These low-key nuptials are growing in popularity and becoming an aesthetic, offering couples intimate yet affordable settings for their big day.
In October 2024, Lady Gaga shared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” that she and her fiancé, Michael Polansky, had discussed the possibility of marrying at a courthouse and ordering Chinese food to celebrate.
She’s not the only one to be drawn to low-key wedding celebrations. As several courthouse wedding photo shoots have spread on social media, they have inspired an aesthetic for which mood boards now abound: a gritty yet charming setting, creative fashion choices and candid photos with a romantic appeal.
According to data provided by Pinterest from their forthcoming annual wedding trend report, searches for “civil ceremony photography” increased by 637 percent from 2023 to 2024. Data from Google Trends shows that searches for “courthouse wedding” soared in January 2025.
At the Manhattan Marriage Bureau, the number of marriages held annually increased by 22 percent from 2022 to 2024.
Faith Hunter, 33, and Charles Hunter, 39, were drawn to a courthouse wedding because they found its pragmatic nature to be romantic.
When they were engaged in May 2023, they began wedding planning with the intention of hosting a big Nigerian bash. Ms. Hunter, a talent acquisition partner, already had a dream venue in mind.
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