Atlanta Magazine - Atlanta Magazine February 2026
Big Picture
2026-01-17 06:07:45
FOREVER FRIDAYS AT THE FULTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Forget the wedding invites and seating charts: Courthouse weddings have never been more popular. Pinterest’s 2025 Annual Wedding Trends Report noted over a 190 percent jump this year in searches on the platform for “city hall elopement.” Whether it’s to save money, avoid the family drama, or just follow a romantic impulse, more Americans are saying “I Do” in front of the county clerk.
To better serve these love birds, Fulton County Probate Court offers “Forever Fridays” every week. Couples can select one of two free ceremonies: a group wedding, officiated by Chief Probate Judge Kenya M. Johnson or one of her deputies, or a private ceremony (reservations required) in the courthouse’s own wedding chapel decorated with a flower wall. Reservations are required. Marriage licenses must be obtained in advance, and guests are welcome (two for the group ceremony, five for private). Courthouse staff often drop by to cheer the newlyweds, and many participants bring photographers to celebrate their (small) big day. For Atlantans who want to commit till death do they part—without worrying about napkin colors—Forever Fridays offer a bit of extra romance on the courthouse steps.
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