Eloping in the Heart of Nature: Muir Woods National Monument & Muir Beach Overlook
February 12, 2025Thinking about planning an epic SF City Hall wedding or elopement? There are a few things you need to know before you tie the knot! Below, we've put together a complete guide to help you plan your best day ever at SF City Hall. We've included details on how to obtain your marriage license, booking your ceremony, hiring an officiant, wedding photos, and so much more. Need to come back to this post later? Bookmark it or add it to your favorites as your got-to SF City Hall wedding guide!
Table of contents
- Obtaining Your Marriage License in San Francisco
- Why some couples prefer a private marriage license in SF
- Make an appointment for your SF City Hall marriage license
- Planning a same-day SF City Hall elopement
- SF City Hall Wedding Ceremony
- 1. Do I need to hire an officiant for my SF City Hall Wedding?
- San Francisco City Hall private 1-hour wedding
- San Francisco City Hall private 2-hour wedding
- San Francisco City Hall wedding photographer
- Why should our photographer have experience photographing San Francisco City Hall?
- Can we take photos in City Hall after our ceremony?
- What about wedding photos away from City Hall?
- San Francisco City Hall wedding photographer prices
- Additional FAQs about planning your wedding or elopement at San Francisco City Hall
- What is the best time of day to get married at San Francisco City Hall?
- What is the best month to get married in San Francisco?
- Do you need Rings to get married at the courthouse?
- How long is a SF City Hall wedding?
- Do you need an appointment to get married at SF City Hall?
- Can we get a Marriage License and get married on the Same day in San Francisco?
- Your SF City Hall Wedding
Obtaining Your Marriage License in San Francisco
You will need to obtain a marriage license within at least 90 days of the day of your wedding in order to get married at San Francisco City Hall. The marriage license, in essence, is a permit that allows you to hold a wedding ceremony. Once your ceremony is complete, you will receive a copy of your wedding certificate, typically 10 days after the date of your wedding.
First, you will need to decide whether you’d like a public marriage license or a private marriage license. Here are a few differences between the two:
SF City Hall Public Marriage
- Requires at least one witness to be present at your ceremony
- It will be a public record
SF City Hall Private Marriage License
- In order to obtain a private marriage license, you must be living together
- No witnesses will be required at your ceremony
- Your marriage record will only be available to you
Why some couples prefer a private marriage license in SF
With a private marriage license in SF, you and your partner's details are safeguarded. A private marriage license ensures that the details of your marriage will remain confidential and that you will be the only ones to access your private information. Additionally, if you opt for a private marriage license in SF, you will not be required to have witnesses attend your ceremony, allowing you to host an immersive ‘just the two of you’ experience for your wedding. Ultimately, your decision to choose a public or private marriage license in SF is all a matter of your personal preference and what feels right to you.
Current marriage license fees through County Clerk Services
- Public Marriage Licensee - $124
- Confidential Marriage License - $124
- Duplicate Copy of Marriage License - $29
- Amendment to Confidential Marriage License - $35
A 2% service fee will be applied to all payments made by credit and debit cards. However, there is no fee for payments made from a checking account.
Make an appointment for your SF City Hall marriage license
You can make an appointment to obtain your SF City Hall marriage license at this link.
Appointments can be booked Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 8:15 to 3:30
In total, your appointment can last anywhere from 20-60 minutes.
You will both need to bring the following documentation to your appointment:
- Government-issued ID such as a passport, driver's license, resident alien card, or military ID. Your ID must be valid and cannot be expired
- Your ID must list your full legal name
- If your ID does not list your full legal name, bring a certified copy of your birth certificate or social security card that lists your full legal name
Your appointment cannot be rescheduled. If for any reason, you need to cancel your appointment, you will have to do so in person or through the online booking system. Also, there are no refunds given for cancellations.
Planning a same-day SF City Hall elopement
It is possible to plan your elopement and marriage license appointment for the same day at SF City Hall. If that is the case, your wedding ceremony at SF City Hall should be booked first. Ceremony appointments are highly desirable (after all, this will become your anniversary date!) and typically booked in advance. Once your ceremony time is confirmed, you can grab an appointment to obtain your marriage license.
On the other hand, it’s not uncommon to experience delays when it comes to obtaining your marriage license. My advice to you as an SF City Hall elopement photographer would be to obtain your marriage license in advance. This will give you the peace of mind needed to show up on the day of your ceremony, fully present, focused on each other and your wedding vows. Additionally, your wedding day attire will be fully intact and ready for photography without having to run from your marriage license appointment to your ceremony.
SF City Hall Wedding Ceremony
To reiterate, I highly recommend scheduling the appointment for your City Hall wedding ceremony prior to scheduling the appointment for your marriage license. The calendar for wedding ceremonies at City Hall fills up quickly, and you probably have a specific wedding date in mind. Once your ceremony appointment is made, you can easily make an appointment for obtaining your marriage license anytime in the 90-day period leading up to the day of your ceremony. Below are details on the steps you’ll need to follow to make an appointment, the total number of guests allowed at your City Hall wedding ceremony, and what to expect when your wedding day arrives.
