With more and more couples opting to elope, New York City Hall has become the spot to be! Many couples are choosing to follow up their nuptials with a more extravagant reception. Some are even skipping their reception completely to head straight off on to their honeymoons!

Experienced New York City Elopement Photographer
New York City Hall elopements seem to be such a popular choice with my clients these days. To help out, I’m sharing the ins and outs of my Go-To NYC City Hall Elopement Package with you. Plus, my tips and tricks for getting the most out of your time there! Here’s everything you need to know about planning the perfect elopement at New York City Hall!

Plan for at least two hours to get all the photos done!
My starting package for city hall elopements is 2 hours. That gives us the time we need to cover portraits of the bride and groom, the ceremony, and pictures with friends and family afterward! If for any reason, we are unable to arrive at City Hall early in the morning, this may extend our wait time for the ceremony. In this case, we would need to book an extra 30 minutes of photo coverage to allow for the extra wait.

Get there early and bring a friend!
Since NYC City Hall is a popular venue, I highly recommend arriving early to make sure you get a spot! I encourage my couples to get there by 7:20 AM and bring a friend to stand in line for them. That way we can head out to get some portraits done in that first hour. Earlier hours also work better, because NYC is basically empty during those morning hours. This means we can get the best light and photos possible with the least amount of people around!
Keep in mind that Monday and Friday are the busiest days, and the wait time could last up to 2 hours, so plan accordingly!



By 8:20 AM, we will head back to City Hall and complete the ceremony process.


After the ceremony, we will capture an “exit shot.” Next, we will finish the session with some photos with family and friends in the outdoor Wedding Garden area.


If you want portraits at a few different locations, we can always add an additional hour at another location in Manhattan. This can be added on either before or after our time at City Hall, at an a la carte hourly rate.


Can I get a witness!
Looking for a true elopement and you don’t want anyone to know? I can be your witness! That way you can keep your wedding a surprise to all of your friends and family until you’re ready to announce it.
New York City Hall elopements are so much fun. They allow you to go through all of the formalities of getting married without the giant price tag. Just you, your boo, and your great big love!
Does eloping to City Hall seem like the best idea ever? Let’s connect and make it happen!