Courthouse Wedding Chapel — Local services in San Antonio

Brides Beware! You do not want to get married at this location or by Art. He was kind and Christ-like on the phone and even professes to be a Born Again believer. Uh No. I booked this venue for June 16th, 2022. I decided to go there today after Art told us we can come peer into the windows to view the venue anytime. We noticed a wedding party waiting outside in the sweltering heat waiting their turn. Their makeup was melting; their dresses were sweaty and there was nowhere cool for them to wait. The chapel is sandwiched in between a fast food Mexican Restaurant and a liquor store, plus the outside reeks of urine from the homeless population that dwells there at night. There is litter everywhere. My daughter and I peered through the window and the people were stuffed in there like sardines. When I questioned the waiting wedding party and those that were coming out, I found Art booked 2 weddings at the same time. I waited until the wedding was complete and called Art to ask if I can view the space. He was rude, nasty, short- tempered and mean. I asked him if someone would be getting married on my daughter's date that would force us to wait in the heat and he immediately got defensive and yelled that I am no one to question him. I was kind and respectful and paused to ask another question to see if we could peek in to check the space before the next wedding. He said yes, but quickly said it wasn't necessary. He said I had no right to look or ask him any questions because I'm no one. He cut me off and hung up in my face. I abruptly canceled. Ladies, you are better to marry in a park or backyard. The decorations are gawdy; the space is tight; the pastor is a jerk; and you must walk through trash and urine stained walkways past a liquor store to get there. I would have been mortified if this was our wedding day. Don't do it! You're better off at the Courthouse or doing it at home. Keep in mind, when the bride and wedding party came out, they looked like they just ran a 5k in 100 degree heat. Make up was messed up; dresses were sweaty and hanging; and their beautiful hairstyles were ruined and wet through and through. Don't do it. I served 30 years in the Army and retired as a senior officer. Please trust my judgment and find another location ASAP. My daughter and her fiance witnessed all this. Her fiance is a mild mannered man and was horrified at the way Art...

Rev. Don is absolutely amazing. He walked us to the courthouse to get our license. Walked us back. Explained everything. And was great. The ceremony was absolutely beautiful. He caught us off guard by asking us to tell each other something from our heart. Lol. He accommodated everyone. The only issue we had was that it was raining terribly and very cold. My dad was lost in traffic and was late. We did not know there was only a 30 min window and there was another wedding waiting. We had a huge wedding party and my dad flew in from flordia just for the wedding to give me away and is elderly riding with a groomsman who got stuck in traffic and ended up not making a turn and a bit lost. The wedding before us ran a bit late too. The weather was horrible. I was stressed out and he was rushing us. I understand but we could have switched times with the other wedding he could have told us we could or something. By the time everyone got there, my groomsman and son ringbearer ended up not walking the aisle and we forgot to take pic with our parents due to the rush. With all that said it was a fabulous ceremony and weather cannot be controlled and he did his best. To help. We loved it. We got our wedding license and copies in the mail in less than 5 days!!!!!! It's all included in the price which is great!!! They have bouquets and fake rings if you need them! Dont forget your lock with a key!...

On arrival the office was shut and we were informed that Don (who we initially spoke to) had gone on vacation... We did find his replacement (Gerald) and arranged a civil ceremony for the same day. On meeting Gerald, he advised me (the groom) where my fiancee would arrive by carriage but got it wrong and found her waiting at the fountain and got a christian ceremony instead. On signing the ornate license my new wife noticed the "minister" had written the wrong date on it, to which he announced "wasn't a problem" and promptly scored out August and re-entered October over the top of it. Then advising us he would forward on to Harris County for registration............. wait for it................... forgot to send it! Eventually we got it sorted and it was sent away about 8wks AFTER the ceremony. We travelled all the way from Scotland for this romantic/ secret wedding and have not had a great experience but we loved San Antonio as a place to get married, it is a stunning place! We now are in possession of the licence (23rd Dec) and my "wife" can now finally use this document to change her name legally........ We didn't think this was ever going to happen......