The Ultimate Guide to San Francisco City Hall Weddings and Elopements
GETTING MARRIED AT SAN FRANCISCO CITY HALL
If you're reading this, you're likely considering one of the most iconic and gorgeous wedding venues around - the stunning San Francisco City Hall. As a San Francisco wedding photographer for over 10 years, I've had the privilege of capturing so many wonderful couples tying the knot at this architectural beauty. People from all over the world travel here to get married at this Northern California location. To help you prepare, I've created a guide with all the information you need to plan the perfect City Hall wedding experience!
San Francisco's historic City Hall is truly a jaw-dropping backdrop for your wedding day. This gorgeous Beaux-Arts style building dating back to 1915 features grand staircases, eye-catching marble floors, and those iconic domed ceiling windows that saturate the space with glorious natural light. Not only is it stunning, but City Hall sits conveniently in the heart of the city. You'll be able to plan your entire day right in this centralized, iconic location rather than dealing with multiple venues and vendor transportation. It's hard to beat that simplicity!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Types of Ceremonies at San Francisco City Hall
The Classic Civil Ceremony
One-Hour Rental Ceremonies
Weekend Ceremonies
Before Your City Hall Wedding Day
Obtaining Your Marriage License
last updated March 2024
TYPES OF CEREMONIES AVAILABLE AT CITY HALL
1. THE CLASSIC CIVIL CEREMONY
This is the short and sweet option perfect for more low-key affairs with 6 people or less in attendance (I've photographed many ceremonies that have had more than that though, and no one has ever batted at eye). You'll get married at the top of City Hall's grand staircase by a volunteer officiant. While civil ceremonies only last about 5-10 minutes, they have a special charm with couples getting married in the iconic rotunda space. You'll exchange quick vows and rings, then have the opportunity to explore the building for portraits afterwards. Civil ceremonies can be booked 90 days out from 9am-3:30pm Monday through Friday for just $103.
2. One-Hour Rental Ceremonies
If you're looking for a bit more intimacy and flexibility, I highly recommend the 1-hour rental option on the Mayor's Balcony (60 person capacity) or the 4th Floor North Gallery (40 person capacity). For $1,000, you can bring in your own officiant and put together a more personalized ceremony outside of the constraints of the quick civil version. With chairs provided and the ability to add extras like live acoustic music, this makes for an enchanting experience with your closest family and friends. These ceremonies need to be booked through City Hall Events.
3. Weekend Ceremonies
For couples wanting a more extended celebration or larger guest list, you can go all out and rent City Hall for a 2-hour Saturday morning window that can host up to 200 guests. With this $5,000 package, you'll have the flexibility to bring in your own vendors, decor and more for a completely customized experience. Evening weekend rentals are another luxurious option. Just like the 1-hour ceremony, these also need to be booked through City Hall Events.
BEFORE YOUR WEDDING DAY
Obtaining your Marriage license
Let's talk logistics for before your City Hall wedding day even rolls around. First up - that all-important marriage license! You'll need to secure this document before you can officially tie the knot.
For my local Bay Area couples, I recommend taking care of this step a few days in advance if possible. Knock it out early so there's one less thing to worry about amid the wedding day chaos! If you're traveling to San Francisco for your City Hall nuptials, try to plan for picking up the license the day before your ceremony while you're in town. With this checked off beforehand, you can cruise into your wedding day without any extra rushing around.
Both people getting married must go to the marriage license appointment with their ID. Sometimes schedule constraints make that impossible so if needed, you can also pick up your marriage license on the same day as your ceremony. Just be sure to book that license appointment for about 90 minutes before your ceremony time to give yourself a nice buffer.
Here's a pro tip: because license appointments are often easier to snag than your actual ceremony reservation, I advise booking your ceremony slot first (I recommended booking 90 days in advance- the earliest you can book). Once you've secured your coveted date and time at City Hall, head online to schedule a marriage license appointment around it.
Another tip: you can obtain a marriage license from anywhere in California up to 90 days before your wedding date. For those driving in from other Bay Area cities or anywhere across the state, you may find it easier to pick up the license near home before heading to San Francisco. Just be sure to build in enough time! With marriage license logistics handled, you'll be ready to roll up to City Hall fully prepared for your wonderful wedding celebration.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR WEDDING DAY
No matter which ceremony option you choose, here’s what to expect logistics-wise when arriving at City Hall for your celebration:
For civil ceremonies and 1-hour rentals, you'll go through the check-in process at the County Clerk's office, located on the first floor in Room 168. Make sure to arrive 10 minutes before the appointment time and have your marriage license and photo IDs ready, as you'll review paperwork before being assigned a ceremony time. You'll receive a number and wait to be called to meet briefly with an officiant, who will confirm a few final details. From there, head upstairs to the iconic rotunda at the top of the grand staircase for civil ceremonies. If you opted for a 1-hour balcony rental, you'll get married in your selected space on the 2nd or 4th floor instead. For civil unions, there's usually a rotation of 2-3 couples being married in short succession every 30 minutes by a volunteer officiant from City Hall's staff. While the commissioners aim to keep things running efficiently, it's wise to build in some buffer time in case there are delays.
The ceremony itself will be short and sweet - a brief introduction from the officiant, vows/ring exchange, closing remarks, and you'll officially be married! You're welcome to linger for some post-ceremony photos throughout the building, but larger posed portrait setups may need to be mindful of other events happening that day. City Hall's volunteer officiants are pros at this, so you can simply follow their lead for a seamless ceremony experience. If you'd like to incorporate additional cultural elements or personalized vows, the 1-hour rental option allows for more customization.
