A Vintage Elopement at Orange County Courthouse: A 35mm Film Wedding

A newly married couple stands next to a sign for 'Marriages & Passport Applications' at the Old Orange County Courthouse, with a 'Just Married' photo frame in the background. 35mm wedding film photographer orange county courthouse nicole caldwell

A bride and groom standing in front of the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana, California. The building features Richardsonian Romanesque architecture with red sandstone and granite details. 35mm wedding film photographer orange county courthouse nicole caldwell

SANTA ANA, CA… Can I Get a Witness doubling as a 35mm Film Photographer for My Courthouse Elopement? – 100 percent YES! I love a courthouse wedding—especially when the bride requests all black-and-white 35 mm film. On this particular Wednesday morning at the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana, I had the honor of being the official witness (note to self: work on penmanship).

A couple entering the Old Orange County Courthouse in black-and-white, with the bride wearing a vintage dress and holding a handbag, while a man in a white shirt and jacket walks beside her. 35mm wedding film photographer orange county courthouse nicole caldwell

A bride in a vintage dress stands in a hallway of the Old Orange County Courthouse, while a man sits on a bench, both smiling. The image is in black-and-white, capturing a candid moment during their courthouse elopement. 35mm wedding film photographer orange county courthouse nicole caldwell

The bride wore a thrifted vintage number, no bouquet needed, solely rings and vows ( and identification!)

A black-and-white photograph of a couple sitting together in a courthouse, with a floral arch visible in the background and an exit sign on the wall. 35mm wedding film photographer orange county courthouse nicole caldwell

The Old Orange County Courthouse, built in 1901, is a Richardsonian Romanesque gem designed by architect C.L. Strange. Constructed from Arizona red sandstone and Temecula granite, the courthouse stands as the oldest existing county courthouse in Southern California .