How to Get Married at SF City Hall
How to Get Married at SF City Hall
Planning a City Hall Elopement: How to Get Married at SF City Hall
Known as the People’s Palace, the San Francisco City Hall is one of the most iconic city halls in the country! This building is not only one of San Francisco’s most historic landmarks, but it is also a beautiful place to get married! Whether you’re planning a civil ceremony for two or a full-blown event, SF City Hall should definitely be at the top of your list of places to get married in San Francisco or Northern California.
Table of Contents
Why Elope at San Francisco City Hall
When to Plan a City Hall Elopement or Wedding
How to Elope at San Francisco City Hall
The three ways to get married in SF City Hall
Sample SF City Hall Elopement Timeline
Things to Consider When Planning an SF City Hall Elopement or Wedding
Book an appointment
Choose a location
Apply for the right marriage license
Find the right SF City Hall Elopement/Wedding Photographer
Why Elope at SF City Hall
When people think of a city hall wedding, they often think of a quick, unplanned wedding ceremony, but that is not always the case. Having city hall wedding or elopement may just seem like an economical way to get married, but it is often so much more than that. As a Northern California wedding photographer, I’ve photographed everything from simple secret weddings to full buyouts at San Francisco’s City Hall.
This city hall is one of the most beautiful city halls in the country and it’s a popular place for couples to get married. The building is so much more than just a boring city hall, it's a venue filled with rich history and ornate details. It’s a stunning wedding venue and a beautiful place to celebrate your marriage.
Want to learn more about modern-day elopements?
Check out the blog post below!
Best Time to Get Married at SF City Hall
Because San Francisco City Hall is open to the public, deciding when to get married is an important thing to consider. Weekdays, specifically Tuesday or Wednesday early mornings, tend to be the least crowded day of the week.
I also recommended couples plan their wedding or elopement for as early or as late in the day as possible to avoid the crowds. Booking an appointment before 9 AM is ideal though late afternoon time slots can also work well as the hall typically empties out around this time.
The time of day you choose to elope will also depend on what you plan to do the rest of the day. Will you be traveling to a second location or staying at the city hall the entire time? You’ll want to build enough buffer time before or after your event depending on what else you have planned.
One of the most popular times of year to get married at San Francisco City Hall is during Pride month. San Francisco is an incredibly gay-friendly city and according to the Guardian, SF has the largest LGTBQIA+ population in the country. So while city hall can get very busy during this time of year, they do bring in more Marriage Commissioners to help with the additional weddings that take place.
How to Elope at San Francisco City Hall: Different Types of Ceremonies
The three ways to get married in SF City Hall:
One Hour Wedding (Private Ceremony)
This option is the simplest and most cost-effective way to get married at San Francisco City Hall. Booking a one-hour wedding is a great option for couples looking for more flexibility in their day as you’ll have plenty of time to explore other locations or celebrate with loved ones.
Cost - $1,000 rental fee through City Hall
Availability - Monday through Friday from 9-3 PM (note - City Hall is open to the public during this time)
Locations - Mayor’s Balcony or Fourth Floor Gallery
Guest Limit - Up to 100 guests (chair rental is an additional fee)
Two-Hour Wedding (Full Buyout)
The two-hour wedding package allows you to completely buy out the city hall. This option provides complete privacy for your day and is great for weddings with larger guest lists. Weddings in this package take place on the Grand Staircase of the Rotunda, one of the hall’s most stunning features!
Cost - $5,000 rental
Availability - Saturdays only from 9-12 PM
Locations - Grand Staircase of the Rotunda
Guest Limit - Up to 200 guests (includes chair rentals & basic building services)
Evening Wedding
If you are looking for a completely customized wedding package, the evening wedding package is the best option. This package allows for more privacy as well as multiple locations.
