The Most Common Questions About a San Francisco City Hall Wedding (& Their Answers!)
A San Francisco City Hall wedding is literally one of the most GORGEOUS things ever, and if that’s the kind of day you’re dreaming of… I already know we’re gonna be besties. Planning a wedding here, though? It’s a little bit different than planning a wedding at a typical venue. It takes some careful attention to detail, but as your San Francisco City Hall wedding photographer, I’ve gotchu covered!!
You can find my full guide to planning a San Francisco City Hall wedding here, but if you have even more questions, that’s what this blog is for!! You’ll find answers to the questions my SF City Hall wedding couples ask me ALL the time, plus a ton of planning tips and inspiration!!
First, Why Choose a San Francisco City Hall Wedding?
Okay, it’s no secret that courthouse weddings are trending, and I mean… It’s SO easy to see why. The chic, classy, luxe vibes? The intimate feel that lets you really focus on what’s important? I’m obsessed EVERY time.
There are so many reasons to choose an intimate wedding, but these are a few of the main reasons that I see my couples go for a wedding at San Francisco City Hall:
- It’s truly STUNNING. Like, it takes my breath away every single time I walk in. The architecture and the soft lighting and the marble and the gold make it feel like the San Francisco City Hall wedding photographer’s version of being a kid on a playground!!
- They have options for everything. If you want a big, traditional wedding, you’ve got it. Just a civil ceremony? It’s yours!! I’m obsessed with how versatile SF City Hall is for weddings!!
- It feels elevated (without even trying). Because if you’re here… I know you probably want something that feels a little luxe without being, like, stuffy ballroom vibes.
- It’s actually really easy to plan your wedding there. Since they have weddings here so often, they kinda thought of everything, and I LOVE that for you.
Who a SF City Hall Wedding is Perfect For
If you’re on board with a San Francisco City Hall wedding after reading that, I love you already!! And if I HAD to guess, you’re probably the kinda person who:
- Cares about the feeling of your day just as much as aesthetics
- Wants a wedding that’s chic and simple, all at the same time
- Is dreaming about an intimate wedding where you get to stay present the WHOLE time
- Loves all things classy and elegant
- Wants a wedding gallery that feels unique
A Quick Overview of How to Plan a San Francisco City Hall Wedding
As I said above, you can visit my full guide to get allll the little details about how to plan a San Francisco City Hall wedding, but here’s an overview of the steps you need to follow to get married here!!:
- Choose the wedding type and setting that feels like you, between the elopement, the 1-hour wedding, the 2-hour wedding, and the evening wedding
- Schedule your wedding here
- Get your marriage license (which you can start the process for riiiight here)
- Say “I do!”
Questions I Get All the Time About Planning a San Francisco City Hall Wedding
How Do I Book a Civil Ceremony at San Francisco City Hall?
Booking a civil ceremony or elopement slot at San Francisco City Hall is really easy, which is just another reason to love it so much!! You can request your time slot here.
What is San Francisco City Hall’s Wedding Ceremony Appointment Availability?
Civil ceremonies are available Monday through Friday, every half hour from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. I highly recommend booking as far in advance as possible, though. A spot this beautiful doesn’t stay available for long!!
When Are Larger San Francisco City Hall Weddings Available?
If you’re looking for a more traditional wedding as opposed to a civil ceremony, don’t worry; San Francisco City Hall offers that too!! 1-hour weddings are available on weekdays (with the first ceremony beginning at 9:00 am and the last beginning at 3:00 pm), 2-hour weddings are on Saturdays only (with ceremonies beginning anywhere from 9:00 am through 12:00 pm), and evening weddings are available any day except Tuesdays.
How Many Guests Can Come to a City Hall Wedding?
Civil ceremonies allow up to 6 guests, 1-hour weddings allow up to 100, 2-hour weddings allow up to 200, and evening weddings allow up to 2,000. So, know that whether you want a super tiny wedding or a huge wedding, you’re all set here!!
What is the Cost to Get Married at San Francisco City Hall?
Every type of San Francisco City Hall wedding package has a different cost, so it’ll totally depend on which package you pick, the date you choose, and the size of your wedding!! Here’s the breakdown of each:
- Civil ceremonies: $111 ($332 on a weekend or holiday)
- 1-hour weddings: $1,200 (plus the cost of chairs if needed)
- 2-hour weddings: $6,000
- Evening weddings: Starting at $12,000
What Documents are Needed for a Marriage License for San Francisco City Hall?
When you apply for your marriage license, you’ll need to bring a government-issued photo ID that’s not expired and $127 for the fee. So easy.
How Do I Get a Marriage Officiant for a San Francisco City Hall Wedding?
If you’re choosing to have your civil ceremony at San Francisco City Hall, they’ll include an officiant in your package. For the other packages, you can choose anyone who is ordained to officiate!!
What Vendors Should I Book for a San Francisco City Hall Wedding?
My wedding vendor checklist has you covered here, but if you’re trying to keep your vendor list pretty small for your wedding, I recommend at LEAST booking a coordinator, photographer (hi!!), florist, hair and makeup artist, and content creator (which I also do!).
The wedding you’re seeing here had a DREAM vendor team that I’ll foreverrr recommend:
Day-Of Coordinators: RIAmagine Planning
Harpist + Violinist: Krista Strader Harpist + Joyouslee
Florist: Celestial Petals
DJ: DJ TN
Content Creator: Itscelestia
Rentals: Bright Event Rentals
Makeup + Hair Artist: Chein & Buffle
Sticker Machine: Hey Noola
Transportation: Nationwide Limousine Service
What Are the Permit Requirements for Professional Photography Inside San Francisco City Hall?
As if I couldn’t love this spot more… There’s no permit required for taking photos inside the city hall. Love that for us!!
What’s the Best Time of Day for Photos Inside San Francisco City Hall?
Morning, 100%!!If you love dreamy, soft light and you want to beat the crowds (which, duh), I’ll always suggest that we get there as close to opening as possible.
What Are the Parking Options Near San Francisco City Hall?
Parking is pretty easy for you and your guests, with your choice of metered spaces on streets surrounding the courthouse, and nearby parking garages like the Civic Center Garage at 355 McAllister Street or the Performing Arts Garage at 360 Grove Street!!
What Are the Best Recommendations for a Small Reception Dinner Near San Francisco City Hall?
This couple celebrated their San Francisco City Hall wedding at Timber + Tide, and I could NOT have loved it more. It carried the classy feel of the wedding through dinner really well, then made the perfect space for the couple and their friends to break it down to Beyoncé on the dance floor. The literal dream.
If you’re looking for more spots, I also absolutely LOVE:
Where Can I Buy a Simple Wedding Dress for a City Hall Ceremony?
If you’re the type of girlie that’s wondering about a simple wedding dress, you know the way to my heart!! A few simple wedding dresses that I’m obsessed with for a courthouse wedding are:
Grace Thao | San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer
One thing to know is that with me as your San Francisco City Hall wedding photographer, planning will be super easy. I’m here with you every step of the way, all the way from scrolling through Pinterest for inspo to helping you get your marriage license to helping you button up your dress on the day of your wedding.
Ready to be besties?? Umm, same!! Inquire here today.
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