Liz Burke and Christian Hausle’s Downtown Raleigh Courthouse Wedding

Courtney Collins, a fabulous partner at Fancy This Photography, captured the downtown Raleigh courthouse wedding of Liz Burke and Christian Hausle on December 15, 2023. This Raleigh elopement oozed sophistication and coolness. Liz and Christian served major Hollywood vibes. We were thrilled to document their intimate and chic downtown Raleigh courthouse wedding.

Courtney photographed Liz and Christian’s sentimental getting ready moments before their courthouse ceremony. The bride and groom included their sweet cat and dog in some iconic family photos on the couch. After snapping photos with their pets, Courtney followed Liz and Christian to the train station for downtown Raleigh elopement pictures.

This real wedding blog is full of advice for planning a fierce Downtown Raleigh Courthouse wedding day from start to finish.

Bride and groom with cat and dog moments before Downtown Raleigh Courthouse wedding.

Raleigh, North Carolina Elopement Photography

Downtown Raleigh offers tons of sweet locations for elopement or wedding photos. We recommend the train station for its unique architecture and vibes. The exposed brick walls, curved archways, and ironwork provide excellent backdrops, neutral and consistent with cool textures and angles. Courtney’s photos, a mix of black-and-white and color, portray Liz and Christian as a modern, authentic, fierce, and utterly timeless couple.

Raleigh Union Station, located at the Boylan Wye railroad junction used by CSX and Norfolk Southern, is right next to the Depot Historic District in downtown Raleigh.

Another cool downtown Raleigh elopement photo location we recommend is the Boylan Bridge. The bridge offers a unique view of downtown Raleigh’s skyline and is just a three-minute drive from the train station.

Keep scrolling for more downtown Raleigh courthouse wedding photos and downtown Raleigh elopement photo ideas.

Downtown Raleigh Courthouse Wedding Tips 

A courthouse elopement can be perfect for couples who want a more intimate or affordable wedding ceremony. Even though elopements are typically less formal than traditional weddings, we still recommend hiring a professional photographer. You’ll never regret capturing precious moments of you and your significant other as you prepare for the day, participate in the ceremony, and enjoy any post-“I do” festivities.

A lot of times, couples will invite a few close friends and family to the courthouse for the ceremony or a nearby restaurant to celebrate afterward. We love big milestones just as much as the little moments in between, like walking across the street with high heels in your hand or kissing your dog on the snoot before heading to the courthouse. Fancy This Photography was honored to capture Liz and Christian’s downtown Raleigh courthouse wedding.

A candid portrait of the bride during her Downtown Raleigh Courthouse wedding ceremony photographed by Courtney Collins, Fancy This Photography partner.

Real moments from Liz and Christian’s Downtown Raleigh Courthouse wedding.

Liz and Christian sealed the deal with a kiss at their Downtown Raleigh Courthouse wedding.

More About The Courthouse in Downtown Raleigh 

The courthouse located in downtown Raleigh is called the Wake County Courthouse. For clarification: marriages are not conducted in the Wake County Courthouse. Marriages take place in the Wake County Justice Center. The courthouse is located off Fayetteville Street, and the Justice Center is next door on Salisbury Street.

For couples who want classic Raleigh courthouse wedding photos, the Wake County Justice Center is in a prime spot. The Justice Center’s downtown location places you near local landmarks, beautiful public parks, and legendary restaurants and bars. Here are a few of Fancy This Photography’s favorite places to take Raleigh courthouse wedding photos:

• Raleigh Union Station 

• City Market and Moore Square Park 

• The Dillon Rooftop (Downtown Raleigh skyline) 

• Warehouse District and Nash Square Park 

• Marbles Kids Museum 

• Boylan Heights neighborhood 

• Boylan Bridge (Downtown Raleigh skyline) 

• North Carolina State Capitol 

• NC State University campus 

• WRAL Azalea Gardens

• Dorothea Dix Park and Fred Fletcher Park

• North Carolina Museum of Art

Liz and Christian looked sharp in their Raleigh courthouse wedding attire and fierce sunglasses on the rooftop of The Dillon.

About The Dillon in Downtown Raleigh 

Fancy This Photography loves an urban-industrial photo shoot, especially when it celebrates the union of a couple like Liz and Christian. This dynamic bride and groom duo was made for a rooftop photo shoot. Have you ever been on the rooftop of The Dillon? The Dillon is a mixed-use property in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Located in the Warehouse District, The Dillon’s rooftop has epic views of the downtown Raleigh skyline from the ninth floor.

From the rooftop of The Dillon, you get a unique view of downtown Raleigh’s oldest and newest buildings as they reach up and kiss the sky. Liz and Christian looked sharp in their Raleigh courthouse wedding attire and fierce sunglasses. The Dillon’s downtown Raleigh location is prime for Raleigh couples photo shoots.

Post-Elopement Restaurant and Bar Recommendations in Downtown Raleigh

Here are a few of Fancy This Photography’s favorite restaurants and bars near The Dillon in downtown Raleigh:

• Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing

• The Raleigh Times Bar

• Dram and Drought 

• A Place at the Table 

• The Pit Authentic Barbecue 

• Trophy Brewing & Pizza

• Morgan Street Food Hall 

• Flying Saucer Draught Emporium 

• Fiction Kitchen 

• Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern 

Fun Fact: A new restaurant and bar has recently opened on the rooftop of The Dillon in downtown Raleigh. Discover La Terrazza, a Mediterranean-Southern Italian concept by Raleighite Samad Hachby (of Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar).

Parking: The Dillon’s ground-floor parking deck offers access, or there is street parking available.

***Public access: No reservation needed—La Terrazza is open to the public for skyline views.

Raleigh NC Elopement Fashion  

Elopement fashion is free and non-conforming. Fancy This Photography has seen couples in everything from matching suits to tea-length dresses, and not always in traditional black-and-white wedding color palettes.

Liz and Christian’s elopement outfits were sophisticated and glamorous. Christian looked handsome in a classic black-and-white tuxedo with a matching bow tie. Liz stopped traffic in a stunning elopement dress featuring off-the-shoulder sleeves, a drop-down square neckline, and a sleek ankle-length skirt. She completed her flawless courthouse wedding look with smart, walkable heels and an ivory overcoat.

Liz held a beautiful bouquet of wedding flowers. Her minimalist bouquet featured white calla lilies, greenery, and a whisper of baby’s breath. The unique trumpet-shaped flowers complemented the contemporary structure of Liz’s elopement dress. A soft piece of sheer white ribbon was tied around the bouquet’s stems.

North Carolina Elopement Photographer

Whether you’re planning a courthouse wedding or a more elaborate celebration, remember that the magic is in the details and the moments you share. Hiring a professional photographer ensures that these memories are captured beautifully, creating a timeless keepsake of your special day.

For more courthouse wedding or elopement inspiration, check out Anna and Kyle’s winter elopement in Hillsborough, North Carolina.

Anna + Kyle’s Winter Elopement at the Hillsborough, NC Courthouse