Colorful Fall Wedding at San Francisco City Hall

Colors set the mood, inspire emotion, and even tell you what season you should be thinking about when you gaze upon them. Catherine and Anthony decided on a vibrant palette for their upbeat, Colorful Fall Wedding at San Francisco City Hall. The bride wanted to start her photo session by having her photographer and wedding videographer join her for “getting ready” pictures in her beautiful room at the InterContinental Mark Hopkin Hotel in San Francisco, located at 999 California Street in San Francisco. This iconic hotel sits atop a hill with a panoramic view of the entire city. Founded in 1926, its breathtaking views have made it a local legend. Being a vintage luxury hotel, it’s paired perfectly with the couple’s choice of the Mayor’s Balcony at San Francisco City Hall for their wedding venue.

Next on Catherine’s wedding day wish list was a private “first look” with Anthony in the meditation maze outside of Grace Cathedral, located just a block away. Grace Cathedral started its construction just a year after the Mark Hopkins was built in 1927, so we have a lovely connection to the San Francisco of yesterday in all of her visuals as she and her fiance move forward in time to create their family history on their wedding day.

Their wedding ceremony was booked for the Mayor’s Balcony and they’d reserved the space from 12 pm to 1 pm. If you’re not familiar with the Mayor’s Balcony, it’s one of two spaces at SF City Hall that you can rent by the hour on weekdays for your private wedding ceremonies. This balcony overlooks the center atrium and seats forty people, with a standing room area that can bring your total guest count up to one hundred people. You can reach the Events Department to inquire about a balcony rental by calling them at 1-415-554-6079. This would be my personal choice for a wedding location, and there are many reasons why I think it’s the best spot for your SF City Hall wedding ceremony.

If you love the idea of walking down the aisle, the Mayor’s Balcony offers you an elegant lobby located just behind the rental area where you can gather your wedding party, and line everyone up with plenty of room. There’s also a hallway lined with benches off to the side, so that you can sit and wait as your guests come in, and the surprise of seeing you walk down the aisle in your beautiful wedding gown won’t be ruined. (Or your wedding suite, cultural outfit, or whatever you wish!) From the lobby, you will walk down a short set of stairs, to make your grand entrance! All eyes will be on you as you sweep down the steps with your eyes on your beloved who will be waiting for you a short distance away. It’s not an overwhelmingly long walk, it’s short and sweet and you still get to have “your moment”. Some couples choose to enter together.

They had a wedding party of seven individuals, and this is where we see her vibrant fall colors come into play. A rich, deep orange for their bridesmaid’s dresses and the groomsman’s ties amped up the vibe and paired beautifully with the bouquets that our florist Marina created for her. Her colors were Orange and peach with light blues and deep yellow, with pink and red sprinkled in. She told us that she loves peonies and ranunculus, dahlia (the official flower of San Francisco!), zinia, poppies, larkspur, forget-me-not, and anemones. As you can see, she got her wish in the most beautiful way possible!

They had a one-hour balcony rental, and we always suggest a full two hours at San Francisco City Hall to complete all of your wedding photography. You can reasonably expect to have your wedding ceremony, pictures with your guests, and beautiful couple portraits completed within two hours. So what came next? They invited their guests to a lovely lunch at A Mano restaurant at 450 Hayes Street in San Francisco. They rented out the whole space and could enjoy indoor and outdoor seating on their warm and sunny wedding day and a traditional first dance. The tables were outfitted with colorful disposable cameras for the guests to enjoy and take their wedding pictures of the reception!

She wove her color theme throughout her wedding day; the reception is a perfect example. All of the tables had vibrant-colored florals that matched her bridal bouquet, and the food, drinks, decor, and wedding party were all coordinated for a very pretty, unified result. You can just tell that everything goes together, and it gives a high-end luxury feel to a very affordable way to get married.

1. Where should we park for our San Francisco City Hall Wedding?

Safe parking is located directly across the street in an underground parking structure at 355 McCallister Street. For extra security, your license plate number will be printed onto your parking ticket.

2. Is San Francisco City Hall and the Mayor’s Balcony handicap accessible?

Yes, the whole building has ramps and elevators for guests with wheelchair or mobility issues. Your photographer can help guide guests who need assistance so they are always comfortable.

3. Does San Francisco City Hall have public restrooms?

There are public restrooms on each floor of the building. The first floor has extra-large stalls in the back of the Lightcourt rooms on either side of the grand staircase.

4. Can we get dressed in our wedding clothes at San Francisco City Hall?

You may change into your wedding clothes at City Hall, but there is no storage or coat check, so you must bring your items for the rest of your wedding day. We suggest getting ready at home or in your hotel room if possible.

5. Are dogs allowed at San Francisco City Hall weddings?

Yes. Well-behaved dogs are always welcomed at SF City Hall weddings. We are a dog-friendly town, and local statistics show more fur kids than human children living in San Francisco!

6. Is food allowed into San Francisco City Hall?

No, food and drink are not allowed into the building, but if you order our cake and bubbly package or a Boho Picnic, we can set up your refreshments outside the building in the Veterans Memorial Park.

7. How do we get married at San Francisco City Hall?

Couples must obtain a California Marriage License within 90 days of their wedding date. They can book an appointment for a civil ceremony on the SF.gov website.

Each person getting married must bring one form of valid legal ID with them on their wedding date and their California marriage license. If you do not wish to have a civil ceremony through the SF City Hall office and would prefer a more personalized ceremony in the building, we can book an officiant from our team. Please contact us through the contact form on our website for more information and booking.

8. Can we have music at our City Hall wedding?

If you rent the Mayor’s Balcony or the 4th Floor North Gallery, you may hire an acoustic musician for one hour. Live music is another very affordable way to add an upscale and intimate feel to your hour on the balcony. They have a preferred vendor list from which you can choose. Just ask us, and we’ll introduce you to our favorites.