Move over, San Francisco City Hall! There’s a new City Hall in town (well, a ‘civic center’ and it’s not actually new, groundbreaking for the building took place in 1960). But some of us, including myself, have been a bit slow catching on to this architectural wonder that you can get married in!

In this guide, I want to share some of what I’ve learned about getting married at the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael so you can decide if it’s right for your nuptials. I aim to update this guide frequently as I learn more, so if you have any corrections or further insight, please add your comment!

The Marin County Civic Center offers a simple process, but also a very fun and distinctive location. This is not your grandma’s courthouse. This is a work of art, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, with a charming, light and bright, mid-century modern design that creates a cinematic backdrop for photos.

This unique County Hall boasts the perfect blend of old (brick-red floors, a rad sky-blue blue dome that resembles a space ship), new (a retro-futuristic escalator that looks like something from Star Trek) and quirky (that little curtained nook that looks like a photo booth!).

Wait, you actually have your ‘something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue’ right here!

All of this variety and personality make it a photographer’s dream, with the perfect soft light and sense of place. I think this is the top spot for couples with a confident but carefree vision, a playful side, and that approach their wedding day with a sense of whimsy. Whether it’s an elopement with just the two of you, or a festive occasion with all the fam, we’re ready to celebrate with you! 🎉

Marin County Civic Center vs San Francisco City Hall

OK so I feel like I need to get this out of the way first – comparisons with the building’s big sister over the bay – San Francisco City Hall. So I’ll make it quick.

Marin Civic Center has a completely different personality from San Francisco City Hall. Instead of marble staircases, grand Beaux-Arts architecture, and a very well-known wedding scene, it offers color, curves, mid-century design, and a more relaxed civic-building atmosphere.

As you may be aware, SF City Hall has become markedly more popular in recent years. Even in the 10 years I’ve been photographing weddings there, I’d say that since around 2022, the amount of crowding has reached almost unmanageable levels. Marin County Civic Center offers a breath of fresh air – it doesn’t have the mass appeal of SF City Hall, so naturally, you can expect way fewer crowds.

In that way, the process is more like a regular small city’s municipal building than a wedding mill.

Another part of the advantage of this place is that you don’t need to book super far in advance to snag a ceremony booking. I’ll get to that more when I tackle the booking section, but just know, everything about working with this space is more casual and less high-pressure.

The style is of course completely different and totally charming for the right couples – there’s color so much, curves, mid-century design, and cool indoor-outdoor areas. It’s honestly very charming and quirky. Portraits here can have more contrast and edge than a typical courthouse setting (and without the formality or intensity of San Francisco City Hall).

And if you’ve ever wanted to get married in a Wes Anderson movie, this is it!

How to book your ceremony at Marin County Civic Center

You can only get married here at very specific times. It is not open for ceremonies the whole time the building is open to the public. Ceremonies are only offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The timing is very specific too. You can pick between these timeslots only:

• 10am
• 11am
• 1pm
• 2pm

In terms of how to book, I find it refreshingly quaint that booking your wedding ceremony here requires calling them directly. Their number is 415-473-6772 and you can call during business hours, 9am – 4pm.

There’s also a contact form linked on the page below where you can contact them to find out any info you may need before making your booking official. They respond quickly!

👉🏾 Here’s the official page where you can find out everything you need to know about elopements at Marin County Civic Center.

How much does a ceremony at Marin County Civic Center cost?

💲 It’s only $56* (yes, you read that right) to have your ceremony there.

How far out can you book your ceremony?

There’s no official guidance anywhere online about this, but many have reported 2 months out. One anecdote on Reddit shares that when the OP called, there were many slots available just two weeks out. So, it doesn’t seem like there is a booking frenzy, and more like a pretty relaxed process.

However, as of June 2026 while researching for this post, I also heard from a photographer who works there regularly that demand has picked up a lot. Her current advice is to start calling right at the two-month mark, ideally when the office opens at 9am, especially if you have a specific date in mind.

I would treat that as practical field intel rather than official county policy, but it may be useful to know. 

Do you need an appointment and a marriage license?

Ceremonies are by appointment only. You do not need an appointment for a marriage license.

You will need to obtain a marriage license from any county in California, obtained within 90 days of the ceremony.

(However, note that if you are using a confidential license OR having someone deputized to perform the ceremony, confirm the details with the Marin County Clerk before making plans, as it looks like the marriage license may need to be obtained from Marin County, not a different county).

Yes, you can get your marriage license the same day, but I recommend handling it beforehand. It gives you one less task on the wedding day, and you can focus on the ceremony, taking photos, and spending time with family.

💲 The cost of obtaining a marriage license from Marin County is $85* at the current time.

