San Francisco City Hall wedding photographer · Civic Center, San Francisco
City Hall
Get married under the gold dome.
- Location
- Civic Center, SF
- Civil ceremony
- 6 guests or fewer
- City fees
- $129 license + $113
- Open
- Mon to Fri, 8 to 6
San Francisco City Hall wedding venue · Civic Center
A working government building. That looks like a palace.
San Francisco City Hall opened in 1915. Arthur Brown Jr. designed it in the Beaux-Arts style, the dome is 306 feet tall and gilded in 24-karat gold, and the Rotunda floor is pink Tennessee marble. It is a National Historic Landmark and the city calls it the People's Palace.
You can get married here two ways. A civil ceremony through the County Clerk for six guests or fewer, on a weekday, with an officiant provided. Or a private rental through the City Hall Events Office for bigger groups, Saturdays and evenings.
I'm a Truckee-based documentary wedding photographer and I've photographed an elopement here. Below is what the city says you need to know, plus what I'd tell a friend.
San Francisco City Hall wedding venue · The details
What it’s actually like.
Rotunda · Grand staircase · Gold dome
City Hall
San Francisco, California
Marble everywhere, iron railings, big arched windows and a dome you can see from the plaza. A civil ceremony is quick and simple. Then you have the whole building and Civic Center outside to make pictures in.
- Address
- 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102
- Civil ceremonies
- Monday to Friday, every half hour from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. By appointment only. No walk-ins.
- Guest limit
- 6 guests or fewer for a civil ceremony. Up to 499 with a private rental.
- Officiant
- Provided for civil ceremonies. Bring your own for private packages.
- Ceremony spot
- The clerk's staff choose it, not you
- Building hours
- Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
- My favorite spot
- The side stairwells. Marble, iron and light from above.
Four ways to do it · Starting prices as of November 2026
6 guests or fewer · Weekdays
Civil ceremony
$113 + $129 license
Through the County Clerk. Officiant provided. Book online, bring your license and ID, arrive 15 minutes early.
Up to 100 guests · Weekdays
One-hour wedding
Starting at $1,200
Mayor's Balcony or the Fourth Floor Gallery. Bring your own officiant. Book at least 4 weeks out.
Up to 200 guests · Saturdays
Two-hour wedding
Starting at $6,000
In the Rotunda, 9:00 to 11:00 am or noon to 2:00 pm. Upper floors not included.
Up to 499 guests · Not Tuesdays
Evening wedding
Starting at $12,000
The full evening, weekdays and weekends. Second-floor access included.
Pricing comes from the City and County of San Francisco and can change.
San Francisco City Hall · Where to take pictures
The whole building is the backdrop.
The Rotunda
The four-story center of the building. Pink Tennessee marble floor, limestone walls and the dome above it.
The grand staircase
The marble stairs everyone comes for. When an evening event is setting up, they close to the public. Check before you go.
The gold dome
306 feet tall and gilded in 24-karat gold. Best seen from the plaza and the front steps.
The Mayor's Balcony
A semi-private space overlooking the Rotunda and the grand staircase. One of the two one-hour wedding spots.
Fourth Floor Gallery
Natural light and views of the dome and the Rotunda. The other one-hour wedding spot.
The light courts
The North and South Light Courts on the first floor. Bright, open and good when the Rotunda is busy.
The side stairwells
My favorite. Iron railings, marble steps and light coming down from above. Look straight down the middle.
Outside
The front steps, the plaza and Civic Center. Blue sky days here are as good as the inside.
Getting to San Francisco City Hall
Getting there. And getting in.
BART
Get off at Civic Center, at Market and 8th. Walk two blocks west on Grove Street past Civic Center Plaza.
Parking
Meters on Van Ness, McAllister, Grove and Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place. Garages at 355 McAllister and 360 Grove.
Hours
City Hall is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Civil ceremonies run every half hour from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrances on Van Ness Avenue and Grove Street. Elevators and accessible restrooms on every floor.
San Francisco City Hall wedding gallery
See it in real life.
Daniel & NicoleA real San Francisco City Hall elopement
See the gallery
Daniel & Nicole also did a Sugar Bowl wedding. Two shoots, double the fun.Full portfolio
San Francisco City Hall wedding planning tips
Things nobody tells you.
01
Get the license first.
Licenses are not sold on the day of your civil ceremony. Get it ahead of time and bring the original. It is good for 90 days.
02
Count everyone.
Six guests or fewer for a civil ceremony. Plan the list like the limit is real, because it is.
03
Show up early.
The city asks for 15 minutes early. Give yourself a little extra on top of that so nobody is rushing.
04
Check the Rotunda closures.
If an evening event is loading in, the grand staircase is off-limits for photos. The dates are posted on sf.gov.
05
Leave the confetti at home.
No rice, confetti or flower petals, inside or outside the building. Bouquets are fine.
06
Book time for pictures.
The paperwork is the short part. Give yourself time to wander the building and get outside on the plaza.
San Francisco City Hall wedding FAQ
Questions couples actually ask.
Do I need an appointment to get married at San Francisco City Hall?
Yes. Civil ceremonies are by reservation only and walk-ins are not allowed. You book through the County Clerk's online portal. Appointments run Monday through Friday every half hour from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, and the officiant is provided.
How many guests can come to a civil ceremony at City Hall?
Six or fewer. If you want more people there, or a weekend date, you book a space through the City Hall Events Office instead.
How much does it cost to get married at San Francisco City Hall?
As of July 1, 2026 the County Clerk lists $129 for a marriage license and $113 for a civil ceremony at City Hall. Private packages through the City Hall Events Office start at $1,200 for a one-hour weekday wedding, $6,000 for a two-hour Saturday wedding in the Rotunda and $12,000 for an evening wedding. Prices change, so check the city's pages before you book.
What do we need to bring to a City Hall civil ceremony?
Your original California marriage license, issued within 90 days of the ceremony, and valid government photo ID for each of you. Photocopies are not accepted and licenses are not sold on the day of your ceremony. A public license needs one witness and a confidential license needs none. Clerk staff cannot be your witness. Arrive 15 minutes early.
Where in City Hall does the civil ceremony happen?
The County Clerk's office is in Room 160. The clerk's staff decide where in the building the ceremony happens, not the couple. Plan your portraits for before or after.
Where are the best photo spots at San Francisco City Hall?
The grand staircase, the Rotunda, the upper floors, the side stairwells and the front steps on the plaza are all great. When an evening event is setting up, the Rotunda and its stairs close to the public and are off-limits for photos. The city posts those closures online, so check them the day of.
Can we have more guests or a weekend wedding at City Hall?
Yes, through the City Hall Events Office. One-hour weekday weddings are on the Mayor's Balcony or the Fourth Floor Gallery for up to 100 guests. Two-hour Saturday weddings are in the Rotunda for up to 200 guests. Evening weddings go up to 499 guests and are not available on Tuesdays. For these you bring your own officiant and your own license.
Where do we park for a City Hall wedding?
There is metered parking on Van Ness, McAllister, Grove and Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place. The closest garages are the Civic Center Garage at 355 McAllister Street and the Performing Arts Garage at 360 Grove Street. BART stops at Civic Center, about two blocks away.
Does Wade Snider photograph San Francisco City Hall elopements?
Yes. I photographed Daniel and Nicole's elopement at City Hall and I travel from Truckee to San Francisco and the Bay Area for elopements and small weddings. Send your date through the contact page and I'll tell you if I'm free.
Planning a City Hall wedding?
Let's make it more than paperwork.
Send your date and your appointment time. I'll tell you if I'm free and how I'd plan the time around the building.
Check availability See pricing