San Francisco City Hall Elopement in Civic Center, San Francisco, California
Daniel
& Nicole
Just the two of them.
San Francisco City Hall · Civic Center
Paperwork signed. Then the fun part.
Daniel and Nicole eloped at San Francisco City Hall. No guests. Just the two of them. They signed the paperwork and then we spent the rest of the time making pictures in one of the best buildings in California.
Sign the paperwork. Then go take some great pictures.
The building · 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
A 1915 landmark with a gold dome.
City Hall opened in 1915. Arthur Brown Jr. designed it. The dome is 306 feet tall and gilded in gold, and the Rotunda floor is pink Tennessee marble. You do not have to do much to make pictures here. Find the light and stay out of the way of the people who work there.
The paperwork · Daniel & Nicole
Signed, and done.
The legal part was quick. They signed the paperwork and that was it. No aisle, no crowd and no timeline to keep. After that we just wandered the building.
The stairs · Grand staircase and stairwells
Every staircase is a picture.
The grand staircase gets all the attention. The side stairwells are just as good. Marble, iron railings and light coming down from above. We worked it floor by floor.
Outside · Civic Center
Then out into the city.
We finished outside on the plaza and the front steps. Blue sky, City Hall behind them and a cloud of steam rolling down the street. San Francisco does stuff like that. You take it.
A quick preview.
This is just a preview. Ask to see the full gallery
Two shoots · Double the fun
City Hall in the city. Sugar Bowl in the mountains.
Daniel and Nicole did this twice. The big one was their wedding at Sugar Bowl on Donner Summit, with a first look at Rainbow Bridge, a ceremony at the base of the slopes and cocktail hour at the top of the mountain. City Hall was the opposite. Just the two of them, the paperwork and a great building. Two very different days. Same two people.
See their Sugar Bowl weddingFAQ
Eloping at San Francisco City Hall.
Where did Daniel and Nicole elope?
Daniel and Nicole eloped at San Francisco City Hall, just the two of them. They signed their paperwork and then spent the rest of the time taking portraits inside the building and out on Civic Center Plaza. They also had a full wedding at Sugar Bowl on Donner Summit.
Can you elope at San Francisco City Hall?
Yes. The County Clerk runs civil ceremonies at City Hall by appointment, Monday through Friday every half hour from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. The officiant is provided and you can have six guests or fewer. Walk-ins are not allowed.
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. Prices change, so check sf.gov before you book.
What do you 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. Licenses are not sold on the day of the ceremony. A public license needs one witness and a confidential license needs none. Arrive 15 minutes early.
Can you get married at San Francisco City Hall on a weekend?
Civil ceremonies are weekdays only. For a Saturday, the City Hall Events Office offers a two-hour Rotunda wedding starting at $6,000 for up to 200 guests. Evening weddings start at $12,000.
Where are the best photo spots at San Francisco City Hall?
The grand staircase, the Rotunda, the side stairwells, the big arched windows and the front steps on the plaza. When an evening event is setting up, the Rotunda and its stairs close to the public, so check the city's closure list before your day.
Does Wade Snider photograph San Francisco City Hall elopements?
Yes. Wade is based in Truckee and comes down to San Francisco and the Bay Area for City Hall elopements and small weddings. Send your date through the contact page to check availability.
San Francisco, California
Small on purpose. Big on pictures.
Daniel and Nicole's San Francisco City Hall elopement was just the two of them. Signed paperwork, a great building and nobody to perform for. That is all an elopement needs to be.
Daniel & Nicole at Sugar Bowl San Francisco City Hall venue guide More elopementsEloping at City Hall?
Let's talk.
I photograph City Hall elopements and small weddings in San Francisco and the Bay Area. I am based in Lake Tahoe and I come down for these. Tell me your date and I will let you know if I am available.
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