As with any civil venue, you have a choice between a public marriage license or a confidential marriage license. The ‘regular’ kind is public. The confidential type means that your marriage will not appear on the official, publicly accessible list of marriage records.

Practically, this has one further implication: public marriage licenses require you to bring at least one witness to literally witness (sign) the form. The maximum is two.

And before you ask, yes, photographers are happy to act as witness, and no photographer would charge extra for this. It’s an honor! Especially if you’re eloping, you’ll need to provide a witness from your group (county staff cannot witness for you).

The confidential license does not require any witnesses to be present with you. A further stipulation with this type is that you have to be living together.

After the ceremony, there is some paperwork to take care of. Whoever performs the ceremony (your officiant), must return the complete license within 10 days of the ceremony. The room to return to varies by license type.

• For public marriage licenses ➸ submit to the Recorder’s Office, Room 232
• For confidential marriage licenses ➸ submit to County Clerk’s Office, Room 234

💲 I recommend obtaining a few copies at a very low cost (currently $17*) from the appropriate office in case they are needed. For this, you must either appear in person with photo ID or mail a notarized request form and payment. Highly worth it (especially if you’re changing your name!). Just make sure you decide in advance, as changing it later is a complicated process.

👉🏾 Here’s the official page where you can apply for your marriage license online. However, it is not a valid license until you appear before the Marin County Clerk.  

Who performs ceremonies at Marin County Civic Center?

Ceremonies are performed by the County Clerk’s Office by a Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages – that means you’ll have your own officiant (the person in the black gown).

Can we have our own officiant?

Yes! This is really neat they offer this. After the public or confidential license is issued, you may be married by a minister (priest, rabbi etc), or another authorized person of your choice (a friend or family member, for example). 

This process is called being deputized to become a ‘Deputy Commissioner for a day’. They’ll need to be an adult, to apply in person, to bring the marriage license, and 💲 pay a $60 fee.

The good thing about going this route is that it opens up Monday and Friday ceremonies, as you’re not relying on the Deputy Marriage Commissioner, who is only available Tuesdays through Thursdays.

It’s the officiant’s job to submit the marriage license to the office where it was obtained anytime after the wedding. That can be the same day, or if you are local to the area, it may be more convenient for them to submit it another time. The cut-off time for filing this paperwork is 3.30pm.

Which area should we choose to get married in?

There a couple of choices that may be presented to you on your wedding day at Marin County Civic Center. These are: the garden area or the wedding room in the County Clerk’s office. I highly recommend the garden area (and, as it’s fully outdoors, planning accordingly with the weather).

The garden area (with reflecting pool) is open and spacious. There’s room for way more guests and it photographs much better. It’s a public space, so technically you may be sharing with the odd city worker, but it’s just not a super crowded place. The private room is literally the County Clerk’s office and is not regarded as special.

However, there may be other options you’re given on the wedding day, so if there’s somewhere you have in mind that speaks to you (especially if it’s too hot/cold / wet to go outside), there’s every chance they can accommodate! A popular, if unofficial area, seems to be the plant-filled atrium – skylit, with an indoor-outdoor feel. In fact, these atria were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright to be open-air, originally open to the sky and later covered with skylights. This is an especially good location to use if you’re bringing your own officiant and don’t need to adhere to the official timeslots.

As with most City Hall matters, it’s down to the Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages you happen to get that day, but by all accounts, they are all flexible and kind, and will allow you to enjoy your time there, soak it all in, and take photos with your photographer.

How many guests can you bring?

You can bring officially up to 6 guests for the wedding room and anecdotally, it’s capped at 25 guests if you choose the outdoor garden area by the pool. Or of course, if you prefer to keep the day super intimate, you can keep it as a private elopement, just the two of you + your photographer!

Can anyone take photos at Marin County Civic Center without a permit?

You do not need a permit to take your elopement photos or couple’s portraits at Marin County Civic Center with a professional wedding photographer any time during the building’s operating hours. Marin County Civic Center staff confirmed that couples may take photos around the building without a photo permit. This is whether or not you have booked an official civil ceremony there. Be aware that other couples, staff and members of the public will be present.

That is different from a commercial shoot, styled production, or filming project, which falls under separate permit rules and fees. If your plans involve a larger crew, extensive equipment, or anything beyond standard wedding photography for individuals/couples/families, confirm the current policy with the county before you proceed.

The Civic Center is a working public building, not a private venue rental. For normal wedding portraits, you are using a public space during regular access hours.

What can you expect on the day?

Like with any City Hall, the first thing you’ll do on your wedding day is check in for your ceremony. You’ll want to allow plenty of time for this (more if you’re obtaining your marriage license in addition). You’ll complete your paperwork, meet your officiant, pay the ceremony fee, and have the witness sign as well.

