If you want a small, simple wedding but not a government office, Bucks County has six real alternatives — from a $85 self-uniting license used anywhere you like, to a $595 weekday venue ceremony, to a chapel or a restaurant private room. Most cost less than people assume.
First: what's actually wrong with a courthouse wedding?
Nothing, for a lot of couples. If you want to be legally married and nothing more, it's the cheapest and most efficient option in the county and you should take it.
The three things that send couples looking for alternatives:
- Guest limits. Civil ceremonies typically hold under ten people, sometimes only the witnesses.
- Scheduling. Business hours, weekdays, and the county doesn't book it for you — you contact magisterial district courts individually, and not all of them perform marriages.
- The setting. You'll have photos. They'll be in a government building.
If none of those bother you, stop reading and go do it. If they do, here's what else exists.
1. Self-uniting license, anywhere you want — $85
The one most couples don't know about.
Pennsylvania issues self-uniting marriage licenses under 23 Pa. C.S. § 1502, and Bucks County confirms on its own site that its office issues them. No officiant required. You marry each other, two witnesses sign, and it's fully legal and recognized nationwide.
Which means the location is entirely up to you. A park. A family backyard. A favorite restaurant. The beach on your honeymoon, as long as it's in Pennsylvania.
Cost: the $85 license and nothing else.
You don't have to be Quaker — a 2007 federal ruling settled that. Just say you want a self-uniting license when you apply.
2. Weekday ceremony at a wedding venue — from $595
Several Bucks County venues, including ours, open weekday inventory for small ceremonies at a fraction of weekend pricing. You get actual grounds, an actual ceremony site, and usually somewhere to eat afterward.
What to check: how many guests are included, whether there's a rain backup, whether photos are included or you're bringing your own, and whether food is available on site or you're driving somewhere after.
Typical range in Bucks County: $595 to $4,000 depending on guests, time, and whether a meal is included.
3. Wedding chapels — from roughly $400–$500
Several operate in and around Bucks County, mostly in converted commercial buildings. You get an officiant and a room, usually with flexible scheduling including evenings and weekends.
Read the inclusions carefully. Chapel listings frequently exclude on-site parking, dedicated getting-ready space, and any food service. For a 20-minute ceremony that may not matter. If you were picturing photos on grounds or lunch afterward, check first.
Entry pricing typically starts around $400 to $500. Larger packages with a light reception run $1,000 to $1,500.
4. Restaurant private dining — $500–$3,000
For 10 to 25 people, a private room plus a self-uniting license is a complete wedding. Ceremony at the table or in the room, then dinner. No venue fee at many places if you hit a food and beverage minimum.
Bucks County has good options in Doylestown, New Hope, and Newtown. This is the most underrated alternative on the list, especially for couples whose priority is the meal and the people rather than the setting.
5. Parks and public land — $0–$300 plus permits
Tyler State Park, Peace Valley Park, Washington Crossing Historic Park, and various township properties all allow ceremonies with permission.
The realities nobody mentions: permits vary by authority, some require insurance, most cap guest counts, many prohibit amplified music, restrooms may be a walk away, and there is no weather backup. Good dates book early.
Beautiful and cheap if you're organized and lucky with the forecast.
6. Home or private property — $85 plus whatever you add
With a self-uniting license, a backyard is legally sufficient. The license is the only requirement.
Costs come from what you add: rentals, catering, a tent. A backyard wedding is often more expensive than couples expect once chairs, tables, and a rain plan are accounted for — but for 15 people on a nice day, it can genuinely be the $85 and a good bottle of wine.
Comparing them
| Option | Cost | Guests | Weekend? | Rain plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courthouse | $85–$300 | Under 10 | No | Indoors |
| Self-uniting anywhere | $85 | Your call | Yes | Your problem |
| Weekday venue | $595–$4,000 | 4–40 | Usually no | Usually yes |
| Chapel | $400–$1,500 | 20–24 | Yes | Indoors |
| Restaurant private room | $500–$3,000 | 10–25 | Yes | Indoors |
| Park | $0–$300 + permit | Varies | Yes | None |
| Private property | $85+ | Your call | Yes | Your problem |
What every option has in common
Whatever you choose, the legal part is the same:
- $85 Bucks County marriage license, including one certified copy
- Three-day waiting period after you apply
- Valid 60 calendar days, usable anywhere in Pennsylvania
- Apply online, then a short video appointment
- Marriage return filed within 10 days of the ceremony, or no record exists
- Two witnesses if you're using a self-uniting license
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest way to get married in Bucks County? A self-uniting license used somewhere you already have access to — a park, a backyard, a friend's property. Total cost is the $85 license. No officiant, no venue fee.
Can you get married in Bucks County without a courthouse? Yes. A Pennsylvania marriage license is valid anywhere in the state, and with a self-uniting license you don't need an officiant either. The courthouse is one option, not a requirement.
How much does a wedding chapel cost near Bucks County? Entry packages typically start around $400 to $500 for a short ceremony with an officiant. Packages including a light reception generally run $1,000 to $1,500. Check whether parking, getting-ready space, and food are included — often they aren't.
Can we get married in a Bucks County park? Generally yes, with a permit from the relevant authority. Requirements vary — some need insurance, most cap guest counts, and many prohibit amplified music. Contact the specific park directly.
Do we need an officiant? No. Bucks County issues self-uniting marriage licenses under 23 Pa. C.S. § 1502. You marry each other and two witnesses sign.
Can we get married on a weekend without a courthouse? Yes. Chapels, restaurants, parks, and private property all work on weekends. Weekday venue packages are the main option that's weekday-only, since that's where the pricing advantage comes from.
What's the difference between eloping and a courthouse wedding? A courthouse wedding is a civil ceremony performed by a judge or mayor. Eloping just means a small wedding — it can happen anywhere, with or without an officiant, and increasingly happens at real venues rather than government buildings.
The middle option
The Arbor at The Bucks Club is a wedding venue in Jamison, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, about ten minutes from the Doylestown county offices. Our weekday ceremonies start at $595 — a waterfront ceremony site, somewhere to eat afterward, and nothing to plan.
Marriage license details confirmed against Bucks County Register of Wills published requirements and fee schedule, August 2026.
Last updated: August 2026