How To Elope At NYC City Hall
How to elope at NYC city hall? How to obtain your marriage bureau license for the wedding or elopement? How to find a wedding photographer for your city hall elopement?
How to elope in New York City
Step 1: Choose Your Courthouse
Manhattan Marriage Bureau (141 Worth Street)
This is the classic, the one you’ve probably seen in all the movies…and in my photographs. It has a fast-paced energy and often a longer line, but it’s peak New York.
Brooklyn Marriage Bureau (209 Joralemon Street)
A bit quieter and slower-paced, with a charm that feels more neighborhood than high-rise. It’s just as beautiful and photogenic as Manhattan, just less crowded and more lowkey.
My best advice: Choose your courthouse based on where you want to take your post-ceremony photos. Manhattan gives you Chinatown, the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, etc. Brooklyn offers brownstone-lined streets, cafes, and less foot traffic.
Step 2: Get Your Marriage License
Before your ceremony, you need to get a marriage license at least 24 hours in advance!!
Apply online through the Project Cupid portal or in-person at the City Clerk’s Office (there may be a wait).
Bring valid ID (passport or driver's license).
It costs $35.
You have to wait at least 24 hours before your ceremony appointment.
Step 3: Book Your Ceremony Appointment
Once you have your license, you can book your ceremony at either the Manhattan or Brooklyn Marriage Bureau.
You’ll choose a date/time via Project Cupid again. You can only book your date & time 3 weeks before the appointment date. (NYC photographers like myself are used to this; we have no problem being flexible around making it work with you).
(The ceremony itself is about 2–5 minutes. No frills! Just the two of you, an officiant, some witnesses and your photographer.
You’ll need:
Your license
A witness (can be your photographer, hi!)
Your ID
Step 4: Book your city hall elopement photographer
I’m biased I guess, but I would love to photograph your city hall elopement. My elopement packages have a 3 hour minimum, which means we spend “up to” three hours together. Think roughly… 30 minutes to check in at city hall, 5 minutes for the ceremony, 10 minutes for celebrations, 20 minutes for family photos, and the remaining time we’ll run around the city hitting cool spots. I photograph your elopement mostly on film and Polaroids, and some digital. You’ll receive image previews within 72 hours of the elopement, and your full gallery with full download and print rights within 5 weeks.