Photography is usually permitted during the check-in process, but if other members of the public are nearby, you may be asked not to take photos during that time.

Next is the ceremony. Civil ceremonies last around 4 – 5 minutes (less if you choose not to exchange rings). After that, family photo groupings are the next item on the agenda. Then, we can dismiss guests and explore the campus together, focusing on just the two of you plus any special wedding details you’d like highlighted.

The photographer will lead the creative elements of the day.

I personally create detailed timelines for all our clients before booking. This will ensure the photography we plan fits with your day as a whole. We sometimes mix up the order based on for example, whether you prefer to take romantics early morning (when the light may be better, or to allow you to smoothly transition for lunch with your guests), so that will be custom for each couple.

Day-of tips for Marin County Civil Center ceremonies

• Get your marriage license before the wedding day, if possible. Marin says you need a marriage license before the ceremony, and the ceremony appointment is separate from the license process.
• Bring the legal basics: marriage license, valid photo IDs (driver’s license/passport), and rings if you are exchanging them.
• Keep your hands free. Assign one guest to hold phones, keys, wallets, bags, paperwork, and anything you do not want in photos or bulging in pockets. If you are eloping and have no guests, I can hold onto small personal items in my backpack.
• Choose shoes you can stand and walk in. There is a great deal of walking involved, and on different terrains, too (lawns and hard indoor surfaces).
• If you are getting professional hair or makeup, ask for a look that can hold up through walking, indoor light, outdoor portraits and humidity in the hotter months.
• With its mid-century civic feel, fashion-forward, vintage-feeling, tailored, short dresses, or less formal but quirkier or simpler outfits can make a lot of sense here. This is not a timid building, so be bold!
• Consider personal flowers if they feel like you. A bouquet, boutonnière, or small floral detail can add personality, texture and color, especially in a building with strong lines and warm color.
• Plan to add a second location. You could opt for portraits elsewhere in Marin, and / or partial coverage of lunch or dinner with loved ones.
• Expect a public building. It’s fairly quiet, but that’s not a guarantee. Ceremony appointments happen during regular civic activity, and the county does not block off areas for photos. Any plans made will need some flexibility.
• Avoid booking your ceremony during the Marin County Fair, which is held each year over the 4^th of July holiday. It takes place on the Civic Center campus and can affect parking, traffic and crowds. If you do book during fair week, choose an early appointment and build in extra time.

Where is Marin County Civic Center located and what’s the best way to get there?

The address of Marin County Civic Center is 3501 Civic Center Dr, San Rafael, CA 94903.

The building is in San Rafael, north of San Francisco, and is easiest for most couples and guests to reach by car or rideshare. The Civic Center sits near Highway 101, so it is relatively straightforward from San Francisco, the East Bay, Sonoma, and other parts of Marin.

There is public parking around the Civic Center campus, but couples should still build in extra arrival time, especially on weekdays when county offices and court services are open. The Marin Civic Center SMART station is nearby, but I would treat transit as useful for some guests rather than the default wedding-day plan.

For wedding planning purposes, assume most people will arrive by car or rideshare. Send guests the exact address, build in time for parking, and make sure everyone knows where to meet before the ceremony appointment. The campus is large enough that “meet at the Civic Center” may not be specific enough.

An elopement setting with real character

To get married in a Frank Lloyd Wright midcentury marvel is really such a flex! And super cool in a low-key, relaxed way for the right couples that are attracted to this one-of-a-kind architectural oddity.

The pink stucco, blue roofline, scalloped balconies, archways, skylights, and gold spire give the building a look that is hard to confuse with anywhere else. Inside, the arched hallways and warm diffused light create strong natural framing.

Outside, the curved walkways, fountain, and open views of the building give portraits more space and air. The red elevators add a playful, very Civic Center-specific detail.

The building really is extraordinary. Where else can you find a circular library housed within a rotunda, organ-pipe-like gold gates, a 172-foot gold spire containing the boiler plant’s chimney, and a circular USPS?

OK, I think I’ve done enough selling it! Find out more about our services and pricing at the button below. Yes, this is for SF City Hall—I’m pricing it the same way. With one further benefit to you….

For now, Marin County Civic Center ceremonies/elopements are priced the same way as my San Francisco City Hall civil ceremony coverage, with services starting with the 2-hour package. Because Marin Civic Center has a more relaxed flow and may need closer to 3 hours to cover the check-in & license, ceremony, group photos and portraits comfortably, I’m building in that flexibility as an introductory offer so there is enough time to do your wedding justice! I’d love to shoot your nuptials in this iconic building.

* prices may change without notice, please check official sources before booking.