California Courthouse Weddings Boom as $36,000 Traditional Ceremonies Push Couples to Civil Vows
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 19
California Courthouse Weddings Boom as $36,000 Traditional Ceremonies Push Couples to Civil Vows
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 19
Summary
Marriage slots at California courthouses are being snapped up months ahead as more couples choose civil ceremonies over traditional weddings, with some last-minute appointments disappearing as soon as they are posted.
Santa Barbara officials say they handle dozens of ceremonies a day starting at 8 a.m., while San Francisco City Hall remains a major draw with about 7,000 weddings annually.
Gen Z is helping drive the shift as its oldest members reach the average marrying age of 28, and social media is steering couples toward celebrity-linked venues and micro-weddings.
Wedding budgets have not collapsed: Zola puts the average 2026 wedding at $36,000 with roughly 145 guests, and Bank of America said wedding-related spending is up 8.5% year over year.