How do we book you to photograph our City Hall wedding?
Rebecca Wilkowski Photography is one of the most sought after photography studios in San Francisco for City Hall weddings. In order to balance this high demand while maintaining our reputation for personalized attention and a boutique experience for our customers, we limit the number of City Hall bookings we accept and give preference to couples who have booked the 4th Floor Balcony for their ceremony. If you’d like to book our studio, please fill out the Contact Form on this website and we’ll be sure to contact you with our availability shortly.

How much does it cost to book you to photograph our City Hall wedding?
Our City Hall wedding commission includes one photographer and approximately 2-3 hours of coverage, allowing us to fully capture the story of your day. Please contact the studio directly for our current pricing or visit our Rates page.

How do I get married at San Francisco City Hall?
In order to get married at City Hall, you’ll need to make TWO reservations in advance: (1) for your marriage license, and (2) for your ceremony. You can choose to make these reservations for the same day, or to obtain your license before the ceremony date. Reservations for the marriage license and Rotunda weddings can only be made up to 90 days in advance. Reservations for Balcony or Grand Staircase weddings can be made up to one year in advance. Ceremonies can be booked Monday-Friday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Couples must pay for their reservation at the time of booking. After submitting payment, the reservation cannot be changed (i.e., changing date/time). The marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued. Appointments may be made in one of two ways:

· Online – by going to Online Civil Ceremony Reservations.

· In person – Reservations may be made by one of the parties to the marriage or a third party.

Where do we hold the ceremony? Which location is best?
Every location is gorgeous! My personal favorite location is the 4th Floor North Gallery.

(1) The Rotunda is beautiful and free! Things to consider about this location: this location can’t be guaranteed, you are limited to a maximum of 6 guests, there is somewhat limited privacy (it is adjacent to the elevators and administrative offices), and you are allowed a maximum of 10 minutes for the ceremony and photos. Depending on the day/time, other couples next in line to be married may be standing nearby during your ceremony. In instances where the Rotunda or a private room are unavailable (due to other events, maintenance, etc), the final location of the ceremony will be determined by the commissioner.

(2) The 4th Floor and the Mayor’s Balcony are both more private, can accommodate up to 100 guests (standing), offer the option to rent chairs (for 60/40 guests respectively), allow you to play non-amplified music, and include up to one hour of time. These locations both require advance reservations through the Office of Special Events and a rental fee of $1,000.

(3) The Grand Staircase allows up to a two-hour ceremony and is available on Saturdays only from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. This location includes chair rental and can accommodate up to 200 guests. The Grand Staircase requires an advanced reservation through the Office of Special Events and rental fee of $5,000.

How do I reserve the Rotunda?
Make your San Francisco City Hall ceremony reservation online

How do I reserve the 4th Floor or the Mayor’s Balcony?
Contact the City Hall Events Department at (415) 554-6079 or visit the San Francisco City Hall Events Department online. Office hours are 9:00 am - 5:30 pm, Monday thru Friday.

What does it cost to get married at San Francisco City Hall?
There are two fees involved:
1) Regardless of the location you choose, the marriage license fee is $110, PLUS
2) The fee to hold the ceremony

Choose ONE from the following options:

• in the Rotunda or a private ceremony room for $90

• on the 4th Floor or Mayor’s Balcony for $1,000

• off of the San Francisco City Hall grounds with a County Clerk for $299

• on the Grand Staircase (Saturdays only) for $5,000

How far in advance do we have to reserve a reservation for a San Francisco City Hall ceremony?
For Rotunda weddings, appointments may be made up to 90 days in advance. Weddings booked on the Mayor’s or 4th Floor private balcony may be reserved up to a year in advance. Popular dates, such as Fridays or Valentine’s Day book up quickly!

Where is San Francisco City Hall located? Where can I park?
San Francisco City Hall is wheelchair accessible and very convenient to public transportation. The closest accessible BART Station is Civic Center, three blocks from City Hall. Accessible MUNI lines are the 42, 71 and F Line to Market and Van Ness, Civic Center. A public parking garage is conveniently located across the street (underground) from City Hall at Civic Center Plaza.

Where do we go for the marriage license?
Room 168, located on the first floor. The wedding couple and up to two witnesses should arrive at Room 168’s Information Desk for check-in 10 minutes before your license appointment time (other witnesses will be asked to wait in the waiting area.)

What do we need to bring with us on the big day?
Legal photo identification, cash or check to pay all fees, a valid marriage license, one witness, and no more than six guests. (And don’t forget the rings!)

Do we need a witness?
If you are obtaining a public marriage license, then YES, you do need 1 witness. Note: Unfortunately, San Francisco City Hall can not/will not provide or act as your witness. If you are obtaining a private marriage license, you do NOT need a witness.

Can my photographer act at my witness?
Yes! I have done this for my clients in the past, and welcome the opportunity to do so again. It’s an honor. Just ask! 

How long does the whole process take?
It takes approximately 30 minutes to obtain the marriage license. It is recommended that if you plan to obtain the marriage license on the SAME day as the ceremony that you book the two appointments at least one hour apart. When the ceremony is performed in the Rotunda by the County Clerk the actual wedding ceremony lasts about five minutes, with a total of 10 minutes given to each couple. Ceremonies conducted on the 4th Floor or Mayor’s Balcony, or those performed by a private officiant, may last up to one hour.

After the ceremony, then what?
Breathe….relax…..celebrate! After the ceremony, we typically photograph family and couple shots on-site at San Francisco City Hall. For larger City Hall Photography packages, we also visit several sites around San Francisco for photographs.