SO YOU WANT TO ELOPE AT CITY HALL?

Is it "city hall," the "city clerk's office" or the "marriage bureau"?

I use the three terms pretty interchangeably; most of the information here refers to the Manhattan City Clerk's Office (141 Worth St, New York, NY 10013) since I shoot there the most often but a lot of it applies to the other boroughs' city clerks offices too.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best time of day to elope at City Hall?

First thing in the morning or at the end of the day! If you book one of the earliest appointments of the day (8:30 or 8:45am), there won't be much of a wait yet, and we'll likely be able to breeze through in about a half hour or less. The last appointment of the day is 3:45pm so I recommend booking around 3:30pm if you want an afternoon appointment; it will start to clear out after that and we'll be able to get photos without a lot of people inside the marriage bureau.

How many guests can we have?

As of summer 2024, city hall is allowing each couple to have up to 4 guests (which means you can have a photographer + 3 other people come in with you) and a family member or friend can be your witness! Any additional family or friends can meet us outside the exit for hugs, photos and confetti.

What should we wear?

I get this question a lot from couples eloping at city hall, and it's obviously a really personal choice, but I do have a few more general tips. Don't be afraid of wearing something colorful or unconventional! Try to avoid a long dress with a train that will drag behind you; even if we're just shooting inside the marriage bureau and a little outside the doors, the ground is DIRTY and you probably don't want to be thinking about holding up your dress or keeping it clean while we're moving around, taking/shooting on the subway, etc. Also, if it's going to be cold out, think about wearing a coat you don't mind photographed. We can take coats off for a few photos outside but I like to shoot elopement days as they happen; if it was cold and wet out, let's lean into the romance of NYC on a rainy day. And wear shoes you can walk in!

How early should we arrive?

Since city hall ceremonies are by appointment now, there's no need to arrive an hour early to wait in line. I like to plan to meet up about 15 minutes before your scheduled ceremony time, but that's mostly to allow a little extra time for traffic or other delays.

What should we bring with us?

You don't need much; the city clerk's office will provide an officiant and I can be your witness! Just bring the same ID you used to get your marriage license, the $25 marriage ceremony fee (payable by credit card or money order), a sturdy folder to hold your marriage license and any other documents, and a bottle of water if you'll need it (there's none inside). Besides that, try to travel as light as possible and condense everything you're bringing to a single tote bag, if you can, so I can handle/hold it in between photo spots.

How long will we be inside the marriage bureau?

The whole process usually takes between 25 and 45 minutes. It's a lot quicker now that you can make a ceremony appointment (compared to the pre-pandemic free-for-all), but we're still likely to have some downtime while we wait, which we can use for photos!

What if it rains or snows?

Who brings the confetti?

I'll bring a couple of clear umbrellas, and hand warmers if needed, and we'll lean into the weather! If there's a downpour or blizzard in the forecast and rescheduling is an option, we'll discuss ahead of time, but if there's just a little rain or snow we'll find a few covered spots for photos and brave the weather (either with or without umbrellas) otherwise!

I do!