As I recently mentioned, City Hall weddings are BACK friends! Woohoo! Laura and Niall are my first couple to elope at City Hall since the Covid pandemic began, and my first couple to come from abroad since Covid so I was thrilled to see them!
They arrived from the Cayman Islands and were staying near Madison Square Park where they had gotten engaged on a previous trip to NYC so we figured it would be fun to start our photos there the morning of their elopement. Madison Square Park is a fun photo spot, especially with the views of the Empire State Building and normally the Flat Iron Building as well when it’s not under construction.
The morning we met up it had been raining off and on, so I was slightly worried we would get wet, but the weather gods were on our side and everything cleared up as the day went on, hurrah!
We took full advantage of the city streets and skyline views of midtown and had a fun wander around the square before heading downtown to get married at the City Clerk’s Office.
I also loved their fun, casual wedding look! Laura got custom made sneakers for their wedding day and they looked super cute with her summer dress! Who says you need to wear white to get married?! Wear what you love and makes you happy and the photos will be great!
So, the 10 million dollar question… What are City Hall Weddings in NYC like during Covid??
I’ve now done a handful since the City Clerk’s Office in NYC reopened for weddings and I’m here to say, it’s great! And a bit different than before.
What is different about NYC City Hall Weddings after the Covid re-opening?
- You will need an appointment! You still need to get your marriage license beforehand, but you will also need to be sure to make an appointment for your city hall ceremony. Appointments can be made via their Project Cupid website. Also be sure to follow on Twitter, as new appointments being released are announced there.
- Make sure to be prompt for your appointment! This is ESPECIALLY true for the 3:45pm appointments. The office closed promptly at 3:45pm, so if you’re late, you will NOT be able to get married.
- The wait is almost eliminated. This is one of the great things about this new system. Whereas before you often had a long, unpredictable wait to be married at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau, now it’s almost always in and out in 15 minutes or so. The office is almost empty everytime I’ve been through with the appointments. You check in, sign your paperwork, and then get married in one of the two chapels. It’s quick and easy.
- You DO have to wear a mask and show proof of vaccination. While the clerks I have photographed with have allowed couples to take their mask off for the ceremony/kiss if they chose, you will need to wear a mask while everywhere else in the building.
- No large parties allowed. You are only allowed one witness. I’m happy to do this for couples, but just note no one else is allowed in. They can however await your exit with confetti outside if you like!
The City Hall backdrop is still there for any cheesy photo needs!
You can still make a grand exit if you like from the rear door. I’m happy to set up any cheering family or friends if you bring them along! Niall and Laura were traveling with just the two of them, but I made sure to give them a hearty round of applause as they left the clerk’s office.
Where should you go for photos after your City Hall Wedding? Laura and Niall picked two great spots! Chinatown is always a great option with loads of colorful backdrops. Laura had an awesome Just Married jacket to wear after the ceremony! I love all these lanterns that have been put up in Chinatown, they make the street wanders so fun for photos.
After Chinatown, we hopped across the bridge to Dumbo and Brooklyn Bridge Park. It’s a quick taxi ride, and makes for more colorful backdrops and some extra skyline to finish out the day!
You can’t go to DUMBO without a stop for the Manhattan Bridge on Washington Street.
We finished up photos on the waterfront and it was the perfect end to such a fun City Hall Wedding day! I’m so excited to start seeing more couples come to town for weddings as things continue to open up. If you’re looking for any information about how to elope in New York, be sure to reach out, or check out all my info on eloping in NYC or NY Local posts. I’m always happy to help! Congrats to Laura and Niall and cheers to eloping in the city!