Cost - See the website for rental rates
Availability - City Hall remains open to the public M-F 8-8 though areas can be privatized during this time for special events. Tuesday evening rental is not available
Guest Limit - Up to 2,000 guests
San Francisco City Hall Timeline Samples
SF City Hall Midday Elopement Timeline Sample
Photography Coverage with getting ready photos:
- 11:00 am: Photography starts at Hotel/Airbnb with getting ready + detail photos
- 1:00 pm — First Look at Hotel/Airbnb
- 1:15 pm — Head out to SF City Hall
Starting Coverage at SF City Hall:
- 1:30 pm — Arrive at SF City Hall and check-in
- 2:00 pm — Friends and family arrive at this time or earlier
-2:30 pm — Ceremony begins, followed by family formal photo
- 3:00 pm — Couples Portraits around SF City Hall
- 4:30 pm — End of SF City Hall coverage
Coverage with Sunset Couples photos:
- 5:00 pm — Head out to sunset photos location
- 6:30 pm — Sunset time
- 7:00 pm — End of photography coverage
SF City Hall Morning Elopement Timeline Sample
Photography Coverage with getting ready photos:
- 9:00 am — Couple arrives at SF City Hall together or separately for a first look
- 9:30 am — First Look at SF City Hall (arranged by your photographer)
- 9:45 am — Check in for the Ceremony
- 10:00 am — Ceremony begins, followed by family and friends portraits (when present)
- 10:45 am — Couples portraits around SF City Hall
- 12:30 pm — End of photos at SF City Hall
Extended coverage: Taking a lunch break nearby and continuing on for outdoor adventure photos
- 1:00 pm — Quick lunch at a fun bar (Absinthe Bar, White Chapel, Wayfare Tavern etc.)
- 3:00 pm — Head out to the sunset photos location
- 5:00 pm — Sunset time
- 5:30 pm — End of photography coverage
Pro Tip: Always check your timeline with your photographer as SF City Hall photos take a different amount of time for each photographer as navigating a public space could be time-consuming.
Pro Tip 2: Check SF Sunset time as this can affect how much time you can spend at SF City Hall, especially if you have dinner plans with friends and family, but would also like to take Sunset portraits somewhere nearby.
Things to Consider when Planning an SF City Hall Elopement or Wedding
Book an Appointment
The first step in planning your SF City Hall elopement is contacting the office to book an appointment and secure your elopement date. In addition to your preferred date, you will also want to have a few backup dates as availability at the hall can be limited. Once your date has been confirmed, you will need to sign the contract and pay a rental deposit to secure the space.
Choose a San Francisco City Hall Elopement Location
You can’t go wrong choosing where to get married at SF City Hall. The exact location of your ceremony will depend on the type of rental option you choose. A few of my favorite locations around the hall for ceremonies and portrait photos are:
Mayor’s Balcony
4th Floor Gallery
Grand Staircase
Outdoors between the English Sycamore Trees behind City Hall
Obtain a California Marriage License
In order to get married at San Francisco City Hall, you will first need to obtain a California marriage license. California offers two different types of marriage licenses, public and confidential. Public (or regular) marriage licenses are the most common California marriage licenses and they allow you to get married anywhere within the state. You will need 1-2 witnesses present as well as an officiant to officiate the ceremony.
Public marriage licenses can be obtained from any county clerk’s office in California. For San Francisco City Hall weddings, you’d go to the San Francisco County Clerk's Office. In order to obtain a marriage license, you will need to submit an application in person or online and you and your partner will need to go into the County Clerk’s office to complete the process and present valid proof of ID. Licenses are effective immediately and are good for up to 90 days.
Learn more about obtaining a California marriage license here.
*SF City Hall does not provide officiants nor do they manage marriage licenses and certificates
Choose a San Francisco City Hall Elopement Photographer
Planning a San Francisco City Hall elopement isn’t complete without choosing your elopement vendors! Elopement vendors are so important in helping you bring your elopement dreams to life!
One of the first vendors you will want to consider is an elopement photographer who is familiar with photographing at SF City Hall. Not only will the right elopement photographer give you amazing photos to remember your wedding day by, but they will also be able to help you throughout the planning process as well.
Why Elope with Will Khoury?
Finding the right photographer for your elopement day is so important. You not only want someone who can capture your day and take pretty photos, but you also want someone who can tell your story the way it deserves to be told. Someone who knows the area well and someone who can help guide you through all the important steps of planning a San Francisco City Hall elopement or intimate wedding.
As an intimate wedding and elopement photographer, telling couples’ stories is one of the things I love most! I spend lots of time throughout the planning process getting to know you and your partner. I spend time learning what you love and what matters to you as those are the things that will help me tell your story better on your wedding day!
Having lived in Northern California for several years has also allowed me to explore many of Northern California’s and San Francisco’s beautiful areas multiple times! Over the years I’ve spent hours researching, exploring, and location scouting to find the most beautiful areas to make your planning process easier and take you to locations that are picturesque and private trails to complete your wedding day experience and I can’t wait to share them with you.
Whether you’re just visiting or a Northern California local, SF City Hall truly is a great place to visit, but even more so for your elopement! With its ornate details and historic architecture, you can’t go wrong with choosing to elope at San Francisco City Hall!
For more information about eloping with me, head over to my contact page & let’s plan an amazing experience for you and your partner!
