SF City Hall Wedding Photographer | Complete Guide to Getting Married at City Hall

As an SF City Hall wedding photographer with over a decade of experience, I’ve had the privilege of documenting dozens of intimate ceremonies inside this iconic building. I photograph dozens of beautiful weddings each year at San Francisco City Hall and adore each one. This stately civic building in the heart of the City belongs to all of us. It’s where history has been made and is part of our region’s story. In addition, its beauty is breathtaking. Couples from all over the world come here to elope, hold intimate ceremonies, or celebrate the entire first with lavish celebrations. I get a lot of questions about how it all works, so I wanted to give my couples a few pointers. But please, check in with SF City Hall to confirm these details. I also added a variety of my City Hall photography to show all the options available, including fun spots we travel to after the ceremony. Congratulations on your wedding and congratulations!

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY

As an SF City Hall wedding photographer, I have some great tips for your big day.

• Unless renting space from City Hall’s event department, the County Clerk office does not allow ceremony reservations beyond 90 days in advance so for those who are planning on popular dates, long weekend dates, etc., we suggest reserving your ceremony time immediately 90 days prior to your intended date.

• If SF City Hall wedding photography is your top priority, please contact us before booking the City Hall to make sure we are free on your potential date.

• If you are planning to get married at San Francisco City Hall from across the world, all you need is a valid passport. The SF City Hall commissioner will perform your ceremony while we can act as your witness.

• Best time for the Ceremony is early morning or around noon as City Hall is less crowded that time of the day: waiting is shorter and it is easier to get panoramic photos without roaming tourists in the background.

• We strongly recommend arriving at City Hall for your ceremony at least 20 minutes in advance. This way, you will be the first in the check-in line for the ceremony.

• The least crowded time at City Hall is 8-9:30AM or after 3:30PM.

• Photography-friendly days are Monday through Wednesday.

• You can always hire an independent wedding officiant who can perform (and even customize) your Ceremony. Among other benefits, you won’t have to check in with the County Clerk office and officiant will file all the paperwork on your behalf.

• If you are planning a San Francisco City Hall 4th-floor wedding, we recommend booking a Northside as lighting there is better (no direct sunlight) when it comes to a Ceremony.

Instructions on Getting Married at City Hall:

1. Ceremonies are available Monday-Friday starting at 9:00 a.m through 3:30 p.m. every half hour. Three reservation slots available each half hour.
2. Reservations require a payment of $128 at the time of booking. Appointments may be made. Fees and policies are subject to change — always confirm directly with the SF County Clerk

• Online – Reservations can be made with credit card only (Visa or MasterCard): Online Civil Ceremony Reservations.
• In person – Reservations may be made by one of the parties to the marriage or a third party. The person making the reservation must be able to pay at the time of making the appointment. Cash, personal check (preprinted with account holder’s name issued from a U.S. Bank), money order, credit card, or debit card accepted when making the reservation in person.

1. Rescheduling and NO-Refund Policy – Please make sure you make your reservation selection very carefully as there will be ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS  issued once the reservation has been made. Note: If you are also having your ceremony at City Hall, be sure to check both marriage license and marriage ceremony calendars first and schedule your ceremony appointment first as there are less ceremony appointments as there are marriage license appointments.  We recognize that situations may arise, which may prevent you from making an existing appointment; therefore, you will be allowed to reschedule by submitting a request to our office at least 3 business days prior to your existing appointment.  This will allow other members of the public to have an opportunity of taking the slot you are vacating and will allow our office to schedule staff accordingly. Current price is $127.
2. For Ceremonies….

• The ceremony will NOT be performed unless you present a VALID marriage license to the commissioner at the time of your ceremony. If you are unable to do so, you will be required to make another ceremony reservation and pay the ceremony fee again.
• The office does NOT perform wedding vow renewal ceremonies.

1. Marriage licenses are issued by prepaid confirmed marriage license reservation only.

• If a marriage license has already been purchased, check the expiration date of your marriage license prior to making the ceremony reservation. The marriage license is valid for 90 days from the marriage license issuance date.
• If you plan to purchase your marriage license on the same day as your ceremony reservation, you must make and pay for a marriage license reservation for the same day at least 30 minutes PRIOR to your ceremony reservation time. For example, if your ceremony reservation is 10:00 a.m., your marriage license reservation should be scheduled no later than 9:30 a.m.

1. Both parties to the marriage must be able to speak and understand English. If the commissioner feels that either party does not speak English, he/she may refuse to perform the ceremony unless you provide your own third-party interpreter.  Couples requiring a ceremony performed in American Sign Language (ASL) or any other language, must notify the County Clerk’s Office in person or Contact Us to make arrangements, prior to booking an appointment online.  Please allow a minimum of two week advance notice for all sign language bookings.
2. The couple and no more than 2 witnesses should arrive at the INFORMATION DESK at City Hall, Room 168 for CHECK-IN 10 minutes before your appointment time (other witnesses shall wait in outside area.)
3. The couple must bring:

• Valid marriage license
• Unexpired government-issued photo identification in English
• At least 1 witness (NOT provided to you. Applies only to couples with a PUBLIC marriage license)
• No more than 6 guests total* (includes witnesses, children, photographer, etc…).

