This 4th Floor SF City Hall wedding was a super fortuitous, happy occasion. You know when all stars align? That was how this wedding felt! Despite not having a booking (which would cost $1,000), they got married on the 4th Floor of San Francisco City Hall!
M + Y are a private couple, so a City Hall wedding with just closest family present worked perfectly for them.
I adore working with couples who have a specific vision, and M + Y brought so much to their wedding that was so stunningly pretty. Even a little of that Southern California sunshine! I’d worked with M before on a different shoot which celebrated his friends that rarely get to see each other.
Their elegant City Hall wedding was a dream to shoot and I loved meeting Y for the first time on their wedding day.
So how did they secure the 4th Floor? They lucked out for sure! All they did was simply asked! Yes, it’s that easy. They asked and were allowed to have the ceremony up on the beautiful 4th floor North Gallery (the best for light – just dreamy!)
I advise all my couples to ask – what’s the worst that can happen, am I right?!
Morning San Francisco City Hall wedding
Their wedding took place in the early morning so we were able to capture that morning light in one of my absolute favorite photo spots at the back of City Hall, where we kicked off.
This couple were staying very close by at a hotel where we met and then headed out for photos. Y knew that she wanted the back of the building, which was OK by me!
San Francisco City Hall is symmetrical left to right and back to front. That makes it pretty nifty when flexibility is required for light.
There’s often a lot of chaos and visually distracting elements at the front of City Hall. If you’re getting married in the morning let’s play on the Van Ness side.
It’s not very busy, the light is gorgeous before about midday and there is a beautifully elegant park.
Ceremony space at SF City Hall
The best things for this couple was that they were permitted to use the 4th Floor Gallery.
I always recommend couples ask if it’s possible to marry up there, if they are comfortable doing so.
While every judge will make their own call as to whether to allow it, it’s 100% worth a try! M + Y got a spectacular space with amazing light where their family could spread out and witness the ceremony.
Though the rotunda is the iconic and normal spot, it is dark, super dark. Any of you photography buffs out there, this might mean something to you. It takes an ISO of 3200 to shoot in the rotunda, vs up here on the 4th Floor make that 640 😉
There is another area that’s popular for private ceremonies – the Mayor’s Balcony on the 2nd floor of San Francisco City Hall.
Couples and family portraits after City Hall
For family portraits as well as couples & individual marrier portraits, we Lyfted to the Palace of Fine Arts. We achieved all of this in 3 hours.
M + Y enjoyed the rest of their wedding day chilling & celebrating with their families.
Find out more about my San Francisco City Hall wedding photography services here.
Always up to date, my guide takes you through it step by step and is the planning resource you’ve been looking for.
Be sure to pin this pin to your San Francisco City Hall wedding planning board!
Feedback from the couple
After the wedding M said,
“Your guidance and energy really made us and our families feel at ease, and made the day all the more memorable! The photos themselves came out wonderfully. Most importantly, our families love them. My mom said she particularly loved the candid moments you managed to capture and the unique and grand nature of some of the distance shots.”
Vendor love //
Dress bhldn Website / Instagram
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