San Francisco City Hall Wedding Guide (2025–2026)

Planning advice from a local wedding photographer

Updated September 2025 to include new planning tips for 2025–2026 weddings

Hey there! So you’re planning a San Francisco City Hall wedding?

Awesome! As a San Francisco City Hall wedding photographer who has photographed hundreds of weddings at city hall, I’ve put together this guide to help you plan the perfect ceremony for you and your partner. 

Here’s what you’ll find in this guide:

• The different types of ceremonies SF city hall offers and what to expect
• Advice on when to schedule your ceremony (day of the week and time of day)
• Questions for you to consider to help you plan a whole wedding day that suits you well
• Tips on transportation to and from city hall
• Recommendations for where to stay for out-of-town couples
  

 

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San Francisco City Hall Wedding Options: Which One Is Right for You?

Below are the three most common types of San Francisco City Hall weddings. Continue reading for an overview of each one.

• A civil ceremony
• A private one-hour rental of the Mayor’s Balcony or 4th Floor Gallery
• A private two-hour Saturday rental of the entire building
  

 

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The Civil Ceremony at San Francisco City Hall

 

When: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Cost: $111
Guests: 6 (though most couples bring a few more and get away with it)
Booking window: 90 days in advance

The civil ceremony is the easiest and most popular way to get married at City Hall, and it only costs $111! This is probably the most affordable and gorgeous way to get married in California or maybe even the U.S.! The ceremony takes all of 5 minutes, maybe less, and follows a standard script.

Key Restrictions to Keep in Mind When Planning a Civil Ceremony

There are some key restrictions to keep in mind when planning a civil ceremony that will help you decide if this is the best route for you or not. The one most people are concerned about is the official 6 person guest limit (including your photographer), but the truth is you can likely get away with bringing a few more. (Check out the photos for evidence of that.) Most of the weddings I photograph bring a few more and the marriage commissioner is welcoming to all. Occasionally, you might get someone who is a stickler for the rules. I’ve photographed tons of weddings at city hall and only once have I seen the guest limit strictly enforced. If you work with me as your photographer I’ll talk you through what to expect for your wedding plans.

While the large majority of civil ceremonies at city hall are performed under the rotunda at the top of the grand staircase, occasionally the rotunda is not available and then weddings are performed elsewhere in the building. Your marriage commissioner will let you know when you check in for your ceremony where the ceremony will happen. The good news is the entire building is gorgeous so you can’t go wrong!

Another restriction is that you can only book your ceremony 90 days in advance or less, but because San Francisco City Hall civil ceremony appointments are popular and they book up in advance like concert tickets, realistically you’ll probably have a booking window of about 60–90 days in advance. 

A new and crucial piece of information as of 2025 is that City Hall is now releasing the new appointments at 9 a.m., 90 days in advance. It used to be at midnight but that is no longer the case. If you have your heart set on a specific date you’ll need to plan in advance! 

I recommend booking your marriage license appointment after, NOT before, getting your wedding ceremony appointment. The city hall website has the option to book them together but skip that and book each appointment separately.

And did you know that you can pick up a marriage license anywhere in California within 90 days of your ceremony? It could be more convenient for you to pick it up locally to where you live than making an additional trip to city hall for your license.

If you decide this is the way you want to get married, there are lots of ways to make your day special before or after the ceremony — from private vows to beautiful photo locations in San Francisco. I have lots of experience and many ideas to share with you. Please fill out my contact form to find out if I am available on the date you are planning and to receive more information.

Best fit for: Couples who want a small, low-fuss wedding in a beautiful setting and don’t mind the 90-day booking window.

 

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How does a private ceremony differ from a civil ceremony at San Francisco City Hall? 

A private ceremony allows you to:

• Invite more guests
• Exchange your own vows
• Hire musicians
• Add floral arrangements
• Enjoy private time for family photos

 

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Private Ceremonies: Mayor’s Balcony and 4th Floor Weddings

 

 

When: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Cost: $1,200 + chair rental fees
Guest limits: 60 seated (4th Floor) / 40 seated (Mayor’s Balcony)

If you want to invite more guests and have the ability to customize your ceremony, you can reserve the Mayor’s Balcony or the 4th Floor Gallery for a private ceremony for one hour. While both are absolutely beautiful options, I will say the natural light is gorgeous on the 4th Floor so I personally prefer it.