1. Do I need to hire an officiant for my SF City Hall Wedding?
If you are planning a SF City Hall civil wedding ceremony, then technically, no, you won't need to hire your own officiant. For a civil wedding ceremony, City Hall will assign a judge or court clerk to officiate over your vows. However, if you are hosting a private wedding (like a 1-hour or 2-hour wedding), then yes, you will need to hire your own officiant. You can find more details on hiring an officiant to oversee the vows of your private SF City Hall wedding here.
2. How many guests can attend a courthouse wedding?
A traditional City Hall wedding ceremony is one with 6 or fewer guests present, which includes children, your SF City Hall elopement photographer, and witnesses. If you select a public marriage license, you will need to have at least one witness present during your ceremony. If you select a public marriage license but do not plan on inviting any additional guests, you are responsible for selecting your own witness; a member of County Clerk staff is not able to be your witness. To make things easier for you, your SF City Hall wedding photographer can be your witness!
3. Book an appointment
You will need to book an appointment for your City Hall wedding ceremony. You can make an appointment for your City Hall wedding ceremony at this link. Ceremonies are held Monday through Friday, every half hour, from 9:00 to 3:30. You will be unable to choose the location of your wedding ceremony. Typically, a room or space will be assigned to you depending on what is available at your chosen date and time.
As of 2025, the total cost of your City Hall wedding ceremony at San Francisco City Hall is $108. This fee is in addition to the fee you will pay for your marriage license and is due upon booking your wedding ceremony.
4. On the day of your wedding
Arrive at your City Hall wedding ceremony at least 15 minutes before the time of your ceremony. You will need to bring your original, unexpired marriage license. You will both also need to bring your unexpired government-issued IDs.
San Francisco City Hall private 1-hour wedding
In addition to civil wedding ceremonies, San Francisco City Hall offers a private 1-hour wedding package. Below are the booking details, cost, and inclusions for your one-hour wedding at San Francisco City Hall.
Availability | Private 1-hour weddings take place at SF City Hall from Monday through Friday and exclude holidays. To check if your preferred wedding date is available, you can access the SF City Hall wedding calendar at this link. Once you have selected your date through their calendar, a complimentary 30-day hold of your date will begin.
Booking | For a 1-hour private wedding, SF City Hall requires a minimum 4-week lead time to reserve your date. They are unable to accommodate last-minute requests, so it is important that you reserve your date as soon as you can.
Inclusions | A private 1-hour wedding at SF City Hall includes the use of either the Mayor’s Balcony (10 am, 12 pm, or 2 pm) or the Fourth Floor Gallery (9 am, 11 am, 1 pm, or 3 pm only) for one hour from Monday through Friday for up to 100 guests.
Cost | The total cost of a 1-hour private wedding at SF City Hall is $1000. This is the venue fee only and does not include the cost of your officiant, photographer, or wedding florals.
Chairs | If you require chairs for your guests, you will need to obtain them as a rental from one of SF City Hall’s preferred vendors.
Music | If you’d like to add music to your 1-hour private SF City Hall wedding, acoustic music is allowable. However, no more than 2 musicians are allowed to perform. Additionally, you will need advance approval, and the musicians you work with must be selected from SF City Hall’s preferred vendor list.
Officiant | You will need to hire your own wedding officiant for your private 1-hour wedding at SF City Hall. Due to the nature of the 1 hour wedding package, the County Clerk’s office is unable to provide an officiant for couples selecting this package. However, this is a service we happily offer our couples! You can find more details here.
Chuppahs & Arbors | The use of a freestanding chuppah or wedding arbor requires advance approval. Typically, allowable chuppahs must be hand-supported. This is largely due to fire and safety guidelines.
Food & Beverage | Unfortunately, food and beverage service is not permitted for private 1-hour weddings at SF City Hall.
San Francisco City Hall private 2-hour wedding
In addition to the 1-hour wedding package, San Francisco City Hall also offers a 2-hour wedding package. Below are details on booking your 2-hour private wedding at San Francisco City Hall.
Availability | Private 2-hour weddings at San Francisco City Hall take place on Saturdays only from 9 am to 12 noon. Your private 2-hour wedding at San Francisco City Hall will need to be booked at least 3 months in advance. You can check if your preferred wedding date is available by accessing the SF City Hall calendar at this link. Once you have selected your date, a 90-day hold will begin.
Booking | For a 2-hour private wedding, SF City Hall requires a minimum 90-day lead time to reserve your date. They are unable to accommodate last-minute requests, so it is important that you reserve your preferred wedding date as soon as possible.
Inclusions | The 2-hour private wedding package can accommodate up to 200 guests and includes natural wood folding chairs, access to the grand staircase of the rotunda, and basic building services.
Cost | The total cost of a private 2-hour wedding at San Francisco City Hall is $5000. This is the venue fee only and does not include additional costs such as your officiant, photographer, florals, music, or food and beverage service.
Officiant | You will need to hire your own wedding officiant for your private 2-hour wedding at SF City Hall. Due to the nature of the 2 hour wedding package, the County Clerk’s office is unable to provide an officiant for couples selecting this package. However, this is a service we happily offer our couples! You can find more details here.
