San Francisco City Hall is one of the most beautiful places to get married at in the Bay Area and Northern California. Since it’s a popular California wedding venue, it can get pretty crowded! Luckily I’ve had the opportunity to capture many weddings and elopements at SF City Hall, and have compiled a list of helpful tips to help you prepare for your City Hall Wedding in San Francisco.

Start Planning Early & Avoid Fridays if Possible

San Francisco City Hall is only open for public weddings from Monday through Friday, and Fridays tend to be the busiest, as it’s the last day before the weekend. While any day might be busy, Thursdays and Fridays tend to be the craziest. If you have the option to go midweek, like a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday— do it!

Arrive Earlier or Later in the Day to Avoid Crowds

One of the ways I get a completely empty staircase in photos is by arriving right when City Hall opens. As the day progresses, clusters of guests and couples start to congregate at the base of the stairs and the civil ceremonies happen at the rotunda on top of the stairs so there is almost always a group at the top.

Note: The first ceremony spot of the day is at 9am and the last is 3:30pm!

Get your Marriage License Before your Ceremony

On the day of the ceremony, City Hall will assign you to arrive either 15 minutes or 45 minutes before your ceremony. If you haven’t already filled out the marriage license paperwork, they’ll instruct you to arrive earlier that 45 minute window. Consider getting your marriage license prior to your appointment - California marriage licenses are valid for 90 days. This will save you time on the day and prevent you from running late for your ceremony time.

Note: City Hall, while beautiful, is a government building so it’s easy for things to run behind or get lost in the shuffle when things are busy. Plan ahead to save yourself the time!

Keep your Guest Count Small or Rent a Private Balcony

For civil ceremonies, city hall limits each couple to 4 wedding guests* (6 people total) who are allowed to stand in the rotunda and witness the ceremony. This also includes your photographer or any vendors that are present! Civil Ceremonies are the most common. They cost $103 and usually take place at the top of the grand staircase in the rotunda.

If you want to celebrate with more guests, consider renting out one of the balconies at City Hall. Fourth Floor Gallery allows up to 60 guests and the Mayor’s Balcony allows up to 40 guests. They are semi-private and cost around $1000 + chair rental fees. This is a great option if you want to include a larger group and have the flexibility of a personalized ceremony. If you decide to rent a balcony, I recommend the fourth floor balcony because it has the best light & least amount of people in the background!

*City Hall has become more flexible on the number of guests rule, but try to keep it under 10 people!

Transportation

Parking is always tricky in San Francisco! I recommend taking Uber/Lyft or hiring private transportation like a limo or bus for a stress-free day!

TrUST ME!

I’ve photographed nearly 50 weddings at City Hall and know ALL the ins & outs of the Civil Ceremony process and the best spots to take photos at in the building. If you book a session with me, I will help with timeline development and answer any and ALL questions you may have about your Civil Ceremony at SF City Hall!

Elizabeth Pishal is a wedding photographer in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area. These are tips for getting married at San Francisco City Hall 2024.

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