If you’re planning a wedding at San Francisco City Hall, you probably have a lot of questions. As a photographer who’s documented hundreds of ceremonies in this stunning building, I’ve noticed that the same questions keep popping up online – many of them unanswered. So I’ve collected the most common – and sometimes a little random – questions about City Hall weddings!

I’m going to answer them all for you, from basic logistics to insider tips that will help your day run smoothly. I found most of these questions in Tiktok comments and Reddit threads, places where people often share their experiences, vent their frustrations, and ask questions that it’s really hard to find answers about.

The content in this blog post actually comes from a video I made on YouTube, linked below! I attempted to answer all these questions rapid-fire as best I could!:

Be sure to check out the video above if you’d prefer to get the info that way and get to know me a bit to see if you like my vibe. Don’t forget to reach out at the button below to find out more about my photography services and book me to shoot your special day at this iconic San Francisco landmark!

Would You Recommend Having a Wedding Coordinator for a One-Hour Wedding at San Francisco City Hall?

Generally speaking, a coordinator is not usually needed. It is not required in terms of your contract with City Hall. However, some couples like the extra confidence they gain by having a trusted, independent day-of coordinator to help everything run smoothly.

For context, with dozens – maybe even over 100 – private ceremonies photographed, I’ve only worked with a planner for around 5, maybe 6 of them.

The reasons why you *may* want to consider adding a coordinator for your one-hour ceremony are if you:

• Have a lot of items to set up at City Hall (for example memorial tables, display tables, gift tables, guest books, ceremony items, chair decorations etc)
• Would like an exceptionally efficient day and would appreciate a coordinator to make announcements throughout the day. For example, asking guests to take their seats, coordinating with the officiant and musician when for you to walk down the aisle, announcing when it’s time for group photos and calling up the groups, informing guests when it’s time to vacate, helping them make their way to the shuttle, etc.
• Have a lot of guests and would like someone to welcome them in from the front door, personally receiving them and/ or show them exactly where they need to go
• Are planning a reception event following City Hall and there are setup tasks associated with that. Why not extend their time to also be a helping hand at City Hall?
• Will have a floral installation and the florist would need someone to be on hand to receive delivery and set it up (though usually florists would bring their own team to do this)
• Are a more anxious person or have a lot of anxiety surrounding your wedding, particularly the idea of having it in a busy public space. Having someone in your corner not just day-of but holding your hand throughout the planning process as a dedicated planner would be a must for you.
• Have a little extra wiggle room in your budget, so anything that gives you peace of mind and a more elevated experience is well worth it.

Can You Walk Up and Down the Stairs of the Rotunda at a One-Hour Wedding?

Yes, you can. Anyone can walk into City Hall – you don’t need to be getting married there. You don’t need to have a permit to photograph there. If you’re in the building, you can do whatever you like within the public areas! 

We Booked Our Marriage License But Couldn’t Get an Appointment for Our Ceremony. Can We Get Married in City Hall if We Have Our Own Officiant?

Yes, you can! You can absolutely use City Hall as the venue for your ceremony since it’s a public building. Anyone can walk in and do whatever they want as long as they’re not disruptive to others. Just find a quiet area, and there’s nothing to stop you from having your own ceremony completely unrelated to the official process. I have a blog post coming out about this soon!

If I Book a One-Hour Elopement, Does That Mean I Can’t Stay and Take Photos?

No, you can stay in the building as long as you’d like during opening hours. City Hall is a public building – you’re free to explore and take photos throughout, regardless of when your ceremony is scheduled. Your one-hour booking only refers to your reserved ceremony time, not how long you can stay in the building. Find out more about the 1-hour ceremony option at the video and blog post linked below:

What’s the Best Month to Do It?

As a photographer, I’m going to optimize 100% for photography, but there are other factors that come into play. Maybe you have a slow time in your work when you want to get married. Maybe you want to time it with your dating anniversary. Maybe there’s a family member who’s heavily pregnant or sick, and you want to do the right thing by them.

So the best time is when it’s the right time for you. But looking at solely photography… 

The best months for photography are December, January, and February. The building is a little bit darker inside, but I think the fact that there aren’t many people around really makes up for any shortcomings with the weather.

Months to avoid:

• June (very busy due to Pride Month, though you might want that specifically)
• April, May, September, and October are very, very busy

July and August are quieter than you might expect. I think it’s because this is traditionally most people’s vacation time, plus it’s when school’s out. Therefore, July and August are quieter months to choose for your City Hall celebration, but bear in mind there is also a high chance of fog (‘Fogust’) at many of San Francisco’s popular portrait locations. 

November’s also a good time – it’s quieter than the summer, but the weather can be rainy. December’s pretty quiet, though rain is likely. It can be weirdly popular for couples who would like the iconic Christmas tree in their photos. (During December, civil ceremonies now take place on the 3rd Floor South Gallery, instead of right beside the Chrismas tree like in years past). 

