I’ve had lots more couples as of late opting for a Brooklyn City Hall wedding rather than the Manhattan City Clerk’s office, so I figured I definitely needed to get a post up to outline a few more details about the process across the river. Is an elopement at Brooklyn City Hall for you? How do you get married at the Brooklyn City Clerk’s Office?
Did you know you can get married in the city clerk’s office in any borough? That’s right! Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens and the Bronx each have their own marriage office. The most popular two choices for couples deciding to elope at City Hall are the Manhattan City Clerk’s office at 141 Worth Street and the Brooklyn City Clerk’s Office at 210 Joralemon Street.
How is a Brooklyn City Hall wedding different than Manhattan City Hall wedding?
If you’re opting for a city hall wedding in NYC, it’s likely you’re looking for a low frills, quick and easy experience in terms of the ceremony. If you’re looking for a guide to getting married at city hall in NYC, check out my New York City Hall Wedding Guide. I’ve got all the detailed info there for how to get married at City Hall in NYC, whether you’re considering Brooklyn or Manhattan I’ve got you covered.
The ceremony in both the Brooklyn City Hall and Manhattan City Hall offices are the same, about 30 seconds to a minute. During the ceremony, you confirm you wish to marry your spouse, promise to treat them well, exchange rings if you chose, and then are prompted to end with a kiss. For those wondering, yes, I have had couples end with hugs, fist bumps, and/or high fives!
What Does It Look Like Inside Brooklyn City Hall Marriage Office?
The main differences between a city hall wedding in Manhattan and a city hall wedding in Brooklyn are primarily aesthetic. The Manhattan City Clerk’s office has been outfitted to look nicer in photos. Though there are certainly areas that are still rough around the edges, you have the fancier light fixtures, the iconic green couches, the cheesy city hall photo backdrop for a photo opp and a place to buy all kinds of souvenirs and flowers. The Manhattan marriage bureau has two different ceremony rooms, one in purple with pink flowers and one in pink with pastel stripes.
The Brooklyn City Hall wedding office definitely has a more government office feel. There is no place to buy flowers or souvenirs in Brooklyn City Hall, nor is there a city hall backdrop for cheesy photos. The waiting areas are filled with plastic chairs and plain walls. The ceremony room in Brooklyn is fairly large. You will stand on a wooden circular podium with a glass mosaic wall with a circle pattern behind the officiant with flags on either side.
Is it easier to get to Manhattan City Hall or Brooklyn City Hall?
Both offices are in areas well connected with public transit. Brooklyn City Hall is actually right above the Borough Hall stop on the 4 (Green) line and is a block from the 2/3 (Red) Borough Hall stop as well. You can have a cab drop you out front too if you’d rather not ride the subway.
How do you get married at Brooklyn City Hall?
First you need to make sure you have an appointment with Project Cupid for your marriage license. You can obtain your license virtually, or from any office in the city. Once you get your New York marriage license, you are ready to make an appointment for your ceremony on the same Project Cupid website. Once your appointment day arrives, you’ll head to 210 Jorelemon Street. When you enter the doors in front you will pass through security and then be directed up to the second floor. The Brooklyn City Clerk’s Office is part of a larger government office building, so there are many different things happening here, unlike at the Manhattan City Clerk’s Office where you’ll only see weddings.
Once you get up to the second floor, you can follow the signs to the City Clerk’s Office. Inside the office, there are black plastic chairs and no fancy fixtures. You get a ticket just like in Manhattan City Hall and wait for your number to be called. Once your number is called, you sign the paperwork with a clerk seated behind a window and then wait for your ceremony in another room of plastic chairs.
After waiting in the second room, you will be called in for your ceremony by name. The clerk will perform your ceremony, it’s about 30 seconds, and then you will receive your marriage license and be officially married! Hurray!
Do I still need an appointment to get married at the Brooklyn City Clerk’s Office?
Yes, you will still need an appointment like you do in Manhattan. All appointments can be made online via Project Cupid. Appointments to get married at Brooklyn City Hall are released 3 weeks before on Mondays, just like the Manhattan City Clerk’s Office. While there are many appointments available, it’s still wise to check as soon as dates are released to get the day and time you wish to get married.
What about witnesses? How many people can I bring to a wedding at Brooklyn City Hall?
Brooklyn City Hall has the same rules as Manhattan City Hall for couples getting married. You are required to have one witness over the age of 18. Currently, as of March 2024, couples are allowed to have 4 people attend their wedding. As a photographer, I would be included in this 4 guest count total. However, I have found in the past that Brooklyn is slightly less strict then Manhattan. While you will not get away with a huge crowd like in the days before Covid, if you need to sneak in an extra person, your odds are greater in Brooklyn then Manhattan. No guarantees obviously, rules are rules, but I have had a few weddings in Brooklyn now that were 1 or 2 over the guest count and no one said anything.
How much does it cost to get married at Brooklyn City Hall? Is it the same price as Manhattan?
Yes, the fee to get married at any City Hall office in NYC is the same, $35 for the marriage license and $25 for the ceremony. You must pay by credit or debit card, no cash is accepted.
Is the Brooklyn City Clerk’s Office faster or slower? Is Brooklyn City Hall less crowded then Manhattan City Hall?
In my experience, I find the Brooklyn City Clerk’s Office tends to take slightly longer. It seems to always be variable with who is working that day, but on average I find this office has a bit longer delay. On average, things are taking about 30ish minutes. The Brooklyn office in my experience is usually less crowded than Manhattan, there’s often only a handful of couples inside.
What about after the wedding ceremony? Are there places nearby to take photos after an elopement at Brooklyn City Hall?
Unlike the Manhattan City Clerk’s Office that has a staircase and exit doors where everyone pops confetti, the exit from the Brooklyn Clerk’s Office is a bit more subdued. While there is no door with a staircase for a confetti toss, you can head across the street and around behind the courthouses to Cadman Plaza for the same effect! There is currently tons of construction right in front of Brooklyn City Hall, but if you go around the corner, there is a big open plaza perfect for confetti or some family photos.
One of the main bonuses in my opinion of a wedding at Brooklyn City Hall is it’s proximity to awesome photo backdrops. The location of the Brooklyn City Clerk’s office is right next to Brooklyn Heights, which is a beautiful neighborhood full of gorgeous brownstone townhomes and quaint streets.
The Brooklyn Marriage Bureau is also walking distance to the Brooklyn promenade, which has sweeping views of the downtown Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge. From there if we have time, you can walk down to Brooklyn Bridge Park for even more epic views without even having to worry about hailing a cab. Alternatively, if you aren’t up for a walk, you can easily grab a cab down to the Brooklyn waterfront from the clerk’s office, it’s about a 5 minute cab ride.
I have a guide to Brooklyn Bridge Park on my site if you need more information on what you’ll find there. The area is full of green space, stunning skyline views, the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge should you want to go for a stroll, as well as Dumbo which has great cobbled streets and fun and colorful street art murals.
If you’re looking for something different for your City Hall wedding, perhaps give Brooklyn at try. Or if you’d rather stick to Manhattan, Brooklyn is always a quick cab ride away!
Looking for more information on how to elope in New York? Check out my guide to NYC elopements!
