The one hour wedding at the incredible 4th floor, San Francisco City Hall

Jill and Vince

San Francisco, California

San Francisco is probably our favorite city in the world, It’s proximity to incredible nature can’t be beat. It’s the city we shoot the most weddings in and we love that. This was our first wedding at the incredible San Francisco City Hall. City hall is a wedding factory, and it is for good reason. Natural light floods the space, the architecture is romantic and classic. City hall boasts half a million square feet of room, it’s a giant open space and it occupies 2 full city blocks.

We asked, Jill, the bride to say a few words about her wedding at SFCH.

"Our wedding day was, honestly, the best day we could have asked for. We wanted it to be an intimate celebration of us bringing together our families - both blood and chosen - and that’s exactly what it was. By keeping our guest list small, we were able to spend quality time with all of our guests and really enjoy the amazing venues, food and music.

We chose San Francisco City Hall for our ceremony venue because it is one of the most stunning places in this city where we’ve spent the last 6 years growing together. Sean & Melanie were truly able to capture the beauty that lives in every corner of this building, even the plain hallways.

If we had any advice for couples planning a wedding, it would be to hire awesome people that you really connect with. From Sean & Melanie, to our DJ and videographer, we were surrounded by people who wanted to help us have the most wonderful day - and we truly did. Also, having it land on a Friday the 13th with a full moon on the horizon couldn’t hurt either. "

How To Get Married at San Francisco City Hall

For such a beautiful venue, it's difficult to believe this is an affordable option. The reason why? This is a public building. The architecture at San Francisco City Hall is to die for. It looks like a beautiful cathedral out of a fairy tale. The elegant, pristine, and grand look of the place is enough to drop anyone's jaw. Getting married at San Francisco City Hall isn't expensive; however, it can be difficult to secure as it is a popular venue. We certainly understand how to take a shot with all the light that flows along every intricate detail in the beautiful engravings. Gowing marble is abundant. Inside and out, the regal, roman look of SFCH makes it perfect for anyone who's looking for a traditional, elegant, OR ELOPEMENT WEDDING.

How Can You Get Married There

Getting married at city hall is an excellent choice when looking for a breathtaking wedding venue. getting married at San Francisco City Hall doesn't require a lot of paper work. It's fairly easy to get married in a public building. First things first. You will need a marriage license. This isn't difficult to get; however, don't plan your wedding the day after you say yes! You can get your marriage license at city hall. The cost is only $107. It is necessary to make an appointment online. The only thing you'll need is your future spouse and valid ids. It's important to get married within 90 days. That's how long it takes for a marriage license to expire.

Choosing Your Location

San Francisco City Hall has several locations where weddings can take place. These include the Mayor's Balcony, 4th South And North Balcony. Depending on the size of your party, one location might work better for you than another. All of these rooms can hold up to 100 people. That's enough for a small-medium ceremony. You also have the option to do a civil ceremony. The civil ceremony is excellent for elopements and if you're a little too shy to stand up in front of a group of people. The limit is due to an issue with space. The civil ceremony is performed at a truly beautiful location. You'll be married on the Rotunda, at the top of the staircase. There are other wedding locations open on weekends and evenings. These include the North And South Light Court, The Rotunda, and Grand Staircase. If you are planning to have a very large ceremony, this is an excellent option. Up to 3,000 guest can come to these locations.

Choosing San Francisco City Hall All For Yourself: What You'll Pay

While it is quite a bit more expensive than booking a room, getting San Francisco City Hall all to yourself is possible. You can expect to pay $5,000 for two hours. One hour at one of the private locations that isn't booking the whole hall cost $1,000. Booking a civil ceremony only cost $89. There are additional charges for each guest. The charge is typically $7 per guest.

How Long You'll Have To Wait

Even if you're eloping, there's going to be some waiting involved in the process. Those who get married at San Franciscan City Hall in a civil ceremony will have to wait their turn. Wedding bookings are done by half hour slots. Three couples choose the same half-hour slot. civil ceremonies are extremely short.

Booking a private room depends on the season and popularity of the room you are trying to book. Some reservations can be carried out in as short as a month. Booking the entire hall can mean waiting for several months or longer.

Things To Remember

One witness needs to be present at a civil ceremony. Make sure its an adult. It's important to arrive at least 10 minutes early to a civil ceremony; however, more time would equal less stress for you. Consider parking in the Civil Center Parking Garage. Parking is difficult in San Francisco, especially at a popular location.

Now, enjoy the photos…

Have questions about weddings at San Francisco City Hall? Shoot us an email. Love San Francisco like us? Check out some more wedding’s we’ve shot in the Bay Area. Marin Headlands. Roberts Regional Park. Golden Gate Club.

With Love,

AFFOB

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

The one hour wedding at the incredible 4th floor, San Francisco City Hall

We asked, Jill, the bride to say a few words about her wedding at SFCH.