If you called the Brookings County courthouse to get married and were told they don’t do that anymore, you’re not the first. Several South Dakota courthouses, Brookings included, have stopped performing marriage ceremonies — which is exactly why we started officiating at Hitch Studio!
Our certified wedding planners are also ordained ministers in South Dakota, and we have a warm, private ceremony room at 406 Main Ave in Downtown Brookings where couples get married every week. Some come in on a Tuesday afternoon with two witnesses and a marriage license. Others book us to write and perform a full ceremony in front of 200 people at their venue, including a rehearsal. Both are welcome!
Get married in our Downtown Brookings ceremony room
Our ceremony room is not what you’re picturing when you hear “conference room.” It’s warm, private, full of natural light, and genuinely pretty — the kind of room where photos turn out beautifully without anyone decorating a thing. We set up comfy seating for about six people + couch seating (and more if requested! We are also a rental company, so setting up more chairs is no problem!)
It works especially well for:
- Couples legally marrying now and celebrating with a party later
- Military and long-distance couples working around one short window at home
- Second marriages and quiet, low-key wedding days
- Anyone who wants a courthouse wedding alternative in South Dakota with actual warmth to it
How to legally get married in South Dakota
South Dakota is one of the simplest states in the country to marry in.
- The marriage license costs $40, issued by any South Dakota Register of Deeds office — ours is the Brookings County Register of Deeds located at 520 3rd Street, Ste 120, Brookings, SD.
- There is no waiting period. You can apply and marry the same day.
- The license is valid for 90 days from the date it’s issued.
- You’ll need two witnesses, both 18 or older, to sign it.
- The officiant must return the signed license within 10 days. Hitch is located about two blocks away, and we submit the marriage license for you. Easy peasy.
Don’t have two witnesses? We can provide them for $25 each!
Getting married in Minnesota? Our officiants are now credentialed to legally perform weddings across Minnesota, too — the rules there are different (a 5-day waiting period and a $115 license, reduced to $40 with premarital counseling), so we wrote a full guide to Minnesota ceremonies here.
Our three wedding officiant packages
How much does a wedding officiant cost in South Dakota?
Elopement — $195
The quick, hassle-free way to make it official. An ordained wedding planner marries you at our Downtown Brookings Hitch Studio office and files your marriage license with the county. No large group, no long ceremony, no custom script — just the two of you and the paperwork handled correctly.
Monday–Thursday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Witnesses available for $25 each.
Lite Ceremony — $295
For couples who want a ceremony with a small circle of people they love. Your officiant writes a custom ceremony script just for you, performs the ceremony at Hitch Studio or another private location — a park, a favorite spot, somewhere that means something — signs your license, and turns it in. You’ll take home a keepsake vow book.
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. On-site or off-site. Witnesses available for $25 each.
Luxe Ceremony — $595
You’ve planned a gorgeous wedding day and you want a trained professional standing at the front of it. Your officiant writes a fully custom ceremony and vow script, offers ceremony advice while you plan, attends your rehearsal, performs the ceremony at your venue, and files your license afterward. We have a warm, sincere tone and are very comfortable in front of large crowds.
Any day of the week, 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., at your venue. Includes a one-hour rehearsal and a keepsake vow book.
Your ceremony, actually written for you
What makes a ceremony feel like yours instead of a script someone downloaded?
Every couple who books with us fills out our ceremony officiating questionnaire, and it goes deeper than names and dates. We ask about unity ceremonies, readings, and songs, whether you want to write your own vows or have your officiant write them for you, how religious (if at all) you want the script to be, and whether you want to read each other’s vows beforehand or be surprised on the day. We even ask how you want to be announced as when it’s over.
Then we write your ceremony script around your answers — and you get to read and approve it before the wedding day (if you choose to). No surprises at the altar. As one of our couples put it: “They think of every detail and make sure everything is perfect.”
Serving Brookings, Sioux Falls, and beyond
We’re based in Brookings and travel across the region — Sioux Falls, Watertown, Aberdeen, Mitchell, Marshall MN, and beyond. Off-site ceremonies are billed at $1.50 per round-trip mile to us to travel.
Wedding officiant FAQs
Do we have to take marriage classes?
No. We don’t require marriage classes for a Hitch officiant to marry you.
Do you perform non-religious ceremonies?
Yes — both religious and non-religious civil ceremonies. We’re firm believers in all love.
Can we write our own vows?
Yes, and we encourage it. If you’d rather not, your officiant can write them for you.
Do we see the ceremony script beforehand?
Absolutely. Your officiant customizes your script before the wedding so you can make changes and approve it.
How long does a ceremony last?
Typically 5–25 minutes, depending on readings, songs, or a unity ceremony. An “Elopement” lasts about 5-7 minutes. A “Lite” ceremony lasts about 10-12 minutes. A “Luxe” ceremony lasts about 15-25 minutes, depending on customization, poems, readings, etc.
Will you come to our rehearsal?
Yes — rehearsal attendance is included with the Luxe Ceremony at no additional charge (except mileage if more than 15 miles from Brookings, South Dakota).
Can you marry us at our house?
Private residences aren’t our preference, but reach out and let’s talk — there are budget-friendly public venues we love. That would qualify as a “Lite” or “Luxe” ceremony.
Do we have to book other services to have you officiate?
Nope. Officiating stands alone. (Though we’re happy to plan your wedding, too!)
More questions? Read our full officiating FAQ.
Let’s get you married
Whether that’s a Tuesday afternoon in our Downtown Brookings ceremony room or a full ceremony in front of everyone you love, we’d be honored to be the ones standing up there with you.
Hitch Studio · 406 Main Ave, Brookings, SD 57006 · 605.592.9072 · info@hitchstudio.com
View our officiating packages! And remember, everything is as confidential and special as you want it to be. We can’t wait to marry you! See some photos of our space below (both in our office space and at other venues!)
