
Eloping at City Hall in New York City is a straightforward process, but there are a few steps you’ll need to follow to ensure everything goes smoothly. Before you can get married, you must first obtain a marriage license. Please go HERE
I love city hall for so many reasons, my parents got married there pregnant with me in 1984 . It holds a special place in my heart.

City Hall is one of the most low key ways to elope. You set up you your appt online, find a photographer, at this time they only allow one guest your witness who is also usually your photographer. You show up at your appt time, ceremonies usually last 5 minutes and you’re legally married. Also you leave with your paper work which is great. Minted has a great article check out here.
City hall for elopements and wedding is located at the NYC city clerks office, 141 Worth St in Manhattan. There are also City Clerk’s offices in the other boroughs, with Brooklyn as the second most popular location.
Elopements range from just the couple to upwards of 25 people. The number of guests usually depends on the location I say a true elopement is between 10-25 guests. Or it can just be the 2 of you. You can even elope via zoom.
You will need an Officiant if you’re getting married outside of city hall. Officiants provide more than just your ceremony, but good ones also provide help with the marriage process. I love working with Honey Breaks an all women owned company. Please see their site here. You can also have a local priest, minister, rabbi, marry you as well. Whatever suits your specific spiritual belief system. In most cases all officiants have experience with working with varying religious backgrounds and accommodate those in the ceremony.
You can also have a friend or relative get ordained and marry you, I have seen many couples do this and it adds something truly special to the day.

What does eloping in NYC cost? Most elopements with good quality photography will run you around $1,500-$2,500 thats with officiation and an out door free venue, maybe 10 guests, a bottle or 2 of champaign. Some folks splurge a little more, and will rent a small venue or an Airbnb, and then you can get up to 5-10K. Elopements in general are more affordable than traditional weddings, which often at bare minimum are around $31,000 based on The Knot’s Real Wedding Study. Everyone is different and you really need to decide whats right for you and going to mean the most.
City Hall Weddings are the most affordable option as you only need a photographer most photographers are also happy to act as witness and included in their packages. The 2 hour elopement is perfect for NYC hall weddings.
For as long as I can remember an elopement was a term used for people getting married in secrecy, even the city hall wedding was frowned upon in some circles, If you dont go big, its almost as if it didn’t happen. Well thank god that is over. Elopements now hold space for people not wanting to spend a ton of money, too laid back couples who aren’t into big parties and are more reserved.

Well first of all it can be better for the environment, for your pockets, and for your mental well being.

Some places to Elope that are well known in The NYC are:
1. NYC City Hall (Civic Center)

7. Conservatory Garden in Central Park
11. 6BC Botanical Garden (East Village)
12. 620 Loft and Garden (Midtown)

16. The High Line (Chelsea)
17. Washington Square Park (Greenwich Village)
19. Heather Garden in Fort Tryon Park (Inwood)

23. West Village cobblestone streets (West Village)
24. Madison Square Park (Flatiron)
26. Elizabeth Street Garden (SoHo)
27. Garden at Church of St. Luke of the Fields (West Village)

19. Heather Garden in Fort Tryon Park (Inwood)

30. Brooklyn City Hall (Downtown Brooklyn)
31. Brooklyn Heights Promenade (Brooklyn Heights)
32. Brooklyn Botanic Garden (Park Slope/Crown Heights)
33. Prospect Park Peristyle (Park Slope)
34. Prospect Park Cleft Ridge Span (Park Slope)
34. Vale of Cashmere (Prospect Park)
35. Washington/Water Street (Dumbo)

36. Pebble Beach in Brooklyn Bridge Park (Dumbo)
37. On the Brooklyn Bridge
38. Jane’s Carousel (Dumbo)
39. St. Ann’s Warehouse garden (Dumbo)
40. Time Out Market Rooftop (Dumbo)
41. Bushwick Collective (Bushwick)
42. Green-Wood Cemetery (South Slope/Greenwood Heights)
43. Domino Park (Williamsburg)
44. Fort Greene Park (Fort Greene)
45. Green Dome Garden in Prospect Park
46. Naval Cemetery Landscape (Brooklyn Navy Yard)
47. Gil Hodges Community Garden (Gowanus)
And then of course you can always just elope in your backyard, a dope scenic spot that means something to you, the facade of an old factor building, a rail road track that looks off into infinity, a mountain top, go for a hike and find something together. NYC is vast and have so much room to play and be creative.





Celina and Jeff you stole my heart last week ! Totally obsessed with this little city hall wedding .. rain or shine nyc showed up for me as she always does . And cute little back ground story my kids came with me to the city that day and were with a baby sitter in China town while I worked .. being a working mom is something I’m so proud of and I love getting to bring my kids along with me ..
Skirt: @by_sloane
Photo @giannaleofalcon
Blazer: @etro
Top: @stagnistudio
Shoes: @khaite
Veil: @jenniferbehr
Florals: @stemsbrooklyn
Jeff’s suit: Beckenstein Men’s Fabrics (they don’t have an IG)
And then hair/makeup by the bride !
Caroline in soho it was it was such a pleasure and a walk down memory lane a neighborhood where my own love blossomed.
New York city elopement on a holga 120mm film
i dont know why i love this but i do ... Im also intentionally defying the algorithm so i can be really truly authentic. I did a shoot recently and yet another couple i worked with has chosen to delete socials and has a flip phone i fucking love that this is my community, because i truly think this is a wasteland here and i only keep coming back so you can know im alive and working <33
love this photo, aiyana and roberts city hall elopement from this past summer. Still one of my fav!
photography @giannaleofalcon
jewelry @adj.nyc
dresses @ceciliebahnsen & @paulinedujancourt
shoes @proenzaschouler & @manoloblahnik
hair @genevieve.pc @keejunyc
makeup @kaori_chloe_soda
venue @abcvnyc
cake @ashleydrum
florals @flowercuratorium
Couple @aiyanajaffe @robertjaffe_
Had some seriously magical moments for these two! A last minute proposal in Central Park last week .. and also reflecting on a recent post from a photographer who I admire remarking on the difference between photographers who love weddings and those who are resentful and I realized that comparison is dangerous, this is so nuanced and this is a job but also a love affair and like any good relationship we have good days and bad days and personal experiences that impact our relationship, sprinkle in a few kids and a crazy world .. and an industry that is extremely cut throat! this job is nuanced and it is a job at the end of day but we are lucky to get to manifest our creativity with our clients .. but don’t get it twisted and don’t believe this hype that it’s all peaches and cream here .. we know that’s not true. I personally keep coming back because i love photography and have a love for humans stories both the beauty and the sometimes hard to witness .. the wedding industry can be filled with a lot of BS and I’m not here for that .. that I can always offer my clients ..