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Hey, go for it! The other option is, if you're planning to have some kind of reception later, to save it and wear it then.
ETA: I did consider wearing my dress to our wedding (which was at the courthouse) but saved it for the reception, which we had the day after. Either way, you'll be fine. And it's impossible to be overdressed on your wedding day, no matter where you get married.
Also, considering that most people who go to the courthouse for whatever don't generally dress up, you'll "stick out like a sore thumb" if you look even remotely nice, generally speaking. I wore a nice skirt and sweater and had my hair done; DH wore a suit. We both "stuck out," but who cares? It's your wedding day!
Do you have to do the courthouse route? Could you hire a Justice of the Peace or get a friend/family member ordained so you could do it elsewhere?
I have walked past the courthouse and seen a bride and groom coming out and the bride was wearing a big fluffly gown.. It definitely caught my attention because i wasnt expecting to see it. I personally think you will be overdressed but if thats what you really want then you should do it
I don't think it's an issue. I mean, it's your wedding day no matter where you have it. I'm not sure how ballgown-y the dress you're talking about is, but I'd say as long as you don't have to move it to get through a doorway you're fine. ;) I do think it's cute when brides wear tea-length dresses, but I also think you can wear whatever you want. :)
You will stick out like a sore thumb but if you're okay with that then you should just go ahead and wear the dress. Do what makes me you happy; who cares what a bunch of strangers think?
DO IT!! If you feel weird about doing it in Arlington Heights, consider going into Chicago.... I've never seen their city hall, but it might be fancier. Here in SF, people get SUPER dressed up sometimes for their wedding in City Hall, which is GORGEOUS.
I don't know about yours, but our Courthouse is gorgeous on the inside. A few girls I know got married in ballgowns in the Courthouse, and their pictures turned out beautiful! I'm sure every one is different, but I say go for it! It's your wedding.. it's not like people are going to say, "Hey, what's that bride doing wearing a big white dress?"
what about wearing it with a brightly colored cardigan? That would be so chic.
Wear it! It's a special day not meant for strict adherence to convention. I believe the day will feel more special to you in the end if you do wear it and the fact that you already have it in your possession tells me you'd really like to wear a fancy dress. We considered getting married at the courthouse and a huge part of me was hung up on doing something so important without something symbolic to mark the occasion. Damn the masses. :^)
wear it! Enjoy your day and wear whatever you want, I think it will be fine.
DOOOOO IIIIIIITTTTTTTT!!!!! Up until about a month ago i was stressing super hard about our wedding because i was trying to please everyone else. If there is one thing Ive learned throughout this process is that it is MY (OUR) day and I(WE) should be happy. Sure people may look and even stare but what else can they say other than your gorgeous anyway?!?!? ultimately it's about what you want to do...so you should wear whatever you want
SN if you dont wear it to the court house what other opportunity do you have to wear it....you cant just let a Vera Wang dress go to waste....and since you have one Im sure you know what i mean =]
I would totally wear a ballgown to the courthouse. I don't see why you should miss out on the opportunity to wear the ballgown.
You only get to put on a wedding gown once (well, hopefully just once!) so wherever you're getting married, wear the dress you want! I hope you rock the hell out of that ballgown!
One person did that while we were getting our marriage license. I'm not going to lie - I thought it was a little strange. But then, I love love love the little white dresses you typically think of for courthouse weddings, so that could have been part of it.
Do what will make you feel happy. If you don't like people looking at you, then a ball gown might make you feel uncomfortable. Although keep in mind, most people will be staring not because they are being judgemental (look at that crazy broad) but because bride's always make people happy and they are happy for you.
I say wear it and soak in all the well wishes you'll get!
Hell to the yes! When i went to my gf court hous nuptials a few years back we saw all kinds of fashions. Do you!
Think of it this way: It's not like you're wearing it to the courthouse to fight a traffic ticket. You're wearing it to the courthouse to get married! Why shouldn't you wear it!? Enjoy your day!
