What does an actual NYC City Hall wedding in 2022, post-pandemic, looks like? Curious to know? Don’t worry; we’ll give you information on the exact wedding flow – literally from start to finish – of a 2022 city hall wedding in NYC.
1. Marriage License Application (24 hours before the ceremony)
First off, you need to apply for a marriage license with NYC Marriage Bureau at least 24 hours before the ceremony. You can also do this 60 days in advance. Remember, you have to book an appointment online because they still do not accept walk-in visits. Just go to the NYC Marriage Bureau’s website, then head over to Project Cupid to book an appointment. Through there, you can also apply for an in-person appointment for a marriage ceremony. After doing those, you’re all set for your 2022 city hall wedding in NYC.
2. What to Do Before the Ceremony
Our clients usually start the day with a photoshoot somewhere near the Marriage Bureau, an hour before the ceremony. There are many iconic and beautiful places near the city hall. If you get married in Manhattan, the marriage ceremony occurs at the City Clerk’s Office, 141 Worth Street. One nearby place to take photos could be the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall Subway Station, which has beautiful archways and vintage subway signs. Along the way, you can use the Supreme Court Building with its iconic columns as a classic NYC backdrop.
3. Essential Things to Remember While Inside City Hall
In case you’re wondering about health protocols, yes, they still require you to wear a mask while inside city hall. If you want to take photos while waiting for your turn, sign some documents, or whatever, we think it’s okay to remove masks to take a few pictures, especially if very few people are around you. Also, they only allow one witness to enter the building with both of you. So if you want professional photos taken during your wedding ceremony, you should have your photographer act as the witness.
4. Duration of the Ceremony
A 2022 city hall wedding in NYC just takes about 30 minutes from the entrance to the exit. That’s it! Thirty minutes later, you’re already Mr. & Mrs.! Ain’t that cool?
5. Marriage Certificate
You will get your Marriage Certificate right after the wedding ceremony. Easy, right? Your marriage certificate will be right in your hands as you go through the exit door.
6. After the Ceremony
You can instruct your family members and friends (in case you brought them along) to wait outside the exit door of the City Clerk’s Office. Then you can make a grand exit and have them throw flower petals or confetti at you, which will definitely give you lovely photos. If you choose to have photo sessions after the ceremony, you could opt for other beautiful places a few more minutes’ walk away, such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Tribeca, Soho and the lower east side, and Chinatown.
