One of the most common questions I get from my New York elopement clients is, “Where should we take photos after a City Hall Wedding?” The answer depends hugely on you as a couple, the vibe you want for your images, and how much time you’d like to spend on portraits. For many City Hall Weddings, couples are looking for just a handful of portraits after or before the ceremony, and don’t want to go too far afield. Obviously, I’m happy to take you where ever you’d like to go in NYC for photos after your City Hall wedding, however, for the purposes of this post, I’m sticking to the areas that are close to the Manhattan Marriage Bureau. These are places that we can walk to or some that are just a quick cab ride away. Are you thinking about getting married at Brooklyn City Hall? Awesome! There are loads of fun photo spots there as well. Check out my post on Brooklyn City Hall Weddings for more info on that spot.
Wondering where to start on how to get married in New York at City Hall? Check out this Guide to City Hall Weddings first, then head back to read where to take photos after your City Hall Wedding!
Where To Take Photos After A City Hall Wedding
Where to Take Photos Just Outside City Hall
Are you looking to take just a handful of photos outside after your City Hall Wedding? This is where we will likely head for photos.
The Courthouse Steps, Wedding Garden and Foley Square
This is the obvious choice, as it’s right outside the City Clerk’s Office. I usually always start here when couples exit after their wedding. There’s a tiny green space for a few family photos, park benches and some side walk space where we can get a view of some of the downtown buildings. If there’s not a major case in session, we can usually also take photos on the steps of the Supreme Court which has great regal columns in the background. There is also another courthouse a few steps down which has a great staircase and huge cool doors as well.
Foley Square also has a bit more green space, walkways and a fountain if you want to stay right in the immediate area.
Brooklyn Bridge Station and Police Plaza Pedestrian Walk
This is one of my go to spots for a quick portrait session after a City Hall Wedding ceremony. There are some beautiful archways, cobbled walk, a vintage subway sign, a big red sculpture in the back, and some spots that are covered which is key if it’s raining. It’s an easy 5-10 minute walk from the marriage office and is good for some quick portraits. If you want to quickly duck in for some subway photos, this is a great spot for that as well.
City Hall Park
Yes, the actual City Hall is around here too. While you can’t get close to the building itself, the park in front is a nice spot for some photos. There’s a pretty fountain, some pretty tree lined walkways, and some spots where you can nicely see the downtown building skyline. There’s another courthouse around the side with a cool staircase for photos as well.
Spots for City Hall Wedding Photos Within Walking Distance
Are you willing to put on your walking shoes and go just a bit further? Awesome! These are my favorite spots within a reasonable walking distance of the Manhattan City Clerk’s Office. If you’re getting married at City Hall, these are great options!
Tribeca
Tribeca is where I take a lot of clients looking for that classic New York backdrop. It’s about a 10-12 minute walk from City Hall. A few cobbled streets, old school architecture, a cool alleyway with a skybridge, and if you want to walk a bit further, we can even head out to the waterfront. From the Hudson River, you can see a glimpse of the Empire State Building, get some green park backdrops, see the skyline with the World Trade Center and the Jersey City skyline. If you have a City Hall wedding ceremony later in the day in winter, it’s also the perfect spot to end with the sunset.
Chinatown
Chinatown is great fun for photos if you’re looking for something a little different. Here you’ll find colorful storefronts, often some great street art, and bustling sidewalks. Doyers Street, one of the few curved streets in Manhattan and that has a pretty crazy history, is often a great spot to start and is about a 10 minute walk from City Hall.
Brooklyn Bridge
Obviously if you’re going for iconic, Brooklyn Bridge is always a hit. It’s about a 15 minute walk to get out on the bridge from City Hall. The tricky part about the bridge is that it is often swamped with tourists. If you’re looking for shots of just you on the bridge, sunrise is going to be your only option, and one I highly recommend. However, if you’re willing to brave the crowds, we can still get great shots on the bridge before or after your City Hall ceremony.
Soho or Nolita
I love shooting in this area! Think classic NYC architecture with old buildings and fire escapes, colorful street art, and cobbled streets. Soho is high fashion New York. It can get busy here depending on the time of day, but it just adds to the energy. There’s lots of options in this area depending on what kind of vibe you’re going for, and it’s only about a 10-15 minute walk from the marriage office to get started and we can stroll through Little Italy on the way as well. You can head west towards SoHo for more architecture or the opposite direction towards to Lower East Side for more street art/grittier feel.
Places to Take Wedding Photos after a City Hall Wedding in New York: A Quick Cab Ride Away
Sometimes you might want to jump in a cab and get a bit further afield. These are all locations that should be no more then a 10-15 minute cab ride. *Disclaimer, NYC traffic is always unpredictable, so no guarantees.
West Village
Classic brownstones, ivy covered buildings, sitting on a stoop? Are you looking for something out of a New York movie? Then the West Village is it. I always think I’m strolling in a New York fairy tale in this neighborhood. It’s about a 15 minute cab ride to this gorgeous area and it’s always perfect for wedding photos.
South Street Seaport
The Seaport is such a great spot for photos. It has lots of incredible views of the Brooklyn Bridge, cobble stone streets, big historic ships in the port, and views of the downtown skyline. All of which make for great wedding photos! Best of all, it’s a quick 10ish minute cab ride from City Hall after your wedding.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
This is the go to spot for many people. It’s incredibly popular for wedding photos, with good reason. You’re not going to get a much more iconic skyline view anywhere else, from the downtown skyscrapers to the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, Brooklyn Bridge Park has it all. It’s also right next to DUMBO which is full of street art and a bit more gritty feel. It’s also about a 10 minute cab ride from the City Clerk, so it’s a great option for City Hall wedding couples! If we have time, we can also take a stroll up into the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood for some brownstone goodness as well.
Want to get up on the Brooklyn Bridge? The entrance is right up the street and we can cap of your Brooklyn photo shoot with a few shots on the bridge itself!
Looking for more information about City Hall Weddings or How to Elope in New York?
I’ve got a City Hall Wedding Guide and a NYC Elopement Guide on my site, check them out!
