Elope in NYC
How to Elope in New York City
This guide Has a lot of information from my personal experience shooting over 400 ceremonies over the last 4 years and also some research I’ve done for you so you don’t have to do it yourself, I got you!
COVID-19 Update
As of March 20, 2020, the NYC Marriage Bureau has closed. Recently Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that wedding licenses and ceremonies can be obtained online. The wait times have become very lengthy So I suggest you check online and in some cases, you can obtain licenses out of the city in parts of NYS that are in phase 4 already. There are options though so don’t sweat it! See project Cupid Link Below for more information.
Why NYC?
Well first of all from a native New Yorker we have the best architecture, graffiti, murals and back drops! As you know this is a really diverse place and whatever your vibe is we can make that happen here. From Central Parks epic Bethesda Terrace to Buchwick Brooklyn mural walk, we have it all!
- The NYC marriage license process is simple whether you’re a local or planning a destination wedding.
- The wait period after obtaining your license is only 24 hours, yep only 24 hours not months .
- Elopements Are dope because you can do whatever it is you want to do. And that’s the whole point!
How do we obtain our marriage license?
First things first you have to get your New York marriage license. Right now due to COVID I suggest everyone checks out The https://www.cityclerk.nyc.gov/content/ and see what there updates are saying. While the Manhattan location is the most popular, you can get the license in any New York County including any of NYC’s other boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. You can also get them outside of NYC upstate, long island, and any city hall in NYS. You can save a little time by starting the marriage license paperwork online, but either way you and your partner must finish the process together in person. The City Clerk’s website contains more detailed NYC marriage license information.
How Do we officiate the marriage and get a Marriage license in NYC?
A full 24 hours after receiving your marriage license, you can perform the ceremony. These days a lot of couples are choosing to hire their own officiant usually a friend or relative, or professionally ordained minister and officiant, But you can also bring it back old school and get married right at City Hall.
Get your own Officiant: Elope anywhere in NYC by hiring an elopement officiant. Literally anywhere, I got married in front of the Supreme store which was an old abandoned bank for many years. With alittle courage and a small group we can do whatever we want! I also have hook ups at some super cool indoor photo studios, backyards and Brooklyn roof tops just lemme know. P.S You will need a witness for the license signing, good thing is your photographer, ME, can act as your witness or a friend or relative
Elope at City Hall: I love City Hall Elopements; the whole experience is so unique and so diverse. If you like people watching this is a top-notch people watching experience with every walk of life right in front of you. The wait times are usually about 1 hour from start to finish given we get there right when they open. The bonus is you leave with your physical license and don’t ever need to look back. That’s the best aspect of a city hall wedding, BOOM its done. P.S You will need a witness for the license signing, good thing is your photographer, ME, can act as your witness or a friend or relative.
Some extra steps for international couples.
For some countries, they require extra paper work, make sure you know if you’re on that list. I know for sure folks from the UK need extended licenses. You’ll return to the City Clerk’s Office to get this and it will allow you to register the marriage back in your home country. If you’re from a non-English speaking country, you’ll also need to get an apostille. You can read more about the apostille at the Department of State’s website.
Photo locations for your Elopement.
Okay lemme start by saying if you book a beautiful Air BNB or Hotel we can start the session there, Or we can meet in your apartment I love in home sessions as well. Or we can just meet at your ceremony, Best thing about elopements is you can do whatever you want! As for photography locations please see this bullet point below of some of my favorite locations & these can also be Ceremony locations as well, remember with small crowds (meaning less than 5) you can get married anywhere in NYC.
- Soho
- Lower East Side
- West Village
- High Line
- Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue
- Central Park
- Harlem
- Fort Tryon
- Riverside Park
- Brooklyn Botanical Gardens or any Garden
- The Highline
- Chelsea or in gallery
- Your neighborhood
- Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Dumbo Brooklyn
- Bushwick Brooklyn
- Green Point Brooklyn
- Williamsburg Brooklyn
- Prospects Park Brooklyn
- Domino Park
- Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Farm
- Coney Island
All right Folks I hope this helps a little on your journey, I am super excited to connect please feel free to reach out with any questions <3
