This is one of the most common questions I get from couples planning their City Hall wedding: can you book me before your ceremony slot is officially reserved with City Hall? With slots opening just 90 days out for civil ceremonies, the prospect of booking everything wedding-related in just 3 months is daunting for some.
The short answer is yes — but with some important caveats. First of all, I’m honored that people would want to plan their wedding date around my availability… but it gets complicated fast!
While I understand the temptation to check if your desired photographer is available months or even years in advance, the reality, though, is that there’s little point in reaching out until you’re ready to actually book. That’s why I specify on the contact form that you need to have a confirmed booking before reaching out.
Photographers can’t hold your date indefinitely without a booking fee (in my case that’s 50% usually but happy to cut it down to 25% if that helps).
So yes, you can choose to book me before your civil ceremony slots are released – and plenty have done it – but it’s not without risk. I’ve outlined the key considerations in this guide so you can make an informed decision and feel confident about the timing. Spoiler alert: this isn’t going to be one of my more fun, fluffy articles – it’s definitely going to be a bit legalese and may cause you to spiral into insanity thinking about the very many ins and outs. 🤪
For more about the entire process of civil ceremonies at City Hall, check out my full guide below:
Table of Contents
Why Timing Matters ⏰️
San Francisco City Hall opens civil ceremony bookings 90 days in advance. Couples often reach out to me earlier than that, wanting to make sure my calendar lines up with theirs. While I love the enthusiasm, here’s the key thing to know:
- Availability changes constantly. Yes I may be available when you inquire months out, but until a booking fee and signed contract are in place, I can’t hold a date.
- Pricing isn’t locked in either. Prices in the guide are valid for 30 days, and are subject to increase over time. The only way to lock in a rate is by booking.
When couples are tied to a particular date 📅
Another factor that often comes up is couples wanting a specific date. Maybe a personal anniversary, a parent anniversary, or a numerically significant day like 10/10, 8/8, 4/20, 3/14 (Pi day), 5/4 (May the 4th), or the last weekday before a major holiday.
In these cases, the date itself can sometimes feel more important than the exact location. If your top priority is locking in a specific date, don’t leave it to chance. City Hall weddings require a lot of timing flexibility, and the schedule isn’t something that can bend around you. So plan accordingly if that date really matters above everything else, or be prepared to compromise.
Also if the date is numerically significant, expect that it will be highly sought after more than like a random Tuesday in January.
Here’s what I recommend: first, consider whether your preferred date has any flexibility. Then, review your top photographer choices and familiarize yourself with their booking policies. Finally, weigh the pros and cons of committing before City Hall releases its dates versus waiting until you can officially secure the slot.
Maybe consider what you’d do if the City Hall booking doesn’t pan out (perhaps it wasn’t available to book, or you missed the time slots that opened and it was fully booked). Would you book a different date after all, including your photographer in that discussion? Would you consider changing the location to a similarly inexpensive beach or park setting? How would the new location look if the weather doesn’t play ball?
Booking Photography Before Your Ceremony 📝
When you fill out my inquiry form, you’ll notice it says: “only inquire after securing your booking with City Hall.” This is to avoid the messy process of figuring out what happens if you book me but don’t actually have a confirmed venue, and are unable to confirm it.
That said, some couples still reach out before their City Hall slot is secured. Sometimes it’s a genuine booking request (in which case, see the risks and “what-ifs” in this guide), sometimes it’s just checking availability – but no vendor can hold a date for months while waiting for City Hall.
If you’re ready to take the risk and put down a deposit for your desired date, it’s possible — but only if we’re fully aligned on the exact plan (date and time). Once you commit, all of our planning is based on that slot.
Once you book and place a deposit, that date is locked. I decline all other inquiries for it, which is why moving it requires a fee to offset potential lost revenue. This is a firm commitment and an exchange of value. I do offer one complimentary reschedule, which is rather generous even if I say so myself!
Possible scenarios – booking photography before City Hall 🏛
Here’s how it works if you book your photography before your ceremony slot is confirmed, with all possible scenarios:
- If you get your intended slot
Great, we’re all set. Your custom Photography Planning Document already has the full plan, so just send me a quick email to let me know when your slot is booked. - If you get the same day but a different time
Usually not a problem; I’ll adjust the timeline. The only complication is if I have two weddings that day, in which case I may not be able to accommodate a time change, especially if it’s substantially different from the agreed-upon plan.
- If you get a different day
- If I’m available, we’ll move your booking in my calendar. The first date change is complimentary; the second reschedule is $200; the third $300; and so on, increasing by $100 each time – no matter the reason.
- If I’m not available, I’ll offer an associate photographer from my team and refund the difference in cost. If you decline the associate, I may offer a partial refund. Booking fees are technically non-refundable (since they solely cover reserving your date, not services rendered), but if no photography services were provided, I may return part or all of it. If significant time has already been invested in planning, I may retain the fee.
