🕊 Why Choose SF City Hall for Your Wedding?
Architectural beauty: With its sweeping staircase, marble floors, and soaring dome, City Hall offers a timeless and dramatic backdrop.
Intimate & accessible: Whether you’re planning an elopement, a civil ceremony with family, or a grand celebration, the space feels intimate yet grand.
📋 How to Get Married at San Francisco City Hall
Marriage License Appointment
Book a marriage license appointment online (you’ll need to do this before your ceremony). You’ll both need to be present with a valid ID.
Ceremony Types & Booking
There are a few ways to get married at City Hall:
- Civil Ceremony (Rotunda): $108. A quick 5-10 minute ceremony performed by a Deputy Marriage Commissioner.
- One-Hour Private Ceremony (Mayor’s Balcony or 4th Floor): $1,000–1,500. Reserved space for you and up to 100 guests.
- Evening or Weekend Events: For full weddings or receptions. Prices vary and must be booked well in advance.
Arrive Early
City Hall opens at 8:00 AM. If you want portraits without crowds, I highly recommend early morning sessions. Morning light is soft and magical here.
📸 Photography Tips & My Process
As your photographer, I help guide you every step of the way — from location scouting and timing to posing naturally and capturing all the candid moments in between.
Some favorite spots I love to shoot:
- The Grand Staircase
- 4th Floor Gallery
- Mayor’s Balcony
- Outside on Polk Street with the dome in the background
After City Hall, many couples choose to head to another location like Legion of Honor, Crissy Field, or Baker Beach for an extended photo session. I offer a City to Shore package that covers this beautifully.
💍 What to Wear
Go as formal or relaxed as you’d like — it’s your day! Many brides wear classic white dresses or jumpsuits, and grooms often opt for suits or semi-formal attire. Comfortable shoes are a good idea (those marble stairs are no joke!), and I’m always happy to provide outfit guidance.
Ready to Say “I Do” at City Hall?
Whether you’re planning a quiet weekday elopement or a celebration with loved ones, I’d love to capture your love story at San Francisco City Hall.Reach out to book your date or browse my City Hall portfolio for more inspiration.Let’s make your wedding day feel as magical as your love.
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Q& A
Everything you need to know for your dreamy SF celebration
Where should we go for portraits after our City Hall ceremony?
While City Hall is absolutely stunning, many couples love adding an outdoor location to their day for some natural light magic. Popular nearby options include:
- Palace of Fine Arts — grand and romantic
- Crissy Field — open space and gorgeous bridge views
- San Francisco Botanical Garden — lush and peaceful
If you prefer to stay close, we can also capture beautiful outdoor shots right around City Hall — just 30 extra minutes needed. For locations a bit further out, plan on adding at least 1 hour (plus travel time).
Want help choosing? I’ve got a full list of my favorite San Francisco spots and I’m always happy to make personalized suggestions.
What should we do after the ceremony? Any fun reception ideas?
Whether it’s brunch, lunch, or cocktails, there are so many great ways to celebrate afterward. Some of my couples keep it low-key with a beautiful lunch with family. Others plan a fun dinner with friends. I’d love to hear your vision and help plan timing around it! (I also have a running list of my favorite SF restaurants if you need ideas)
What’s the best way to get to City Hall and park?
City Hall is in a super busy part of the city with very limited street parking. I usually recommend:
- Civic Center Garage (entrances on McAllister or Larkin)
- Uber/Lyft for easiest drop-off and no parking hassle
Some couples get creative with a limo or trolley for fun — we can absolutely incorporate that into your photos if you go that route!
What if it’s super busy at City Hall? Will that ruin our photos?
Not at all. I know the quiet corners and timing that work best — and if needed, I can Photoshop out background people in post-processing. That said, if you want shots on the Grand Staircase, the best time is right at 8:00 AM when the building opens or after 4:30 PM when things quiet down again.
Do we need a permit to take photos at City Hall?
Nope! It’s a public building and anyone can take photos. No special permit is needed for couples or photographers. I’ve photographed dozens of City Hall weddings, so I’m familiar with the space, lighting, and flow of the day — and I’ll guide you through it all.
What kinds of weddings happen at City Hall?
Most couples choose either:
- A civil ceremony — usually on the Rotunda (top of the stairs), lasts about 3–5 minutes
- A private ceremony — can be on the Mayor’s Balcony or 4th Floor, more exclusive and customizable
You can also reserve the entire building for a private evening or weekend celebration, but that’s a much bigger investment.
What’s the civil ceremony process like?
You check in at Room 160 about 15-30 minutes before your ceremony
You’ll meet your officiant in Room 168
Then we head to your ceremony spot for a sweet ceremony
After that — hugs, happy tears, and lots of photos!
How much photo coverage do we need?
It really depends on what your vision is. If you just want City Hall portraits and ceremony coverage, 1–1.5 hours is usually perfect. If you want multiple locations or more candid moments with family and friends, I recommend going with 3.5 hours or more.
I’m happy to help build a custom timeline so you feel relaxed and fully covered.
What about the marriage license?
You can pick up your marriage license at any county in California — not just SF. Just make sure to get it within 90 days of your ceremony date. Appointments are required, and you can even schedule pickup for the same day as your wedding (though I usually recommend doing it earlier to avoid stress!).
When do we take group and family photos?
Right after the ceremony is best — everyone’s already gathered, and the emotions are still fresh and beautiful. I recommend keeping the groupings simple (5–8 combos) so we don’t lose that post-ceremony magic.
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