t perform ceremonies. Our guide to courthouse weddings in Georgia compares ceremony options, scheduling and guest rules county by county.
Because the ceremony itself is quick, many couples pair it with portraits at a beautiful historic spot, like the Historic DeKalb Courthouse in Decatur or the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse in Lawrenceville.
What Is an Elopement?
An elopement is a small, intentional wedding that centers on the two of you. Today it rarely means running off in secret. Most elopements are planned, include up to about 20 guests (often just the couple, or a handful of your closest people), and skip most of the traditional wedding-day structure, like a long reception, a wedding party or a seating chart.
Eloping is legally the same as any other wedding. You still need a Georgia marriage license, an authorized officiant and a signed license returned to the probate court within 30 days. What makes it an elopement is the size and the freedom: you choose the place, whether that’s a garden, a park, a chapel, a historic courthouse or a quiet corner of downtown. Our step-by-step guide on how to elope walks through the license, officiant, location and timeline, and our guide to eloping in Atlanta covers favorite places around the city.
What Is a Micro Wedding?
A micro wedding is a small wedding with about 20 to 50 guests that keeps the main parts of a traditional wedding day: a ceremony, family photos, a meal and often a few reception moments like toasts, a first dance or cutting the cake. Think of it as a full wedding day, scaled down so you can spend real time with every guest.
Micro weddings work beautifully at small venues, restaurants with private dining rooms, gardens and private homes. A shorter guest list also opens up beautiful places that couldn’t host a large wedding. For ideas, browse our list of Atlanta small wedding venues, or see micro wedding photos from Piedmont Park.
How Many Guests Is an Elopement vs a Micro Wedding?
Guest count is the clearest line between the two. Here’s how we define them when couples ask:
- Elopement: up to about 20 guests. Many elopements are just the couple and an officiant, or a few family members and close friends.
- Micro wedding: about 20 to 50 guests, usually with a meal or small reception.
- Courthouse wedding: depends on the court. Space is limited and rules vary by county, so check the court’s current guest policy before you invite anyone.
- Small wedding: once a guest list grows past about 50, most couples and vendors call it a small wedding, and the day needs a fuller timeline.
There’s no official rule, and these numbers are guidelines. If your plans fall right on the line, the more helpful question is what kind of day you want: a quiet ceremony centered on the two of you, or a celebration built around your guests.
How Much Photography Coverage Each One Needs
The size of your day shapes how much time it takes to photograph it well. Fewer guests means family photos and transitions move faster, so a smaller wedding fits more into the same amount of time.
Courthouse Weddings
Courthouse ceremonies always start at 2 hours of coverage. Courthouses run on their own schedule, and it’s common to wait well past your appointment time. Two hours means we’re there for the whole experience, from the nervous wait to the ceremony to your first portraits as a married couple, without anyone watching the clock or needing to add time on the day. See how we plan the day on our courthouse wedding photographer page.
Elopements
Coverage that includes a ceremony starts at 2 hours. For most elopements, 2 hours covers the ceremony, a few family photos and a relaxed portrait session. Our elopement timeline guide shows sample schedules and when it makes sense to plan more time. If you’d like portraits on their own, before or after your ceremony, a wedding portrait session gives you the most freedom with date, time and location.
Planning an outdoor elopement? Our weather policy for elopements explains how weather plans work, including why we ask every couple to have an indoor backup.
Micro Weddings
Micro weddings usually need more time, and about 4 hours is often a great fit. That’s typically enough for the ceremony, family photos, couple portraits and part of the meal or reception. With a smaller guest list, everything moves faster than at a large wedding, so those 4 hours go further. If you’d like getting-ready photos or full reception coverage, plan for more. Our guide to how long you need a wedding photographer breaks down longer days, and our Atlanta micro wedding photographer page shows what we cover.
Weekday or Weekend?
Weekdays, Monday through Thursday, are a favorite for all three. Locations are quieter, venues have more open dates, and outdoor weekday elopements can move to a new weekday if the weather turns, with at least 24 hours’ notice and subject to availability. Weekends are our most requested dates and are priced to reflect that demand. If you’re inviting guests to a weekday celebration, our weekday wedding etiquette guide has helpful tips.
Should I Elope or Have a Micro Wedding?
Both are wonderful ways to get married. A few questions usually make the choice clear:
- Who do you picture there? If it’s the two of you and a few of your closest people, an elopement fits. If you can’t imagine the day without your extended family and friends, a micro wedding gives everyone a seat at the table.
- How much do you want to host? An elopement keeps the focus on the two of you. A micro wedding comes with hosting: a venue, a meal, invitations and time with your guests.
- How soon do you want to get married? Elopements can come together quickly, sometimes in a matter of weeks. Micro weddings usually need more lead time to book a venue and send invitations. If your date is coming up fast, our guide to a last-minute elopement in Atlanta can help.
- Do you want the legal part separate? Some couples marry at the courthouse first and celebrate with a micro wedding or portraits later. It’s a lovely way to have both.
Whichever you choose, a small wedding still deserves a thoughtful photo plan, beautiful light and calm direction, especially if you feel a little awkward in front of the camera. Here’s how we help camera-shy couples feel comfortable.
Courthouse Wedding, Elopement and Micro Wedding FAQ
Is a Courthouse Wedding Considered an Elopement?
It can be. “Courthouse wedding” describes where the legal ceremony happens, and “elopement” describes the size and style of the day. A courthouse ceremony with just the two of you or a few guests is an elopement. If you invite 30 people and host a dinner afterward, your day works more like a micro wedding with a courthouse ceremony.
How Many Guests Is Considered an Elopement?
Most couples and photographers consider up to about 20 guests an elopement. Many elopements are just the couple and their officiant, or a few family members and close friends.
How Many Guests Are Considered a Micro Wedding?
A micro wedding usually has about 20 to 50 guests. That’s enough for close family and friends, and still small enough to spend real time with everyone.
Is 100 People a Micro Wedding?
At 100 guests, you’re planning a small to midsize wedding. Most definitions cap a micro wedding at about 50 guests.
Is Eloping Getting Legally Married?
Yes, as long as the legal steps are complete. In Georgia, you need a marriage license from a county probate court, a ceremony performed by an authorized officiant, and the signed license returned to the probate court within 30 days. Once it’s recorded, your marriage is legal, the same as any other wedding.
Do You Need a Marriage License for a Courthouse Wedding?
Yes. Every Georgia wedding needs a marriage license from a probate court, including courthouse ceremonies. Some probate courts issue licenses only and don’t perform ceremonies, so check your county’s options before you plan the day.
Can You Get Married at the Courthouse and Still Have a Wedding?
Yes. Many couples take care of the legal ceremony at the courthouse, then plan a micro wedding, reception or vow renewal later with family and friends. You can also plan a wedding portrait session on a date that suits you, so you have beautiful portraits in your wedding attire at a location you love.
What Is the Difference Between a Micro Wedding and an Intimate Wedding?
The terms overlap. “Micro wedding” usually means about 20 to 50 guests, while “intimate wedding” is a looser term couples and vendors use for any small wedding. If your guest list is around 50 or fewer, either word fits.
Plan Your Courthouse Wedding, Elopement or Micro Wedding With Us
Whether you’re planning a quick courthouse ceremony, an elopement with your closest people or a micro wedding with everyone you love, our team will help you plan the timing, light and locations so the day feels easy. Learn more about our Atlanta elopement photography, or check availability for your date and schedule a call with us.
