Planning Your San Francisco City Hall Wedding: Everything You Need to Know

capturing heartfelt love stories

If you’ve ever stepped foot inside San Francisco City Hall, you know it’s one of the most jaw-dropping wedding venues in California, and if you haven’t… this is your sign to go see it! It truly deserves way more credit! From the architecture to the lighting and history… It’s all just insanely romantic! And even if you’re planning something small and intentional or a full wedding day celebration, the San Francisco City Hall gives you so much creative freedom (and gorgeous backdrops) to work with.

A candid shot of a couple leaning against a stone railing in a magnificent, ornately decorated hall. They are holding hands and smiling at each other.

A black and white image of a bride sitting on a sunlit window ledge while the groom stands next to her.

The bride leaning against the groom while they sit on the staircase at the San Francisco City Hall after their wedding.

In this blog, I’m breaking down everything you need to know about planning your San Francisco City Hall wedding, like how to use the space to your advantage, photography tips, timelines info, and real vendor recs that will make your day seamless!

The bride and groom stand on a balcony overlooking the grand interior of a public building. They are looking down and holding hands.

A couple walking down a long, arched hallway, bathed in natural light. This is a classic shot from a San Francisco City Hall wedding.

Why Choose San Francisco City Hall for Your Wedding?

For couples who want something elegant but not traditional, timeless but not boring, the SF City Hall is kind of the dream spot! It has amazing marble floors, staircases, high arched windows, and that massive rotunda dome; you really don’t have to do much to make it feel special; the space is the vibe!

If you’re hosting an intimate ceremony or planning a full wedding day with guests, San Francisco City Hall offers:

Stunning natural light all day (especially mid-morning to early afternoon)
A central location in the city (tons of photo spots nearby!)
Affordable permits compared to most California wedding venues
Options for small ceremonies or full receptions

The San Francisco City Hall is a non-negotiable option, it’s so versatile for any couple and it gave us so much variety to play with throughout the day!

The bride and groom running through the hallways of the San Francisco City Hall for their San Francisco City Hall Wedding

A far away shot of the bride and groom runnind down the grand staircase at the San Francisco City Hall

Ceremony Options at San Francisco City Hall

You’ve got three main options depending on your guest count and vision:

1. Civil Ceremony (Standard Rotunda)

This is the classic 10-guest, 10-minute weekday ceremony that happens at the top of every hour. You can book it online here and show up 30 minutes early. It’s fast, no extra stress, and still gives you access to the space for photos afterward!

The bride and groom leaning over the balcony on the 3rd floor of the San Francisco City Hall

A black and white photo of a bride and groom leaning against the railing of the rotunda room at the San Francisco City Hal

2. One-Hour Reserved Ceremony (Mayor’s Balcony or 4th Floor)

If you want privacy and a little more time to breathe, I would book the Mayor’s Balcony or 4th Floor Gallery because both offer incredible views and dreamy lighting! You’ll work directly with City Hall staff to secure a time slot (usually Fridays), and you can bring up to 100 guests.

Pricing and details here: City Hall Wedding Info

A wide shot of the bride and groom leaning over the balcony on the 3rd floor of the San Francisco City Hall

The bride and groom leaning over the stone railing at the San Francisco City Hall for their San Francisco City Hall wedding.

A black and white photo of a couple walking up a staircase, holding hands and looking back. This is a romantic moment from a San Francisco City Hall wedding.

3. Evening or Weekend Full Buyout

Yes, you can rent out the entire City Hall for your wedding! This is a popular option for couples hosting 100+ guests and planning a full ceremony + reception. Rentals start at $5k+ and go up depending on the time of year and guest count.

My recommendation for your timeline would be to do the 4th Floor for your private ceremony, followed by couple portraits, family photos, and then a full reception at a nearby venue. That way you can have the perfect balance of elegance and intimacy! One thing I love about San Francisco City Hall weddings is that even though it’s a common place, every single wedding I’ve photographed there feels different and unique to each couple!

A stunning vertical photo of the bride and groom smiling at each other and leaning against the stone railing at the San Francisco City Hall with a view of the rotunda above them.

The bride seating on the ledge of the stone railing while the groom holds her. Both smiling softly at the San Francisco City Hall

Best Time of Day to Get Married at the San Francisco City Hall

The best light inside San Francisco City Hall is usually between 10 AM and 1 PM, especially on sunny or slightly overcast days. That’s when the sunlight filters in through the giant windows on the upper floors and creates those soft, glowing shadows you see in editorial wedding photos! Lighting changes a lot inside City Hall depending on the time of day. Here’s what I’ve learned after shooting here:

Mid-morning (9–11 am) tends to have the best soft light filtering through the windows, especially on the upper floors.
Afternoons can get busy, and the light gets harsher, especially if it’s sunny outside.
Early morning weekday ceremonies are ideal if you want the space to feel less crowded and more intimate.