Reservations typically open 4–6 months in advance, though sometimes you’ll get lucky and find an earlier opening. While you can technically use a City Hall commissioner, I strongly recommend bringing your own officiant (a professional or a friend) so you can personalize the experience and most of all, start on time since you only have one hour!

Most weddings I see that happen on the Mayor’s Balcony or the 4th Floor have about 25–50 guests, hire musicians, an officiant or ask a friend to marry them, and hire a photographer. Sometimes folks hire a wedding planner or sometimes they manage the planning on their own. Most of these weddings will then host a reception at a nearby restaurant with their guests. Coordinating all of those moving pieces will realistically take 6 months or more. 

Best fit for: Couples who want to invite more guests, who have about 6 months or more to plan, and who want more privacy and more control over their ceremony.

Though I want to point out that sometimes weddings on the Mayor’s Balcony or 4th Floor are very simple and can be planned in less than 6 months. These weddings usually have a small guest count, such as 20 or fewer, and just hire an officiant and photographer. You can consider this an upgraded experience to the civil ceremony. The big benefit being that you can officially bring more than 6 guests and you can exchange your own vows.

 

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Private Saturday Rental of the Entire San Francisco City Hall

When: Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. or 12:00 p.m.
Cost: $6,000
Guests: 200+

This is a very special San Francisco City Hall wedding experience. You’ll have the entire building to yourselves for two hours, and you can even hold your ceremony on the grand staircase. Though you can technically have 200 or more guests, most people still keep the guest count smaller since you only have 2 hours total in the building so it’s important that you can easily get people in and out of the building within the allotted time frame.

At the time of writing the first openly available slot is about 18 months out, though you could potentially get a slot that is 12–16 months out if you go through the process of placing a challenge on someone else’s hold.

Most Saturday morning private SF City Hall weddings I see hire musicians, an officiant, and a photographer. They might hire a wedding planner and maybe a florist to do a quick installation of flowers at the ceremony site. You’ll want to keep it simple enough with flowers because the 2 hours limit also applies to your florist, including load in and load out. Most of these weddings will then host a reception at a nearby restaurant with their guests.

Best fit for: Couples who are ok taking about 18 months to plan their wedding so they can have the very special experience of exchanging their vows on the grand staircase.

Lastly, you can also rent the entire building for a Saturday evening event for $12,000, which requires a year or more of planning and a professional wedding planner.

 

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To learn more about working with me as your city hall wedding photographer by click here.

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Planning the Best Time for Your Ceremony

Once you’ve chosen the type of ceremony, think about when you’d like to get married.

Busiest days: Fridays (especially afternoons).

Quietest days: Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Mondays are usually calmer too.

 

Busiest hours: 12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. Afternoons are less busy mid-week than Fridays.

Quietest hours: 9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

Things to watch for: Friday afternoons can be impacted by private rentals, with parts of City Hall closed off for event installations.

As you can see from above Fridays are by far the busiest days for weddings at city hall. I give Mondays and Thursdays a “medium” rating for busyness by comparison, and Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be much quieter even in the middle of the day. And yes, City Hall is quietest at 9 a.m. but that doesn’t mean you have to book a 9 a.m. ceremony if that will be a burden on you. If you’re getting professional hair and makeup, an early morning ceremony can be stressful and may require you to start at 5am. (You may also have a hard time finding a hair and makeup artist who will start before 7am.) So when it comes to picking a time, don’t lose sight of the big picture — you’re getting married! Remember to plan a day you will enjoy.

Here’s a little insider tip – SF City Hall also starts to empty out at the end of the day so you can benefit from that if you book a 3:00 or 3:30 p.m. slot and linger for photos on the stairs around 4:00 – 4:30pm.

 

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Questions to Help You Decide Which Type of City Hall Ceremony Is the Best Fit for You

• Are you comfortable with a short ceremony and a small guest list?
  → If yes, a civil ceremony might be perfect.

 

• Would you prefer a longer, custom ceremony in front of more friends and family?
  → Consider a private ceremony on the Mayor’s Balcony or 4th Floor or a Saturday private rental.

