After 3,000 SF City Hall weddings, 5 Expert Tips Every Couple Should Know
Planning a San Francisco City Hall wedding is unlike planning a wedding anywhere else. After helping more than 3,000 couples celebrate everything from intimate San Francisco civil ceremonies to elaborate SF City Hall weddings, we've put together a list of five expert tips that every couple should know before they say, “I do.”
Most couples think they'll be married in ten minutes. (They won’t!)
Very often, when a couple reaches out to me to inquire about San Francisco City Hall wedding photography, they tell me they are looking for only one hour of wedding or elopement photography. They assure me that they are having a quick civil ceremony and that they couldn't possibly be in the building for longer than one hour. They are almost right! The actual ceremony does take about seven to ten minutes. However....I'm going to give you an actual itinerary of how I would plan your SF City Hall civil wedding ceremony and photography session. Let's say that your wedding is at a very civilized 2:00 pm on a Friday. This is the most requested time and the busiest day of the week. For each time slot, City Hall will book three couples. So if you have a 2:00 slot, two other couples do too. Each couple checks in individually, and all three couples head upstairs with their guests to wait for their wedding ceremony.
Here is an example of a mid-day itinerary with our team at SF City Hall when they have a civil ceremony:
1:00pm The couple arrives at SF City Hall and lines up for the sheriff's screening.
1:10pm The two of you walk into the main atrium and meet me at the bottom of the grand staircase. It's going to be very busy on the staircase at that time, with other couples taking pictures, so we'll head upstairs to the second and third floors to start your wedding photography. In the 45 minutes before your ceremony, we'll cover the bulk of your couples session.
1:30pm I'll check in on the grand staircase to see if it's available yet. It's still busy, so I'll take some fun and flirty pictures in the famous City Hall elevators and have you pose in the internal stairwells, which are becoming very popular now.
1:45pm We have covered wedding photography on three floors of the building, including the third-floor windows and the fourth floor with the stunning domed ceiling. It's now time to head downstairs for the civil ceremony check-in. You take out your valid driver's license or passport and prepare your marriage license for review in room 160. Once they've approved your documents, you wait in the hallway to be called into room 168 with your witness. (If you have booked a confidential marriage license, you won't be required to have a witness. Your photographer is also willing to sign as your witness, if needed)
You could be waiting outside room 168 for anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes; we never know if the office is running on time. Many situations can cause a slowdown, such as a wedding officiant arriving late or another couple with a mistake on their paperwork. But don't worry, everyone gets married before the day is over, and you can always extend your photography session if needed.
2:20pm You have gone upstairs to the rotunda with your guests, waited your turn, and you're married!
2:25pm You have five guests with you, and it's time for family pictures. We'll lead your group over to the beautiful, wide-open second-floor hallway for family portraits and individual pictures if you'd like.
2:40pm The grand staircase is finally open! Now that there's a break in traffic on the beautiful grand staircase, we'll work very purposefully to take all the pictures we'd like. With focus and communication with other photographers, we'll be able to take newlywed portraits so stunning that you'll be in love with them for decades.
2:55-3:00pm It's time for your grand exit and pictures outside of City Hall by the golden doors and on the wide staircase. These pictures can be just of the two of you making your triumphant exit, or can also include your guests.
Brides cry at the proposal, Grooms cry at the ceremony
This is true and one of the most endearing parts of documenting proposals and weddings. I always love seeing the look of shock and awe on the face of the person being proposed to. They didn't see this big moment coming, or maybe they suspected, but didn't know when and where they would be asked to commit to happily ever after. Sudden tears are a very natural reaction to all the emotions suddenly bubbling over. Emotions so big that you're filled to bursting with love, and it has to come out somewhere! But on your wedding day, your partner isn't always expecting that same overflow of emotion, because they were calm and collected (mostly!) at your proposal session… so they think they've got this! And like a sneaker wave on the beach, they find the tide rising unexpectedly as they stare into each other's eyes at the altar, emotions swirling as they read their vows to each other, and often before they realize, their love is overflowing too.
The Biggest Cause of Late Ceremonies? Parking.
This right here is a fact: There are a few things that are level-ten stress makers for couples about to get married, one of which is getting a panicked cell phone call from a parent or grandparent who is late to your wedding because they're circling the block, desperate to find an open parking space outside of San Francisco City Hall. If you aren't a government employee with a special parking permit, you can definately expect a parking ticket if you try to park outside the building and run in quickly. That's not fun, and it's why we always send an email 14 days before each couple's wedding with key things you'll need to know when you're getting married at San Francisco City Hall. You can safely park at 355 McCallister Street in the large, underground garage in front of San Francisco City Hall. Officially, it's known as Civic Center Garage. Grab a ticket on the way in, park, and pay at ground level before returning to your car.
Everyone Wants the Grand Staircase Photo
The easiest way to accomplish your dream wedding photography on the City Hall grand staircase is with a solid plan. If you've been stalking City Hall weddings on the socials and dream of your own incredibly romantic couple's pictures hanging in your home, then I bet you've heard that coming into the building early is the key. And it really is, because most people really don't want to get up early on their wedding day, but it's absolutely worth it. We have hair and makeup artists on our team who can start prepping you as early as 5:30 am, if you would like. We can also create hair and makeup for others who will be with you on your wedding day, after you are finished, so you can get out the door earlier.
If you plan to arrive at the front door of City Hall before they open promptly at 8:00 am, you will be first on the staircase and can enjoy the fruits of your hard work. The building is still and quiet, and it's a beautiful feeling to take unhurried wedding photography in this spectacular architecture. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often the slower days of the week. I would avoid Fridays if you want less competition for the prime spots, even at 8:00 am. You may also book pre- or post-wedding photography if you would like to come in on a different day than your wedding day, so you don't have a schedule and wedding-day jitters to contend with. We can Photoshop other people out, but you'll have a much more romantic and enjoyable session if there aren't a lot of other people rushing by you up and down the staircase, and if the noise level in the building is very quiet.
Don't Be Surprised When Complete Strangers Cheer for Your First Kiss
The feeling of community, love, and support is always a surprise for couples having their civil ceremonies at San Francisco City Hall. You'll see newlyweds and their families from every corner of the world, all choosing to have joyful and affordable weddings at this venue. But what most people never see coming is camaraderie, quiet smiles, and well-wishes from other brides or grooms waiting in line to check into room 168 for their city hall wedding officiant to sign their marriage license before their ceremony. All the brides are secretly enjoying the array of beautiful bridal styles everywhere they glance. From ballgowns to short and sassy, long trains and wedding veils, to jumpsuits and boldly colored saris, you will see every style imaginable in a single visit. And yes, when it's your turn to get married and seal it with a kiss, anyone within view WILL cheer and clap for you!
If you're researching San Francisco City Hall wedding packages, wondering what to expect on your wedding day, or simply looking for insider advice from a team that knows City Hall inside and out, you're in the right place. While every love story is unique, there are a few things we see happen again and again, and knowing them ahead of time can make your wedding day even more enjoyable.
