The Ultimate San Francisco City Hall Weddings Planning Guide
(with pricing, photos, and videos)
San Francisco City Hall Weddings are one of the most common ceremonies each week, so I made this guide to help in your planning and make it easy! With over 200 weddings photographed there, I created this ultimate planning guide to help answer the most common questions to San Francisco City Hall Weddings.
Don’t forget to BOOKMARK (command + D) this page to reference it throughout your planning process!
Why San Francisco City Hall Weddings?
With architecture better than actual wedding venues, San Francisco City Hall is the best compromise between a gorgeous wedding venue and price! For $200, you can get the marriage license and have a ceremony all within a few hours for a no hassle approach to your wedding. With almost 200 couples every week getting married here, the City and County of SF has made it a pretty straightforward process to get married. All it takes is filling out basic paperwork, getting a marriage license, and having a 5 minute ceremony to officially become a married couple. For those couples who prefer an intimate “just us” experience versus planning a larger celebration, having your wedding at San Francisco City Hall is the best route!
All You Need to Know for Booking San Francisco City Hall Weddings :
Get a Marriage License and Book a Civil Ceremony Appointment
These are two separate appointments and can be done on two different days if you want (to avoid stress on the wedding day).
Monday – Friday 8:15AM – 3:30PM
Marriage licenses cost $110 and last 90 days.
Civil ceremonies cost $90
Ceremonies done at the Rotunda with a max of 6 guests
Book the Mayor’s Balcony or the 4th Floor (optional)
Monday – Friday 9AM – 3PM
$1000 1 hour rental fee
Can fit up to 60 seated guests (40 for the Balcony, 60 for the 4th floor). Chair rentals are an additional fee.
North Side of the 4th Floor is suggested for better lighting
Musicians can be used from this approved list
You will need your own officiant to get the most out of this space. Or you can have someone you know get ordained and do it
How much do San Francisco City Hall Weddings Cost?
San Francisco City Hall weddings require both a marriage license and a ceremony to make it official.
Civil ceremonies cost $90
How much does a San Francisco City Hall Marriage License Cost?
San Francisco City Hall weddings require both a marriage license and a ceremony to make it official.
Marriage licenses cost $110 and last 90 days.
2 Steps to Having a Wedding at San Francisco City Hall – Rotunda Ceremony
Check – In to Room 168 (first floor)
It is recommended to have your marriage license appointment at least a day before your wedding day, but you can have it up to one hour before your wedding ceremony time if you want it all done in one day.
10 minutes prior to your ceremony time, check in again at room 168. Don’t forget your IDs!
You will get a number. Wait times vary from 5 – 15 minutes for your number to be called.
Sign marriage certificate with up to 2 witnesses and legalize the marriage!
Wedding Ceremony (2nd floor Rotunda)
Make your way to the Rotunda
There is approximately a 5 – 15 minute wait until your ceremony so you have time to take relax, take photos, or make any adjustments
90% of the time your ceremony will not start at the designated time – so don’t stress!
Ceremonies last anywhere from 5-8 minutes depending on the Judge
How to Have a Wedding at San Francisco City Hall – Mayor’s Balcony / Fourth Floor Ceremony
Wedding Ceremony
Make your way to the ceremony location
Chairs (if purchased) will be set up and the area cordoned off with rope
Ceremonies last anywhere from 10 – 20 minutes depending on your officiant (additional vendor to hire)
Your Officiant will need up to 2 witnesses to sign the marriage certificate after the ceremony