 

• Do you want to celebrate over a meal afterward with your guests?
  → Many couples do this, whether they have a civil or private ceremony. Your budget will help determine how many guests you choose to invite. If your guest list is small, around 6 or so, a civil ceremony will work great. If your guest list is larger, a private ceremony is probably best.

 

• Do you want photos at scenic San Francisco locations in your wedding clothes?
  → There are so many gorgeous places to take photos in San Francisco and couples often enjoy getting photos at a second or third location. I have tons of stunning locations to suggest.

 

With these details in mind, you’ll be ready to choose the right ceremony type and start planning a wedding day at San Francisco City Hall that feels perfect for you. After you book your ceremony you’ll want to move on to some logistics. Read on for my tips on transportation to and from city hall on your wedding day and where to stay for out-of-town couples. 

 

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Transportation: Getting to and from San Francisco City Hall

You’ll want to plan in advance how you’ll get yourself (and possibly your guests) to City Hall. Here are the most common options, with pros and cons to consider:

🚗 Drive Yourself

Pros: Convenient if you have a car, and there is affordable parking nearby. I recommend parking at the closest lot located at 355 McAllister St. It will take you about 5-10 minutes to park and 5 minutes to walk across the street to City Hall.

Cons: Traffic can be unpredictable in general. Sometimes in the afternoons the lot at 355 McAllister St gets full and then you’ll have to look for parking somewhere else. If you’re driving, plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your ceremony to allow time for parking.

🚐 Hire a Driver

Pros: This is a stress-free way to go! A limo, shuttle, taxi, Lyft, or Uber can drop you right at the front doors.

Best for: Couples with guests to coordinate or anyone who wants to avoid parking stress. I especially recommend a shuttle for larger groups on a tight timeline. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your ceremony.

🚋 Public Transportation

Pros: Affordable and very “San Francisco.” The F-Market streetcar is especially fun — each car is a vintage beauty collected from around the world. Great for photos!

Cons: Avoid during rush hour, when it can get crowded and slow.

⚾ Watch Out for Giants Games
If the San Francisco Giants are playing a home game the same day, traffic can be a nightmare. If that happens, plan your reception or photo shoot west of City Hall (away from the stadium and downtown congestion).

✨ Fun Idea: I have seen people rent a cable car trolley to shuttle their guests around on their wedding day and stop off at beautiful SF photo locations — such a fun and truly San Francisco experience!

 

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Where to Stay (for Out-of-Town Couples)

Choosing the right neighborhood makes a big difference in your experience.

• Avoid: Hotels in the Tenderloin (very close to City Hall, but not the best environment for guests).
• Great Option: Hayes Valley, a charming residential area just a few blocks away, with Airbnbs and boutique rentals.
• Other Choices: San Francisco has plenty of hotels and rentals — just be sure to research each neighborhood before booking.

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I hope that was helpful!

Learn more about what it’s like to work with me as your city hall wedding photographer and view my pricing information by clicking here.

 

 

 

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Want some creative inspiration from real weddings? Want to see what a full day might feel like? Enjoy these weddings on the blog.

• View Eden + CK’s Civil Ceremony. Highlights include a first look, photos on Nob Hill, photos at Baker Beach, a civil ceremony in the rotunda followed by a personal vow exchange on the 4th Floor, all within 4 hours of coverage
• View Samantha + Eivind’s Civil Ceremony. These two have a romantic story and a special connection. They signed up for 90 minutes of coverage.
• View Amy + Adrian’s private wedding on the Mayor’s Balcony. They also walked over to a nearby restaurant in Hayes Valley and hosted a reception for their guests, all within 4 hours of coverage.
• View C+L’s private wedding on the 4th Floor and get some creative inspiration for your wedding too! Highlights include getting ready photos before the ceremony, a bubble exit leaving city hall, a ride on a cable car trolley with their guests and a reception at a restaurant. They signed up for 6 hours of coverage.
• View K+K’s private 2 hour Saturday rental of San Francisco City Hall. Highlights include their ceremony on the grand staircase, a fantastic grand exit, and photos at Rodeo Beach and my favorite viewpoint of the Golden Gate Bridge. They signed up for 4 hours of coverage

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