Wedding Vendors | Due to the time constraints associated with planning a private 2-hour wedding ceremony at San Francisco City Hall, wedding vendors, including food and beverage service, will require advance approval and must be selected from the preferred vendor list.
San Francisco City Hall wedding photographer
One of the most important aspects of your SF City Hall elopement will be finding the right wedding photographer to capture every beautifully unscripted moment of your wedding at San Francisco City Hall. Your wedding photos will be one of the few remaining items left over from your wedding day for you to look back on. Finding a San Francisco City Hall wedding photographer who understands the space and your style as a couple will help you enjoy a fully immersive wedding day experience. Keep reading for more on SF City Hall wedding photos.
Why should our photographer have experience photographing San Francisco City Hall?
San Francisco City Hall is hands down one of the most iconic city hall wedding venues in the US. It’s a historic structure with breathtaking architecture featuring grand stairways, gilded details, and ornate design everywhere you turn. The setting is elegant and completely redefines what it means to get married at City Hall.
Additionally, within SF City Hall, there are countless spaces that can be accessed to capture your SF City Hall wedding photos. This includes spaces that are tucked away from foot traffic to provide you with a private photography experience. There are also ways to access the stairways and internal balconies for stunning photographs of you on your wedding day.
A local SF City Hall wedding photographer will understand how to access and photograph these spaces in a way that an out-of-town photographer would not be accustom to.
Can we take photos in City Hall after our ceremony?
Absolutely! Depending on the photography package that you select, there will be plenty of time to explore SF City Hall together on the day of your wedding for gorgeous photos of your once-in-a-lifetime wedding day. Some of our favorite spaces to explore around SF City Hall with our couples for their wedding photos include the grand staircase, the golden exit doors, and all four floors of City Hall!
What about wedding photos away from City Hall?
There’s no denying that SF City Hall is a gorgeous location for the backdrop of your wedding photos. But, you might want to take wedding photos outdoors, after your ceremony. We offer two wedding photography packages that come with the choice of one or two additional locations (of your choice) to capture your wedding photos. There are plenty of locations near City Hall that offer a stunning backdrop for your wedding photos. Whether you have a location in mind or you need a recommendation, we’re happy to work with you to curate the wedding photography experience of your dreams.
San Francisco City Hall wedding photographer prices
Curious to know how much it costs to work with a San Francisco City Hall wedding photographer? In total, we offer 6 different wedding photography packages that range in price from $599 - $1995.
Additional FAQs about planning your wedding or elopement at San Francisco City Hall
Below are answers to other frequently asked questions about planning your wedding or elopement at San Francisco City Hall.
What is the best time of day to get married at San Francisco City Hall?
The answer to this depends really on the experience you are dreaming of from your wedding or elopement at San Francisco City Hall.
The important thing to remember is that SF City Hall will more than likely be open for business during the hours of your wedding.
In that case, to avoid onlookers and foot traffic, you may want to plan your wedding for the earliest or latest time slot possible, which would be 9 am or 3 pm.
What is the best month to get married in San Francisco?
Wedding season in San Francisco typically occurs from late spring through fall. The most popular months to plan a wedding in San Francisco are May through October. Typically, these months experience less rainfall with clear blue skies and mild temperatures. However, be mindful of planning your wedding or elopement during the summer, which is when the city typically experiences its highes levels of fog.
Do you need Rings to get married at the courthouse?
Technically, no! Rings are not a requirement for getting married at the SF courthouse. Many couples like to exchange wedding rings as a symbol of their love and devotion to each other. Whether or not you decide to exchange rings during your ceremony is totally up to you!
How long is a SF City Hall wedding?
Your wedding ceremony at SF City Hall we likely be less than 5- 10 minutes long. If you decide not to exchange wedding rings, your wedding ceremony will be even shorter.
Do you need an appointment to get married at SF City Hall?
In total, you will need two separate appointments. One for your obtaining your marriage license and one for your wedding ceremony. You can book each of those appointments online at this link.
Can we get a Marriage License and get married on the Same day in San Francisco?
Yes, you can! However, oftentimes, there can be delays or road bumps associated with obtaining your marriage license, so I would caution you against it. However, if you are intent on obtaining your marriage license and having your wedding ceremony on the same day, it can be done with a little bit of planning. My advice would be to schedule your ceremony appointment first (these appointments fill up quickly!). From there, you will need to make a separate appointment to obtain your marriage license. The appointment for obtaining your marriage license at SF City Hall should be scheduled for an hour or more before your ceremony. When the day arrives, you’ll begin by heading to the Information desk in room 168.
Your SF City Hall Wedding
We know you have plenty of decisions to make when it comes to planning your SF City Hall wedding! But we hope this guide helped clear up some of the confusion about the ins and outs of navigating a wedding at SF City Hall. Once you've selected a date and the type of City Hall wedding that best fits your love story, we're ready to capture every beautiful, joy-filled moment of your union. We offer SF City Hall wedding photos for every budget. You can find more details on the packages we offer here.