Do They Provide a Commissioner for Civil Ceremonies?

Yes, they do. You have an officiant provided for civil ceremonies. You will not get to pick the marriage commissioner or have a friend or family member as your officiant. Find out more about how civil ceremonies work at the detailed blog post linked below and accompanying video:

Are Fridays 8am Just as Bad?

8am is going to be the quietest time of any day. However, there’s always the possibility that other couples and photographers will arrive early too. Fridays are the busiest day of the week, but 8am is definitely your best opportunity to get photos while it’s the emptiest – it won’t be quieter at any time after 8:00.

Could We Get a Marriage License Elsewhere and Just Go to City Hall for Pictures?

If you’re just taking pictures at City Hall, you don’t need any kind of marriage license. Anyone can just turn up and walk in.

Do I Physically Need the Marriage License in Hand Before Booking San Francisco City Hall?

No, you don’t need your marriage license when booking your City Hall ceremony. I think what the question is really asking is whether you need to enter any marriage license details, or confirmation number etc into the booking system – you don’t. 

In fact, I recommend booking your ceremony appointment first, since these slots fill up quickly – often booking out two months in advance at SF City Hall. You can get your marriage license appointment later, as these are much easier to find. Just remember that you’ll need to have your license with you on your actual wedding day.

How Many Guests Can You Bring for a One-Hour Ceremony?

While City Hall allows up to 100 guests for both the one-hour ceremony options, I recommend keeping your numbers lower for comfort. The Mayor’s Balcony can seat 40 guests comfortably, with any additional guests standing. The Fourth Floor can accommodate 60 seated guests, with others standing. 

These numbers make for a much more comfortable experience than maxing out the 100-person limit, which can feel cramped in either space and can be far from ideal for those that have to stand. 

What Happens if You Bring More Than Six People? Do They Kick You Out?

They don’t kick you out. I have another video about what to do if you want to try and bring more than six guests:

 Usually, staff will either allow everyone to stay, or they’ll ask extra guests to watch from nearby alternative spots. These spots include the third floor directly overlooking the rotunda, or just outside the rotunda area at the bottom of the steps. Either way, your additional guests can still witness the ceremony and rejoin the group immediately after.

How Far in Advance Would You Recommend Booking the Florist and Musician?

I would say you have nothing at all to lose from booking as far in advance as you possibly can. But you have everything to lose if you don’t book far enough in advance. Wedding vendors are used to booking one to two years out. That’s not a big deal, in fact, many vendors prefer it! Some I know do not work with those who seek to book within just weeks or even a couple of months of the date. 

The question is more if you’ve left it too late and all the popular, sought-after vendors have already been booked. 

Let’s say it’s a popular date too, all of the best florists and musicians already have bookings. You can book City Hall two years out, and if you were literally booking your vendors two years out, it would be fine.

Do I Have to Live in San Francisco to Take My Wedding Photo Shoot There?

You do not. You do not need to have any credentials to walk into the building, to take photos in the building, to be photographed in the building. You don’t have to be a resident of the United States, or a citizen. You can be eloping from another country, another state, another city. It really doesn’t matter where you’re from – anyone can both wed at SF City Hall and take photos inside the public building. 

What is the Best Time to Be There and Get a Beautiful Photo Like That?

The photo in question in this one of the Grand Staircase, taken from one vantage point only – the Mayor’s Balcony. Here’s what it looks like!:

The Mayor’s Balcony is one of those areas that’s available for rentals. Rentals on the Mayor’s Balcony are at 10am, 12pm and 2pm, so if we happen to be trying to take a photo like this, but the mayor’s balcony is in use, it won’t be possible because you can’t access this area while a ceremony is taking place there. 

You can avoid those times between 10 and 11, 12 and 1, 2 and 3 and the photographer should then be able to go physically to the Mayor’s Balcony. But even then, there are no guarantees, as other people also use the space and may be in the middle of their own photoshoot there! 

If it doesn’t work out, you can very easily get your photographer to take a slightly more sideways or diagonal angle. It still gets the grandeur of the staircase into the shot, but it’s not from that directly straight-on angle. Here’s an example, as you can see – still beautiful!:

Is There Elevator Access to the Upper Floors, Like for the Elderly That Are Attending?

Yes, there is elevator access to all floors, 100%. Anyone who needs it or wants to use it can use the elevators! In fact, I normally take couples around in the elevator because it’s more comfortable, especially for those wearing high heels. 

What About an 11am Ceremony and Taking Pictures Before?

This refers to a private rental on the fourth floor – I know because they take place at 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm. If you book an 11am ceremony then I would highly recommend taking your photos before the ceremony. This is because City Hall is busiest in the middle of the day, basically from around 11 through 12, 1, 2.

