Why have Your Wedding at SF City Hall?
To Save Money! - Let's face it, getting married in San Francisco is expensive. We checked a number of sources and the average cost for a San Francisco wedding appeared to be right around $65,000. There was a broad range of surveyed responses, but nothing fell below $30,000 and of course it's quite easy to go above the average. Can most young couples just starting out afford those types of costs? In most cases, the answer is no! Especially given the high cost of living in the Bay Area these days. Yes, parents will help and couples figure out a way to get it done through loans, credit cards, etc. Do you really want to start your life together in debt? San Francisco City Hall costs around $100 for a simple ceremony (not including the Marriage License) and $1,000 for a private location that is roped off for your privacy with additional room for up to 60 invited guests (seated).
Convenience with more for your money - One of the best things about having your wedding at San Francisco City Hall is that so many things are provided for you. You can obtain your marriage license the same day as your wedding and you can do this right before the ceremony if you so desire. An experienced volunteer officiant is provided to perform your marriage ceremony at no extra cost (they are referred to as Marriage Commissioners and are not really judges despite the fact that they dress like it.) In addition, you have a safe, indoor, beautiful location to celebrate your wedding surrounded by your closest family and friends. You can easily hire a SF city hall wedding photographer from the many available on the internet that also specialize in shooting at this magnificent venue. Many of the best San Francisco city hall wedding photographers have been doing this for many years (us included) so you know that they have experience and will do a great job of you.
If you opt for the reserved space (Mayor's Balcony or Fourth Floor Gallery) the SF City Hall Events Department will help you with whatever set up items you need. It's all right there! They will also provide you with a free officiant if you arrange for it in advance. Most of our clients prefer to bring in their own officiant for convenience and to allow for customized vows and/or sermons. We can recommend some officiants if needed. We know the best and all of them have substantial experience here! One of them even wears the same robes as the City Hall marriage commissioners so she totally looks the part.
Beauty and History - San Francisco City Hall is well known as one of the most sought after wedding venues in the United States. People come from all over the world to visit and have their marriage in this incredible building. Built in the early 1900's, city hall possesses old world charm with modern amenities. People often ask us about the history of this building and when it was constructed. What many people don't know is that the current city hall is actually the second one built with the first one coming down in the 1906 Earthquake.
A few years ago, former Mayor Willie Brown took great pains to update and remodel the interior of the building to make it a great place for all types of events and not just weddings. Some parts of the updating included adding modern upgrades, but still retained the historic look of the building. Many of the rooms in the building had added false ceilings to help with sound obstruction, but had become run down and ugly. These ceilings were pulled out and the beauty of the building was allowed to show through.
The architecture is incredible and you are free to wander through the halls and consider all of the history that has occurred here. Don't forget, Joe Di Maggio and Marilyn Monroe got married at San Francisco City Hall! So many other famous people have spent time here and yes even had their marriage here. Recently, I photographed a Bay Area Politician's wedding that was officiated by Willie Brown, so you never know who might have their marriage here next!
If you arrive early, check out the self guided tour available on the South Court 1st floor (it is to the left of the Grand Staircase as you walk in). There is an incredible amount of SF city hall history to check out in the South Court and it is where the Official Docent tour usually begins. If you are planning on hiring a professional city hall wedding photographer, be sure they include some architecture photos in their work. We always do!
San Francisco open your Golden Gate - I remember as a kid, watching the Newlywed Game on TV and being surprised at how excited the couples were when they won a 1 week trip to San Francisco. big deal, I would think, I live here in the Bay Area, it's just San Francisco. Well, apparently I was wrong. As it turns out, San Francisco is one of the most popular wedding destinations in the whole world. It may not quite match Paris or Rome, but it's definitely in the conversation.
There is so much for a newlywed couple to do here it boggles the mind. Some of the best restaurants in the world are right here in the "City by the Bay". Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach, Union Square, Coit Tower, Golden Gate Bridge and the Palace of Fine Arts are just a few of the places you can visit and enjoy during your stay. Hire a professional San Francisco wedding photographer and have them record your experience of visiting some of these iconic locations. If you do not plan on getting married here, you can still hire a wedding photographer and do an engagement portrait session. You will have fun and see some great sites travelling around San Francisco.
SF City Hall Wedding Photography - If you have read this far, you probably knew this was coming... Yes, San Francisco city hall is an amazing place to have your wedding photographed. A professional wedding photographer can escort you to any of the 4 floors (preferably all of them!) and capture some amazing images. SF City Hall's architecture and lighting has to be seen to be truly appreciated. The building is laced with natural frames for great photo composition. In addition, there are huge window that let in amazing natural light to make your photos even more memorable.
There are a number of San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographers who understand this and will do an excellent job for you. Before choosing one, be sure to check out their web pages to make sure they have lots of examples of photography in the interior of the building. It takes some experience to capture the beauty here without being fooled by the lighting. Don't trust your precious memories to a friend or relative, hire a pro! More importantly, the most experienced city hall wedding photographers understand that the Grand Staircase is not the only place to obtain great images in the building. They will take you there, but also to the many other great places available for beautiful photos. Each of the 4 floors offer something different in terms of unique wedding pictures.