A City Hall wedding in New York City is one of the most romantic things you can do. No seating chart. No vendor drama. Just the two of you, a short ceremony in one of the most iconic buildings in the world, and the rest of the day wide open.
Here is everything you need to know, from getting your marriage license to walking out as a married couple in lower Manhattan.
| Location | 141 Worth St, Manhattan |
| Hours | Mon–Fri, 8:30am–3:45pm |
| Ceremony fee | $25 |
| License fee | $35 |
| Waiting period | 24 hours after license issued |
| License validity | 60 days |
| Witnesses required | 1 (they provide one if needed) |
| ID required | Government-issued photo ID |
STEP 1 — GET YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE
You cannot get married at City Hall in New York City on the same day you apply for your license. There is a mandatory 24-hour waiting period, so plan ahead.
Both partners must appear in person at the Manhattan City Clerk’s Office at 141 Worth Street to apply. No appointment is required for the license, but you can schedule one online through the NYC.gov website if you want to skip the walk-in wait.
WHAT TO BRING
- A valid, government-issued photo ID (passport, driver’s license, or state ID)
- $35 in cash or by credit card to pay the license fee
- Your social security number (you do not need to bring the card itself)
- If previously married: divorce decree or death certificate for the former spouse
TIP: You do not need to be a New York City resident. Couples from anywhere in the world can get married at NYC City Hall.
STEP 2 — SCHEDULE YOUR CEREMONY
Once your 24-hour waiting period has passed, you can schedule your ceremony online through the NYC City Clerk’s website. Ceremonies are performed Monday through Friday during business hours. The ceremony itself takes about two minutes.
You are allowed to bring guests, though space in the chapel is limited. Most couples bring between two and ten people. The room is small and intimate, which is actually part of what makes it feel so special.
THE CEREMONY ROOM
The chapel inside the City Clerk’s Office at 141 Worth Street is a small, wood-paneled room with stained glass windows. It is not elaborate, but there is something genuinely moving about it. Thousands of couples have stood in that exact spot before you.
Photographer’s note: The light inside the chapel is low and warm. I always arrive with couples before their ceremony time so we can find the pockets of natural light near the windows. That is where the best frames happen.
STEP 3 — THE CEREMONY
On your ceremony day, arrive at least 15 minutes early. You will check in with the clerk, pay the $25 ceremony fee, and wait to be called into the chapel. A city officiant performs the ceremony. The vows are brief and traditional, though you can add your own words if you speak with the clerk ahead of time.
- Check in at the desk. Bring your marriage license, your ID, and your witness. If you do not have a witness, the office will provide one.
- Pay the ceremony fee. $25, payable by cash or card.
- Wait in the lobby. Usually 15 to 30 minutes. Good time for candid photographs.
- Enter the chapel. The officiant will invite your group in. Guests stand to the sides.
- Exchange your vows. The ceremony takes roughly two minutes. You will sign the marriage license immediately after.
- Walk out as a married couple. Lower Manhattan is your backdrop now.
AFTER THE CEREMONY — WHERE TO GO IN MANHATTAN
The area around City Hall is full of beautiful spots for photographs. Most couples spend an hour or two wandering before heading to a celebratory lunch or dinner.
BEST NEARBY LOCATIONS FOR PHOTOS
- City Hall Park — formal gates and tree-lined paths, steps from the exit
- The Brooklyn Bridge — 15-minute walk from City Hall. Worth every minute.
- Dumbo, Brooklyn — cross the bridge on foot; one of the most photographed neighborhoods in New York
- Foley Square — courthouse steps and columns, dramatic editorial frames
- The High Line — a quick cab ride uptown, excellent for green space and a quieter feel
- Tribeca — cobblestone streets, beautiful architecture, almost no tourists
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can we get married at NYC City Hall on the same day we apply for the license?
No. New York State law requires a 24-hour waiting period. Plan for at least two separate days.
Do we need to be New York residents?
No. Couples from anywhere in the world can get married at NYC City Hall.
How many guests can we bring?
No strict cap, but the chapel is small. Two to ten guests is typical.
Can we bring a photographer inside City Hall?
Yes. Photography is permitted inside the building and inside the chapel during the ceremony.
What should we wear?
Whatever you want. City Hall sees every possible combination. Wear what feels like you.
Is the New York City marriage license legally recognized everywhere?
Yes, in all U.S. states and most countries worldwide. Confirm international recognition with that country’s requirements.
THE HONEST CASE FOR A CITY HALL WEDDING
There is a version of wedding planning that takes two years, costs six figures, and leaves you exhausted before the day even starts. And there is this version: two people, a $25 ceremony fee, and an afternoon in New York City.
The couples I have photographed at City Hall are among the most present I have ever seen. There is nothing to manage, nobody to wrangle, no timeline to hit. It is just the two of you deciding to be married and then doing it.
Some of them go on to have bigger celebrations later. Some do not. Either way, they have photographs from the actual day, and those photographs are always the ones they come back to.
Ready to het married in Manhattan City Hall? Let’s Chat!
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