Wear it! Wear whatever you want! Hell, wear scuba gear if you feel like it. It's your/y'alls day, who gives a rip what other people think.
Do what you want, but be aware it will be the equivalent of wearing a hat with a bright flashing arrow pointing down at you on it. Are you having a reception or anything? It might be better to wear it to that. I work at a courthouse and couldn't imagine someone showing up here wearing a vera wang ballgown. You would definitely be the talk of the town!!
If you don't mind being the absolute center of attention (and you should be on your wedding day!) then go ahead and rock it.
Personally, I wouldn`t do it cause I would feel very uncomfortable. But I am definitely voting for it! I love the idea of wearing a cardigan to tone it down a bit too :)
I say go for it, if that's what you want! If anything, you'll get horns blown and people yelling in celebration! Besides, if you're really self-conscious about wearing the gown OUT of the courthouse, you could also change once it's over and done with....
I wore a white lacey dress for that wedding, so I'm not help. Besides, when else are you going to get to? 
For what it's worth, I married my ex-husband at the courthouse on Valentines day of '02 (have had a love/hate relationship with valentine's day ever since) and there were A LOT of women wearing gowns that day.
good luck!!! and I hope you DO wear it!
I say, "Wear it!" I had a traditional wedding, but after the reception, we went out to a bar with a bunch of friends. It was a blast wearing the wedding dress in public (i.e. to the courthouse). The pics will be gorgeous! Just be prepared to get lots of attention (at the bar, it came in the form of a lot of free drinks)!
the thing is, are you going to feel uncomfortable sticking out? theoretically, i say "heck yes do it!! it's your day, rock whatever you want to rock!!!!"
but me personally, i'm not sure i would...
I went to the courthouse to witness my friends' wedding, and there was another bride there with a big ol' fabulous puffy cupcake dress. I thought she was kind of awesome. Go for it - wear what makes you happy.
thanks for all of your replies.... i think you're all on the right track. so what if i stick out?? i will remember this day for the rest of my life... it SHOULD stick out. that's it - I'm wearing it. oh, and i love the cardigan idea. i found a little, pale pink ruffled cashmere cardigan that matches the flowers on the waistband of the gown i am wearing. i can wear that over it on the way in and out of the courthouse and take it off for the ceremony. thanks to all of you for the encouragement i needed to rock my dream dress!!
It doesn't matter what kind of wedding you have it's still your big day. Wear what will make you happy.
I say WEAR IT!
Moreover, I have an issue with people suggesting you'll "stick out like a sore thumb" or it will be as if you're wearing "a big arrow" over your head.
Ummmmm...its your wedding! You're the BRIDE! You are SUPPOSED to be the center of attention, aren't you???
Sheesh. Go big, sweetie.
@sonomagal: Relax. Some people don't relish being the center of attention, bride or no. I'm one of them. And there's a difference between being the center of attention of your friends and family that are there to support you and being the center of attention in the middle of a bunch of strangers. Besides, getting a bunch of different viewpoints is kind of the point of posting on an internet message board.
I would feel uncomfortable but I think I'd wear it! I'd be like "HEY!! I'M HERE!" and just have fun with it! If you wear it make sure you go in with the biggest smile on your face (you will most likely already be smiling so big as its your wedding day!) but just GO for it, you know? Just smile and walk in and have this attitude: "We are here! We're doing this here and I'm wearing this dress!"
You definitely should! You've bought the gown, and this is your only day--EVER--to get married! Don't care about what anyone else thinks--you know you'll look fabulous!
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My fiance and I have decided to get married at the courthouse with our immediate family and our photographer in tow. I have had a beautiful Vera Wang ball gown style dress picked out for over a year. I love this dress and want very badly to wear it to out wedding, even though it will be in a courthouse. I know I'll stick out like a sore thumb, but this day will only come once. Do you think it's okay to wear a fancy wedding dress to a courthouse ceremony?? I'm dying for some opinions. Part of me thinks it might be inappropriate, but part of me thinks that this is MY big day and I should wear whatever the heck I want to wear. What do you think??