A court wedding in Nigeria costs ₦20,000–₦60,000 in official registry fees in 2026, but the realistic all-in spend — notice forms, certified marriage certificate, and a small reception — lands most couples at ₦150,000–₦500,000. The Federal Marriage Registry at Ikoyi charges more than your local government registry, and that gap catches people off guard.
Here's what nobody tells you up front: a "court wedding" and a "registry marriage" are the same legal event under the Marriage Act — but where you do it changes both the price and the queue. Ikoyi is the prestige choice, and the slowest. Your local LGA marriage registry is cheaper, faster, and just as legally binding. This guide breaks down the 2026 fees, the documents you actually need, and the full timeline from notice to certificate.
A statutory court wedding costs ₦20,000–₦60,000 in registry fees at most local government registries, and ₦40,000–₦120,000 at the Federal Marriage Registry, Ikoyi. A special licence — which waives the 21-day waiting period — adds the most to your bill.
| Item | Local LGA Registry | Ikoyi Federal Registry |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of marriage + forms | ₦5,000–₦15,000 | ₦15,000–₦30,000 |
| Marriage certificate | ₦5,000–₦15,000 | ₦10,000–₦25,000 |
| Special licence (21-day waiver) | ₦15,000–₦40,000 | ₦40,000–₦80,000 |
| Use of registry hall | ₦10,000–₦50,000 | ₦50,000–₦150,000 |
| Ordinary total (with notice) | ₦20,000–₦60,000 | ₦40,000–₦120,000 |
Most of the "court wedding is expensive" stories you hear come from Ikoyi couples who paid for the hall, the special licence, and a Saturday slot. Marry on a weekday at your LGA registry and the bill collapses.
You need proof of age, valid ID, passport photographs, and — depending on your situation — consent or dissolution papers. Bring originals plus two photocopies of everything; registries lose documents and you do not want to redo the 21-day notice.
The standard checklist:
For a foreigner marrying a Nigerian, add a letter from the embassy confirming single status and a valid visa or residence permit.
The ordinary process takes a minimum of 21 days. You file a Notice of Marriage, it's posted publicly for 21 clear days, and only then can the registrar issue the Registrar's Certificate that lets you marry. A special licence removes the wait but costs more and still needs registrar approval.
So the honest timeline:
If you're planning a traditional or white wedding around the same time, do the registry leg first — the certificate is the document banks, embassies, and immigration actually recognise.
Only the court (statutory) wedding is legally recognised on its own. A traditional marriage is culturally binding and a white/church wedding is spiritually binding, but for visa, inheritance, next-of-kin, and joint-account purposes, the registry certificate is what counts.
Plenty of Nigerian couples do all three. The registry on a quiet weekday, the traditional engagement at the bride's family home, and the white wedding on the big Saturday. If budget is tight, the court wedding is the one leg you cannot skip — and at ₦20,000–₦60,000, it's also the cheapest.
A court wedding is the least glamorous and most important part of getting married in Nigeria. Skip the Ikoyi prestige if you don't need it — your local LGA registry gives you the exact same legal certificate for a fraction of the price.
Plan the registry leg first, keep certified copies of your certificate in two places, and only then build the traditional and white weddings around it.
Browse verified event planners on ElitePlanners.ng to coordinate your full wedding, or use our Event Cost Calculator to budget all three ceremonies.
Related reading: Average Nigerian wedding cost 2026 · Traditional vs white wedding cost 2026 · Nigerian traditional marriage list 2026