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Getting Married at the Courthouse? Make Your Wedding Rings First.

You’re keeping the wedding small and doing it your own way. Make the rings part of the story: spend one day at the bench with LaProng Jewelers in Dallas, Texas, make each other’s wedding bands by hand, then walk into the Dallas or Fort Worth courthouse wearing rings you made yourselves.

Book Your Workshop

  • ✓One day, 4–6 hours, daytime
  • ✓No experience needed; a jeweler guides you at every step
  • ✓Couples’ sterling-silver bands from $695; gold wedding ring sets (both rings) from $2,490
  • ★WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner, Hall of Fame & The Knot’s Best of Weddings · 1,200+ rings made with LaProng Jewelers · 100% satisfaction guarantee
Couple showing the wedding bands they made by hand in Dallas, Texas

The Rings Were Made by the People Wearing Them

A courthouse wedding skips the parts that don’t matter to you. The rings are the part you keep. Instead of picking bands from a case, you and your partner make each other’s rings at the jeweler’s bench: you cut the metal to size, shape it round, join it with a jeweler’s torch, hammer it true, file and sand away the seam, and choose a finish, hammered, satin or high polish. You leave with finished wedding bands and the story of the day you made them.

Sourcing the right metal for your bands is part of the service, so there is nothing to buy or bring ahead of time. Your session includes access to the bench, the professional tools and the resources. Optional inside engraving can carry your wedding date or a short message.

How the Timing Works With a Courthouse Wedding

  1. Step 1Book your bench day. Book at least 2–3 weeks ahead; 4–6 weeks out gives you the best choice of dates.
  2. Step 2Make your rings. One day, 4–6 hours, side by side. Simple bands are finished the same day. Diamond-accented bands with more than three stones need 10–12 business days for stone setting afterward, so plan your bench day earlier if you choose one of those styles.
  3. Step 3Get your marriage license. A Texas marriage license takes effect 72 hours after it is issued and is good for 90 days, so you can pick it up before or after your bench day.
  4. Step 4Say “I do” at the courthouse, with rings you made yourselves.

Courthouse Wedding Basics: Dallas and Fort Worth

Rules and fees change, so always confirm with the county before you go. As of October 2026, the county websites say:

Dallas County

  • Marriage licenses come from the Dallas County Clerk at the Records Building, 500 Elm Street, Suite 2100, Dallas. You apply online first, then book an appointment. The Dallas County Clerk issues licenses to Dallas County residents, based on the address on your ID.
  • Both of you must be there with a valid government-issued photo ID.
  • Dallas County Justice of the Peace courts perform weekday wedding ceremonies by appointment, with walk-ins as available. See Dallas County’s wedding ceremony and license information.

Tarrant County (Fort Worth)

  • A formal marriage license is $76, or $16 with a Twogether in Texas certificate. Tarrant County adds a $100 fee when neither of you can show Texas residency.
  • Tarrant County offers remote marriage licensing by video call for formal licenses.
  • A Texas license from any county can be used for a ceremony anywhere in Texas. See Tarrant County’s marriage license page.

The 72-hour wait

Texas requires 72 hours between getting your license and the ceremony. Both counties list these exceptions: an applicant on active duty in the U.S. armed forces, a waiver signed by a district judge, or a completed Twogether in Texas or qualifying premarital course certificate.

Worth the Trip to Dallas, Texas

Couples travel from Houston, Austin, San Antonio and out of state to make their rings with us. The studio is in Carrollton, just outside Dallas, a short drive from both the Dallas and Fort Worth courthouses. Want to see the band styles first? Browse wedding band styles, or read the full wedding ring workshop details.

Questions Couples Ask

Can we make our rings the same week as our courthouse wedding?

Yes, as long as you book your bench day ahead. Book at least 2–3 weeks out. Simple bands are finished the same day you make them.

Do we need any jewelry experience?

No. A jeweler works with the two of you through every step, from cutting the metal to the final finish.

How much does it cost?

Two sterling-silver bands start at $695. Gold wedding ring sets start at $2,490 and cover both rings. Sourcing the metal is part of the service.

Do we have to live in Dallas?

No. Couples travel from across Texas and out of state. Check your county’s marriage license rules, since some counties issue licenses only to residents or charge an out-of-state fee.

Is this for same-sex couples too?

Absolutely. Every couple is welcome at the bench.