- If I’m not available and you still want me specifically, you can forfeit your City Hall slot (they’re around $130) and rebook another new slot that matches my availability. Forfeiting the City Hall booking, even more than once, is sometimes worth it when weighed against thousands already invested in photography.
- If I’m available, we’ll move your booking in my calendar. The first date change is complimentary; the second reschedule is $200; the third $300; and so on, increasing by $100 each time – no matter the reason.
- If you don’t get your date at all
- You can choose another venue altogether, like a backyard, beach, park, or forest – the list is endless. Parks & Rec options are often very affordable. Some couples opt for a small “guerilla ceremony” at places like Muir Woods (allowed for very small groups), but we do not accommodate ceremonies with no booking inside City Hall. Staff call these “rogue ceremonies,” and they’re against the rules. Since I specialize in City Hall weddings, I can’t risk being banned, and it’s the vendors they come down hard on if they notice one taking place. (And yes, the events team is watching on CCTV)
The Risks Involved ⚖️
Booking me before securing your City Hall slot comes with several risks that are important to understand:
- Availability isn’t guaranteed. City Hall slots can fill quickly or release in unexpected ways. Some days may be unavailable due to private events, city business, filming, or other closures. These are not publicly listed.
- Booking errors matter. If you accidentally book the wrong day or time, I may already be committed elsewhere.
- Dates are inventory. Once a date is booked and paid for, I cannot sell it to anyone else. Clear communication and flexibility are essential if you want to secure me before City Hall opens reservations.
- Policy or fee changes. City Hall rules around ceremony length, guest limits, or permits can change, which could impact timing or logistics.
- Technical or clerical issues. The online booking system may glitch, show incorrect availability, or even double-book.
- Guest or witness availability. You may secure a photographer but later discover your guests or witnesses cannot attend on the intended date.
- Weather considerations. Any desired outdoor portraits or gatherings may be affected by rain or other unexpected weather events and lighting conditions.
- Transportation or logistics conflicts. Public transit, parking, and traffic may complicate the timing of your day, especially if your City Hall slot is early or during peak hours.
- Vendor coordination limitations. Other vendors – flowers, hair/makeup, etc might not be secured yet, which can create scheduling conflicts once your City Hall slot is confirmed.
- Emotional and timing pressure. Planning around an unconfirmed slot can create stress and rushed decisions, which may lead to costly mistakes or last-minute changes.
Understanding these risks is crucial for couples considering booking photography before confirming their City Hall reservation. Flexibility, clear communication, and realistic expectations are key to making this process work.
How to avoid the risks ✅
The easiest way to avoid all the what-ifs and stress is simple: secure your City Hall slot first, then start submitting inquiries to photographers (when you’re ready to book). Here are a few other ideas:
- Book a private ceremony if possible. This is the one-hour private ceremony option at San Francisco City Hall. You can book up to 24 months out and the cost is relatively low, considering the value, flexibility and perks you get out of it (currently $1,000). There’s a public booking calendar available at this link. Note that this option also fills up super far out too, but you can plan everything in a much more comfortable timeframe than just 90 days. You’ll also have access to a dedicated member of event staff and will be warned of any large events taking place, like Grand Staircase closures (civil ceremony couples do not receive any such warning). Link to book
- Plan your timeline after the slot is confirmed. Once the date and time are official, coordinating photography, vendors, and logistics becomes straightforward. Choose vendors that specialize in San Francisco City Hall weddings, otherwise they will not be used to working within such short timeframes. They need to be on the ball with fast communication and a seamless booking process, which is actually not super common in the wedding industry where vendors are used to 18 – 24 month planning windows.
- Avoid holding a photographer’s date. Trying to book a photographer before the City Hall slot is set only creates uncertainty, potential extra fees, and stress for both parties. It’s best to wait until you have your City Hall slot secured before inquiring with photographers. That way, you’ll get clear answers, locked-in pricing, a smooth sales process, and no stess about shifting dates. No stalling, no awkward follow-ups, no months going by between inquiry and booking.
Following this approach removes most of the risk entirely and gives you other options.
The Bottom Line 🤗
You’re welcome to book me before securing your San Francisco City Hall ceremony, but please understand that it comes with risks. If your chosen slot doesn’t work out — whether because of an oversight or simply because the date never opens up — I can’t be held liable for that, but will work with you to find a solution.
The most reliable and stress-free approach is to secure your ceremony time first, then move forward with booking me when you’re ready. That said, if you’d prefer to book earlier, I’ll always do my best to work with you on a solution as long as we have open communication.
And if you’re not quite ready to book, no problem! 🙂 Feel free to check in with me before you reserve your civil ceremony at City Hall, and I’ll let you know if your date is available or already in discussion.
If you are ready to book me as your San Francisco City Hall wedding photographer, find out more about our services by hitting the button below:
Zoe Larkin
I’m Zoe, a wedding photographer based in San Francisco! My style is candid, capturing authentic moments for my couples all over the Bay Area and Northern California. Creating content is my passion! Follow along on the blog, Instagram, TikTok & YouTube!