The Luxury Guide to San Francisco City Hall Elopements

If you are opting for a standard Public Marriage License and a civil ceremony, California law requires at least one witness to be present to sign your paperwork. Your witness can be a friend, a family member, or even your photographer. If you are eloping completely solo, I am always incredibly honored to officially sign as your legal witness. Please note that if you obtain a Confidential Marriage License instead, no witnesses are required.

The standard civil ceremonies performed by the city-appointed commissioners in the Rotunda are beautiful but strict. Because they operate on a tight daily schedule, the ceremony script is predetermined and lasts about five minutes, leaving no time for custom vows. If sharing personalized vows is a priority for your day, I highly recommend bringing a private officiant or planning a quiet moment where we step away to read your personal letters to each other on a peaceful balcony after the official ceremony.

To ensure your legal appointments go smoothly, you both must present valid, government-issued photo identification. This can be a passport, a driver's license, or a state ID card. The identification must be current and written in English. If you have been married previously, you will also need to know the exact date that your prior marriage legally ended. If it ended within the last 90 days, you must bring a certified copy of the final divorce decree.

A standard civil ceremony costs around 100 dollars, places you in the Rotunda, limits your guest count to six people, and shares the building with the general public. A private rental is a premier option booked through the events department. It costs around 1,000 dollars and grants you one hour of exclusive, cordoned-off access to either the Fourth Floor Galleries or the Mayor's Balcony, allowing you to invite up to forty guests and set up private seating.

Yes, you can absolutely have a creative team document your day. However, if you are participating in a standard civil ceremony, the county clerk strictly enforces the six-person total guest limit. Your videographer, coordinator, or any hair and makeup artists who accompany you into the building will count toward that six-person maximum. If your creative team and family circle exceed six individuals, a private upper-floor rental is the best way to accommodate everyone.

Not at all. Your official ceremony itself will take place in the Rotunda, but once the paperwork is signed and the vows are complete, the entire public footprint of the building is open to us for your portrait session. We can freely explore the sweeping grand staircases, the elegant light-filled hallways, and the majestic upper gallery floors to capture your formal portraits regardless of which ceremony option you choose.

There are absolutely no restrictions on how formal, modern, or creative your wedding wardrobe can be. You will see everything from grand ballgowns to ultra-chic tailored suits. However, the city is incredibly strict regarding celebratory props. Traditional confetti, rice, flower petals, and sparklers are completely prohibited inside and outside the building to protect the historic integrity of the landmark. For a spectacular departure photo, we can utilize elegant ribbon wands or simply capture a joyful, cheering walk down the main exterior limestone steps.