Court house weddings?

Hi Dominique! Congrats on your engagement!

I can address a few of these questions, though some of them will need to be asked to the courthouse itself. States and counties have different rules and procedures, and while we have some info on marriage laws by state, issues like how and how early to schedule a ceremony is something only they can tell you for certain.

For the courthouse weddings I have been to, the couple does need an appointment, the ceremonies are performed privately for the couple and any guests they bring (not open to the public), and the couple can choose to process in or to skip a procession and just get started. I have also seen courthouse ceremonies where couples wrote their own vows and chose their own readings.

I can tell you for certain it is absolutely NOT weird to wear a wedding dress for a courthouse ceremony, and I recommend you have a photographer there as well. We've seen some absolutely stunning courthouse BAMs!

I think you do need to schedule an appointment. I think, from which I have participated in, it's semi private. You'll be waiting with other couples, but they marry you in a separate room.

My last marriage was in a courthouse. We did need to make an appointment because it was so late in the day when we decided on a spur of the moment tying of the knot. However, if you go early enough, most places do walk ins. It is done in a different room so no one except your witnesses will be in there. You do need 2 witnesses, but the court typically has people that are willing to witness it for you!
You can wear whatever you want and you can say your own written vows as well if you would like

Hope this helps! And congrats!