*Couples bringing more than 6 guests, or guests who are creating a nuisance, impeding official government business, or impeding the enjoyment of the building by others may be removed by the Sheriff’s Department.  If you are bringing more than 6 guests, and/or would like to request a specific venue for your marriage ceremony at City Hall, please make arrangements with the San Francisco City Hall Events Department at www.sfgov.org/cityhallevents

1. Ceremonies are performed in a location determined by the commissioner (usually our private ceremony room or the rotunda, if available.) Specific requests for the rotunda or any other area will NOT be accepted as we cannot guarantee availability.
2. A certified copy of your marriage record will NOTbe available for purchase until at least 10 business days AFTER the license is received from the person solemnizing the marriage.  Same day and expedited services for certified copies are NOT available.  Please plan accordingly.  For further information, see

  the webpage: http://sfgov.org/countyclerk/how-obtain-copies-marriage-licenses

1. No form of litter is permitted to be thrown anywhere inside or outside the building; including exterior steps (flower petals, bird seed, rice, confetti, silly string, etc…).  Helium balloons, alcohol, and knives are not allowed into the building.12. Camcorders and cameras are permitted.
   

Off-Site Weekend Ceremonies (Only Saturdays, Sundays, and Legal Holidays):

Arrangements for off-site weekend ceremonies are only made for marriage licenses purchased through our office. Our office will assign a Deputy Marriage Commissioner to perform a civil ceremony at a San Francisco location of your choice and time (you are responsible for arranging and paying for the venue, permits, etc.). A marriage license must be issued by San Francisco County prior to requesting for arrangements.  We will not accept requests within 7 days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the ceremony date.

To make arrangements, complete and submit an Off- Site Ceremony Request Form and $139.00 non-refundable fee to the SF County Clerk. Arrangements will not be made without receipt of payment.  Upon receiving the request form and payment, you will be provided with your assigned Deputy Marriage Commissioner’s name, phone number, and email address (if available).

On the day of the ceremony, $150.00 CASH must be paid to the Deputy Marriage Commissioner. Deputy Marriage Commissioners are volunteers and not City and County of San Francisco employees.

Note: The ceremony must take place in San Francisco. Re-scheduling or rehearsal time is at the discretion of the Deputy Marriage Commissioner.

Deputy Marriage Commissioner for a Day:

Any person age 18+ years may be granted authorization to perform a civil marriage as a Deputy Marriage Commissioner for a specific couple. For further information, see  webpageDeputy Marriage Commissioner for a Day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions: Getting Married at SF City Hall

How far in advance can I book a civil ceremony at SF City Hall? You can book up to 90 days in advance. New slots open at 9:00 AM PST exactly 90 days before each available weekday. Popular dates fill up fast, so log on right at 9 AM on the day your preferred date opens. No walk-ins — a reservation is required.

How much does it cost to get married at SF City Hall? As of 2025, the civil ceremony fee is approximately $128 and a San Francisco marriage license is approximately $127. A private one-hour ceremony on the 4th Floor or Mayor’s Balcony is $1,000. Always confirm current fees at sf.gov as they increase slightly each year.

How many guests can attend? A maximum of 6 total — including witnesses, children, photographers, and videographers. For more guests, you’ll need a private one-hour ceremony (up to 100 guests) or book through the SF City Hall Events Department.

Do I need a witness? With a public marriage license, yes — at least one witness is required, and City Hall cannot provide one. With a confidential marriage license, no witness is needed.

Can we get married on a weekend? Standard civil ceremonies are Monday–Friday only, 9 AM–3:30 PM. Weekend ceremonies require booking through the City Hall Events Department — private Saturday morning ceremonies start around $5,000 and evening buyouts start at $10,000+.

What do I need to bring on the day? A valid California marriage license, unexpired government-issued photo ID for both parties, and at least one witness (if using a public license). Check in at Room 160 about 10–15 minutes before your ceremony time.

What’s the best time of day for photos? Arrive around 8:00–8:30 AM to capture portraits on the grand staircase before ceremonies begin and crowds arrive. The building is least crowded before 9:30 AM and after 3:30 PM. On the 4th Floor, the North Gallery has the best light.

What’s the best day of the week? Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the quietest. Fridays are the busiest day year-round. If great photos and a relaxed atmosphere are priorities, earlier in the week is the way to go.

Can we write our own vows? Yes! When booking online you can indicate you’d like to say personal vows. You can also hire an independent officiant to fully customize your ceremony.

Can I reschedule or get a refund? No refunds and no rescheduling — all sales are final. If you can’t make your appointment, notify City Hall so the slot can go to another couple, but you’ll need to book and pay again from scratch.

Do we need to get our marriage license from San Francisco County? No — any California county license is valid as long as it was issued within the past 90 days. If getting your license from SF County on the same day as your ceremony, schedule it at least 30 minutes before your ceremony time.

Can we bring a photographer? Absolutely — cameras and professional photographers are permitted and highly recommended. Just note that your photographer counts toward your 6-guest limit for civil ceremonies.

Check out Some of Nightingale Photography’s San Francisco City Hall galleries HERE!

I hoped I helped you navigate how to get married at SF City Hall.

Contact me today to check my availability!