A couple walks down a grand staircase in a massive, ornate building, holding hands and looking at each other.

Pro tip: Avoid Fridays around noon, as it gets crowded with tourists and other couples. Also, make sure you give yourself enough buffer time between the ceremony and portraits. You’ll want time to move around the building, stop for family photos, and actually soak it all in. I love getting bride and groom portraits with that glowy lighting!

A woman sits on a sunlit window ledge while the man stands next to her, as if in mid-conversation.

A black and white photo of a couple holding hands and walking away down a long, elegant hallway with a decorative, vaulted ceiling.

What to Expect for Your San Francisco City Hall Wedding

City Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 8 PM, but public weddings and ceremonies only happen on weekdays. Here’s what to prep for ahead of time:

Marriage License: Make your appointment online here and bring ID for both partners.
Security: You’ll go through a screening (like at the airport) upon entry, so definitely plan some extra time for this!
Timing: You have to arrive 30 minutes before your ceremony time.
Guests: Keep the 6–10 person limit in mind if you’re doing a civil ceremony.
Vendors: Photographers and planners don’t count toward your guest total!

And heads up, there’s limited cell service in parts of the building, so make sure everyone (especially your photographer and planner) has the timeline and meeting spot locked down ahead of time!

A couple poses while sitting on a balcony ledge, with the elaborate arches and carvings of the building in the background. A beautiful shot from their San Francisco City Hall wedding.

A couple leans against a corner wall, looking at each other. A sweet and candid moment from their San Francisco City Hall wedding.

Creative Ways to Use the Space for Your Photos

One of the best parts about the San Francisco City Hall is how versatile it is for photos. From editorial staircases to an intimate corner with beautiful lighting, you can make it your own. Here are some shots I love:

The 4th floor gallery’s natural light for romantic portraits
Wide shots in the rotunda for timeless bride and groom photos
Candid moments on the grand staircase (couples walking, etc.)
Moody elevator or hallway photos with a vintage vibe (literally my fave!)
Exterior shots with SF architecture or nearby Civic Center buildings

A couple stands holding hands in a brightly lit hall with tall columns and intricate light fixtures. They are smiling and looking at each other.

An overhead shot shows a couple standing on a balcony near a large decorative clock, a classic backdrop for a San Francisco City Hall wedding.

One thing I love to do after ceremonies here is walk through the hallways, stairwells, balconies, and outside spaces to tell the full story of the wedding day! If you want to keep things moving smoothly, I recommend creating a mini shot list and walking through the space a few weeks beforehand if you’re local!

A couple stands together in a hallway, leaning against a pillar and looking at each other.

A couple stands together in a sun-drenched hallway, their bodies close together in a sweet embrace.

Logistics That Make Your City Hall Wedding Smoother

Bring a Point Person: Since City Hall weddings move fast (especially the public ceremonies), having a planner or even just a trusted friend to handle paperwork, guests, or flowers will help you relax and enjoy.

Booking a Private Ceremony Spot: Instead of just doing the public Rotunda ceremony, you can actually reserve one of the private rooms upstairs. It costs extra, but you get way more privacy and space for guests (and less stress about crowds).

Post-City Hall Celebrations: A lot of couples book a nearby restaurant or bar for a dinner or reception afterward. Spots like Absinthe, Foreign Cinema, or Wayfare Tavern are popular and give you that San Francisco feel without needing a giant venue, but they book up fast so I recommend reserving early!

A wide shot from a high angle showing a couple walking up a grand staircase, holding hands and looking at each other. An iconic San Francisco City Hall wedding photo.

A black and white photo of a couple posing on a ledge. The woman is sitting and holding the man's face as he leans in close. A tender moment from their San Francisco City Hall wedding.

Looking for a San Francisco Wedding Photographer?

If you’re dreaming up your own San Francisco City Hall wedding and want someone who knows how to make the most of the space, like the lighting, timing, logistics, all of it, I’d love to connect!

I specialize in real, intimate, artful wedding photography and absolutely love helping couples create a City Hall wedding that still feels full and intentional. You can check out more of my work here, or you can fill out an inquiry form to see if I have your wedding date open!

Back to the Blog

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum sit amet.

THE TITLE OF YOUR BLOG POST GOES RIGHT HERE

Write something here as well.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit sedii.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh.

A

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad mis.

P

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, se.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Euismod.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, se. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad misdtg acemi.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Euismoii.

Write the most important information about your blog post right here to attract your reader's attention.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscini.

C

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit sed.

A

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. .

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore.

Write the most important information about your blog post right here to attract your reader's attention. Write the most important information

Back to the Blog

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, con sectenuim tuer adipiscing elit, sed dias aii

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum sit amet.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore ipsum sit amet.