guide to san francisco city hall weddings
Introduction and review
Weddings at San Francisco City Hall are nothing less than magical and it makes an ideal wedding venue for a romantic and elegant wedding. As one of the most iconic buildings in San Francisco, the grand architecture and historical significance of City Hall make it a stunning backdrop for a memorable wedding celebration. In essence, San Francisco City Hall is the epitome of art and architecture. Over my 10 year career photographing romantic weddings I can say San Francisco City Hall simply takes my breath away.
Imagine exchanging vows on the fourth-floor balcony – which has the most beautiful light for photography; enjoying cocktail hour at North Light Court, and dancing under the majestic dome of Rotunda. Sounds extraordinary, don’t you think?
Architecture
The building's magnificent Beaux-Arts style architecture provides a sense of grandeur and sophistication, with elegant marble floors, grand staircases, and ornate detailing throughout. The stunning Rotunda is particularly breathtaking, with its soaring 307-foot dome, grand staircase, and beautiful natural light filtering in through the expansive windows.
Advice for a Stress -free wedding
San Francisco City Hall is open to the public during the week and there are many civil marriage ceremonies taking place throughout the day that it can be very chaotic. So with that in mind I highly recommend reserving your wedding at City Hall through their official site.
This is to ensure you are guaranteed a private space for your intimate vows and your marriage can be beautifully captured.
To get married at San Francisco City Hall, you first need to obtain a marriage license from the San Francisco County Clerk's Office. You can apply for the license online or in person, and it typically takes a few days to process. You have 90 days to have a ceremony after your marriage license has been issued to you for a legal marriage in California.
Choose a location, date and time: Once you have your marriage license, you can book a date and time for your ceremony at San Francisco City Hall via their website.
City Hall provides 4 wedding packages tailored to suit your style, from a civil ceremony, small elopement ceremony to a grand wedding reception. Below is a breakdown of the four options available.
First option is all inclusive option at City Hall for civil marriage or domestic partnership ceremonies. This option is available for ceremonies with less than 6 guests in total, however I do not recommend this option as you cannot choose your location (sometimes it’s an office) and it will be very chaotic with other public ceremonies. This option is fast, includes an officiant, simple and low cost, but not personal, intimate, or private. If you go with this make sure you are one of the first weddings of the day. That way you have a better chance at securing the coveted Fourth Floor or Rotunda for your ceremony.
For intimate micro weddings and elopements, San Francisco City Hall offers a “One-Hour Wedding” package. For this purpose, you can reserve the Mayor’s balcony on the second floor, Rotunda or the Fourth Floor Gallery. For a romantic and intimate ceremony, my first choice is the fourth-floor North Gallery which offers more privacy and light filled stunning setting with its dramatic arches. The one-Hour wedding package is perfect for couples who wish to have an intimate elopement. You can reserve your wedding date and time via the official San Francisco City Hall website here.
City Hall is the epitome of elegance, romance, and charm. If you are considering a micro wedding or just the wedding ceremony then the “Two-Hour package” is a great option as it allows for food and beverage service. All the basic building facilities are included in this offer. Bonus part? This package allows you to say ‘I do’ on the impressive Grand Staircase. The breathtaking views of the Rotunda will definitely enchant your guests! Each balcony can accommodate up to 40 or 60 guests, respectively. This is a better option for a beautiful and elegant wedding ceremony and then having a reception elsewhere.
There is also an option to have your beautiful wedding in complete privacy in the evening. San Francisco City Hall offers full evening wedding celebrations on weekdays and weekends. The iconic architecture, the majestic Rotunda, and otherworldly views of the historical building will leave you in awe. The grand staircase provides a beautiful backdrop for a reception or cocktail hour.
Top Tips
The 3 rental options above do not include an officiant.
Please note that the venue doesn’t offer any marriage licenses or certificates on the spot. You will have to register for a marriage license before the ceremony. For registration, head over to the official link.
In California you will need one witness and an officiant at the ceremony. You can assign a friend or family member to be your officiant here. This way your wedding can feel intimate, personalized and authentic.
The earlier the better. It gets very busy so for an early morning ceremony to avoid the crowds
Overall, San Francisco City Hall is an exceptional choice for couples seeking a romantic and elegant wedding venue in San Francisco, with its stunning architecture, and historical significance. Getting married in San Francisco or want to learn more about San Francisco, we have more articles to inspire you
xox
Natasha