It would be great to start photos at 10am – it’s not going to be deadly quiet and silent, but it is going to be considerably quieter probably at 10 as opposed to 12pm when you come out of the ceremony, which is like the busiest time of the day.

Are You Able to Get Married Here if You Are Not From California? I’m From New Jersey!

Funny thing about New Jersey is that I once had a couple from New Jersey come in and they had their driver’s licenses as their identification. It turned out that for one of them, their middle name was just an initial and because the name wasn’t spelled out, they weren’t actually allowed to use that form of identification. Luckily they had their passports with them as well.

I don’t know if that’s a New Jersey thing, but definitely check to see if your entire name – first, middle name, and last names – are all spelled out in full. You are indeed able to get married at City Hall whether you’re from California, New Jersey, or New Zealand. It really doesn’t matter – you could be from anywhere in the world.

I Live in Sacramento But Want to Elope at San Francisco City Hall. Can I Get My Marriage License in Sacramento and Take It to San Francisco?

Yes, you can. You can get your license from any county in California. It really doesn’t matter. Just make sure that both of you will need to be there for the license appointment. It needs to be obtained within 90 days of the ceremony.

If You Book the Civil Ceremony, Do You Still Have Access to the Fourth Floor?

Yes, you do. You can go on any of the floors that are public. You can use the staircase. There is a little bit of etiquette and give and take working with the other people and couples who may be taking photos there.

Sometimes it happens that the fourth floor is completely full of people. The fourth floor has two sides, the north side and the south side. The north side is the one that’s open and available to be booked for a ceremony. Most times that slots are available, they tend to be taken. So that means everyone’s rushing onto the south side because it’s the only side that is still available.

How Much is the Full-Day Buyout?

I’ve never done the evening buyout option, but I have done the Saturday morning one, which is a two-hour rental time. It includes the ceremony only and potentially a champagne reception. The price for that option starts at $5,000.

It does not include various security costs and insurance, so it does go up from $5,000, but that is the bare minimum. You need to check with City Hall events team directly – they have their own website (linked here) and office in the building.

Is the Justice of the Peace Available for the One-Hour Ceremony?

The Justice of the Peace is only available for civil ceremonies. There is no officiant provided for the one-hour ceremony rentals. You have a couple of options: you can go with a professional officiant that you could find on Yelp, Google, TikTok, or Instagram, or you could ask your photographer (which is hopefully going to be me) for a list of preferred vendors.

The other option is to have a friend or family member ordained through the Universal Life Church or American Marriage Ministries. They will have the legal authority to conduct a ceremony and legally wed you, which is actually a really nice touch.

For the One-Hour Ceremony, Do We Have to Pay Extra for the Chairs or is That Included in the Package?

It is not included in the package. It is extra work for them to put the chairs out and take them away at the beginning and end of every ceremony. It is up to you how many you would like them to put out and what type of chairs you want.

There are the very plain wooden folding chairs at $3.50 per chair to rent, and then there are the more elegant wedding-style chairs, these are called Chiavari chairs, at $7.50 per chair. Please check directly at the time of your wedding, as prices will increase over time! The official page with this information is here.

You don’t actually need any chairs at all – some couples prefer to have everybody standing or they just don’t have any guests.

Is Your Dad Able to Walk You Down the Aisle?

Yes, if you have the 1-hour private ceremony, you can absolutely have these kinds of more traditional touches like a processional and the recessional. But generally with civil ceremonies, there’s no provision for walking down the aisle – there is no real aisle.

Are We Able to Have Our Support Dog in Training During Our Civil Ceremony?

What I’ve heard and believe is that City Hall is not able to inquire after the service status of an animal. Apparently, they are not really allowed to ask you if that’s a support animal or ask for paperwork. 

With it being a civil ceremony, I would say it would depend on the officiant. Just like everything at a civil ceremony is down to the officiant’s discretion. If they are cool with it, then that’s cool. But they could potentially they could say no without an explanation, that’s within their purview. 

As a blanket answer, I would say yes, it is probably okay to have your support dog in training during your civil ceremony. More tips about including your dog are included in my guide linked below:

Conclusion

That concludes our comprehensive but random Q&A about San Francisco City Hall weddings! If you have more questions that weren’t covered here, I’d love to include them here or do a part 2. Remember that City Hall weddings, whether civil ceremonies or private events, can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like to make them – that’s the beauty of this versatile venue! It’s definitely wise to roll with the punches, and not overly attach yourself to a specific vision for your day, or fixate too much on other photos you’ve seen online. 

If you’re still not sure about getting married at SF City Hall, find out more of the pros and cons – told impartial – at the link below:

For more detailed information about specific aspects of City Hall weddings, check out my other guides and videos. I’ve photographed hundreds of weddings in this stunning building and would love to help capture your special day! And when you’re ready to start planning your photography, I’m here to help – just reach out by clicking 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 the blog and Insta!

Zoe Larkin Photography