For weekend 2-hour rentals, your timeline will be a bit more extensive with open-ended ceremonies and even the possibility of bringing in outside officiants and vendors like florists, musicians and more.
No matter how you celebrate at San Francisco City Hall, the day is sure to be filled with magic and an iconic backdrop for your love story!
TIPS FOR GETTING MARRIED AT CITY HALL
1. Timing is everything
If your hearts are set on at least some private moments together, I suggest strategizing ideal ceremony timing. Plan for an early or late ceremony if you want fewer crowds. Mornings right at 8am and late afternoons can be less hectic and quieter at City Hall compared to prime lunchtime hours. Fridays are often the busiest for weddings so I would recommend choosing a day mid-week. Also, remember to build in buffer time, especially for civil ceremonies, in case of delays with the ceremony rotation and to avoid feeling rushed.
2. Be prepared for (potential) limited privacy
While San Francisco City Hall provides a stunning wedding setting, it's important to keep in mind that it is a public space and will often feel lively with other ceremonies, events and tourists wandering about. This can make for some fun energy in your photos, but may not lend itself to an overly intimate vibe. If you crave more intimacy, opt for the 1-hour rental option on the Mayor's Balcony or 4th floor rather than a civil ceremony. You can also plan additional portraits at a more private location before or after your ceremony.
3. Make it personal
Write your own vows to exchange privately before/after the public ceremony. Designate a friend or family member to officiate rather than using City Hall's volunteer officiants. Bring sentimental items that represent your relationship or personal histories to have as part of the ceremony backdrop or to hold during readings/vows. Things like framed photos, heirlooms, letters you've written to each other, or cherished mementos.
4. Hire a photographer familiar with City Hall
An experienced City Hall photographer will know how to strategically time portraits and get you to the best lighting. They can coach you through navigating crowded areas to snag iconic shots like at the grand staircase. Make sure to inquire if they can recommend nearby locations for additional couple's portraits.
5. Build in celebration time
Make dinner reservations at a San Francisco restaurant like Foreign Cinema, Leo's Oyster Bar, or Wayfare Tavern. Throw an after party with friends and family at Stable Cafe or Penny Roma. Stop for celebratory treats like champagne and pastries from a local bakery like Tartine. Pick up a picnic lunch (and ice cream!) from Bi-Rite Market and spend the afternoon at Dolores Park. And If you'd like to get ready together before the festivities, I would recommend booking a suite at a hotel like the Omni, Fairmont or the Proper.
6. Hire a car
It can be super stressful to drive and park around San Francisco (especially if you are from out of town), so I’d highly recommend hiring a driver for the day. If you plan to visit multiple locations either before or after your ceremony, it can help to not have to stress about transportation. Drivers are often very familiar with the city and know the best way to get places. And you won't have to worry about the wait times for Uber/Lyft/Taxi drivers.
sample Elopement timelines for SF City Hall
As an intimate documentary wedding photographer, one of the things I love most is being able to spend the entire day with couples and document their unique celebration from start to finish. While City Hall weddings are incredible on their own, I always encourage couples to really make it an full experience if their schedule allows. Whether adding getting ready moments at a hotel, stopping for a cherished meal at a favorite restaurant, or venturing to iconic San Francisco spots for gorgeous portraits - there are so many ways to create an incredibly meaningful and memorable day.
For those looking to go above and beyond the City Hall ceremony itself, I've put together two sample timelines covering different options from morning to evening. My goal is to craft a custom timeline tailored to your vision while ensuring all the magic moments are captured along the way. So if you dream of starting your day cuddled up in a hotel robe or ending it with epic sunset portraits at Lands End - it can all be part of your City Hall wedding experience!
morning Elopement Timeline example
9am: Couple meets photographer at City Hall (for first look)
920am: Check in at County Clerk's office
930am: Head to Rotunda for ceremony
10am: Family and friend portraits
1030am: Couple portraits around City Hall
1145am: End of time at City Hall
1215pm: Head to a favorite cafe to pick up picnic lunch
1245pm: Have picnic at Lands End or the Presidio
2pm: Couple portraits
3pm: Head to Marin to take sunset photos along the coast
5pm: Photos end, couple heads to restaurant to celebrate with friend and family
8 hours of photography coverage
afternoon Elopement Timeline example
11am: photographer meets couple at hotel for getting ready photos
1145am: first look at hotel
12pm: head to City Hall
1220pm: Check in at County Clerk’s office
1230pm: Head to Rotunda for ceremony
1pm: Family and friend portraits
130pm: Couple portraits around City Hall
245pm: End of time at City Hall
3pm: Take photos around SF Chintown
4pm: Ride SF cable car and wander around North Beach, taking portraits at iconic SF landmarks
5pm: Photo ends, couple heads to restaurant to celebrate with family
6 hours of photography coverage
sF City Hall links + Contact info
For Mon - Fri ceremony appointments, book an appointment here (County Clerks Office phone number: 415.554.4950).
For license appointments, book an appointment here (County Clerks Office phone number: 415.554.4950).
For more information and to reserve a private 1-hour or weekend event, click here or contact City Hall Events Office: 415.554.6079.
At the end of the day, a City Hall wedding is about stripping away unnecessary frills and really celebrating the magic of your love story. As long as you build in authentic moments that feel true to you as a couple, you're sure to have an unforgettable day!
I hope these insights give you a taste of what to expect when getting married at San Francisco City Hall. For more tips or to see this venue's splendor through my lens, be sure to check out my Instagram (@ohhappydawnphoto). And if you’re looking for a photographer to document your celebration, I’d love to chat! Cheers to your happily ever after!
