So you've decided to get married at San Francisco City Hall

Or maybe you're still in the early planning stages and haven't decided on a venue. No matter where you're at in the process of planning your wedding, I'm here to help! I've photographed over 30 weddings at city hall, and it's one of my all-time favorite venues. Couples come from around the world to get married here. It's one of the most beautiful and affordable public venues in the United States.

Because City Hall is a public space and has active government offices, it is often much busier than people expect. Mondays through Wednesdays tend to be a little quieter, as do early mornings. I always recommend that couples plan an opportunity for time alone and with their loved ones outside of City Hall. Being in the heart of San Francisco, you are surrounded by good food, museums, and the beautiful Northern California landscape.

Civil Ceremonies

Civil ceremonies can be booked up to ninety days in advanced. If you have a specific date in mind, it's best to log in at midnight PST ninety days prior to ensure you get a reservation. Although it is possible to have both your license appointment and civil ceremony on the same day, it is best to schedule them separately. You can obtain your marriage license from anywhere in California prior to your ceremony date. When you make an appointment online, you will pay a ninety-eight dollar nonrefundable fee. You can bring up to six guests, vendors included, to a civil ceremony and it is standing room only. Ceremonies take place in the rotunda at the top of the grand staircase. If you would like to invite more than six people, consider renting one of the designated private ceremony spaces!

When you make a civil ceremony appointment, you will receive a check-in time. This process can take up to thirty minutes, which means that your ceremony will not occur exactly at the time you reserved online. To check-in for your ceremony, you will need to bring your marriage license and identification. You will also need to have a witness present to sign the marriage license.

Mayor's Balcony Wedding

On the Mayor's Balcony, you'll have an incredible view of the grand staircase and rotunda. The intricate detailing of the gold balcony railing is beautiful. It costs one thousand dollars to rent the space for an hour, with chairs or other rental equipment for an additional fee. The Mayor's Balcony can accommodate seating for up to forty guests. City Hall does not provide an officiant for this type of wedding. To see if your desired date is available, you can check the city hall wedding calendar here. Reservations can be made between 9am and 3pm, Monday to Friday.

Fourth Floor Gallery

On the fourth floor, you'll have more privacy and incredible lighting thanks to the paned-glass, arched windows that adorn the galleries. For these reasons, I highly recommend couples reserving this space for their ceremony. It costs one thousand dollars to rent the space for an hour, with chairs or other rental equipment for an additional fee. The fourth floor gallery can accommodate seating for up to sixty guests. City Hall does not provide an officiant for this type of wedding. To see if your desired date is available, you can check the city hall wedding calendar here. Reservations can be made between 9am and 3pm, Monday to Friday.