You’re planning to elope in New York? Congrats! New York City is an amazing place to elope and makes it super easy for everyone to have the wedding they want to have. If you’re deciding to elope in New York, the first question you need to answer is where would you like to have your elopement?
There are two main options, at a City Clerk’s Office or somewhere out in the city. There are pro’s and con’s to both options for elopement ceremonies in New York, and I’ve written about them extensively here and here. However, for the purposes of this post, we are going to talk about getting married at City Hall aka the City Clerk’s Office. There is a City Clerk’s office in each borough, the Manhattan Marriage Bureau tends to be the one most people think of and is the most popular. I have a whole guide to getting married there on my site here: Guide to City Hall Weddings in NYC.
However, I’ve had more and more couples lately opt for the Brooklyn option and it can be a great fit for many folks, especially if the Manhattan appointments have filled up. Debating between the two? Check out this post to weigh your options!
If you’ve made your decision to get married at Brooklyn City Hall and just want to know more about eloping in Brooklyn? Great! You’ve come to the right place!
Do you need an appointment to get married at Brooklyn City Hall?
First things first. Since 2021, you can’t do anything at a City Clerk’s office without an appointment. Whether you’re coming for your license or your ceremony, make sure to make an appointment on the Project Cupid website. Your marriage license appointment must be complete at least 24 hours before the ceremony (but you can make both appointments at the same time.) Appointments are usually released 3 weeks before on Mondays at 9am.
How do you get to Brooklyn City Hall?
You have your appointment for your wedding at Brooklyn City Hall? Awesome. Now to get you there! The Brooklyn City Clerk’s Office (aka City Hall) is in the Brooklyn Municipal Building at 210 Joralemon Street. It’s a big building with huge columns out front. You can take the 4/5 (green line) subway to Borough Hall and just walk upstairs, or it’s about 2 blocks from the 2/3 (red line) Borough Hall stop.
Once you enter the building, you will have to pass through security and then head up to the second floor. If you have folks waiting, they can wait for you just off the elevators here, but won’t be allowed to wait in front of security.
After you get off the elevators, turn immediately right, and then right again when you’re facing the big windows. You’ll see signs to the Marriage Bureau office from there.
How does it work once you get inside Brooklyn City Hall?
Once you get up to the second floor and find the marriage office, you’ll check in with the person at the desk. They’ll give you a number and you can sit in the waiting area. You’ll be called up by your number to speak with a clerk at one of the desks. There you will sign your license and pay the fee. Your witness will also need to sign the license at this point. Afterwards you will head into the ceremony waiting area and then be called in for your ceremony by name. The ceremony happens in a private separate room. After this you’ll be handed your license and officially official!
How many guests can you have for your City Hall Wedding in New York City?
Technically, the rule for all city hall weddings in NYC is 4 guests, NOT including children under 12 and INCLUDING the photographer. So there will be 6 people total allowed included the couple. That said, I have seen Brooklyn City Hall be more lax about these rules then Manhattan. I’m saying this with all the caveats that it will always depend on the front desk person working, and the rule is 4 guests, but while I have never seen anyone get more people into the office in Manhattan, I have personally seen it happen several times in Brooklyn when an extra person just walks in with the group. One of these guests needs to be your witness. While you can have two witnesses sign, you only NEED one.
What is the waiting area like at Brooklyn City Hall?
I will be honest, the waiting areas in the Brooklyn City Clerk’s office are not great from a beauty perspective. They are DMV chic, if you will. Plastic chairs, no décor, and white walls and the room for the ceremony waiting has oddly yellow walls and could use some serious renovation love. However, that said, we still get fun photos, and if you know what to expect, it’s all good.
What is the wedding ceremony like at Brooklyn City Hall?
The ceremony room for weddings at Brooklyn City Hall is much nicer then the waiting areas and has lots of space. There is a glass mural piece behind the lectern and wooden podium. The civil wedding ceremony at City Hall is the same in every borough; short and sweet and to the point. You can exchange rings if you wish, affirm you wish to marry your spouse and kiss at the closing if you so choose. It’s about 30-45 seconds long.
How long is the wait time at Brooklyn City Hall?
Just like at the Manhattan City Hall office, the wait time is unpredictable. I find on average it’s about 30ish minutes, occasionally a bit longer, sometimes a bit shorter.
Where are the best places to take pictures after your wedding at Brooklyn City Hall?
This is one of the main reasons people chose Brooklyn City Hall for their New York City elopements! As an NYC Elopement photographer, I think it’s a great spot! We’ve got loads of wonderful options for photos, especially if you want to see some skyline and have beautiful brownstone neighborhood vibes.
Cadman Plaza
The closest spot to Brooklyn City Hall for photos after your elopement is Cadman Plaza. There is currently a ton of construction outside the municipal building, but if we cross the street and walk one block there’s an open plaza space that is great for family photos. There is a nice fountain here, and another government building with nice steps and columns that makes a good backdrop. If you want to do a confetti pop photo, this is a great spot for it!
Usually I have couples do family photos here, and then we depart for couple photos.
Brooklyn Heights
If you’re up for strolling a few blocks, Brooklyn Heights is a beautiful neighborhood for your New York elopement photos. There are loads of gorgeous classic brownstones, quiet streets, and lots of stoops for us to enjoy. There are several streets that are very photogenic within a 5-10 minute walk of the clerk’s office. If you’re looking for classic Brooklyn neighborhood, look no further.
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
If you want to catch a glimpse of the skyline and Brooklyn Bridge, but don’t want to go all the way down to the waterfront this is the perfect spot to end your session. I often take couples through Brooklyn Heights and then we end with the views of the promenade. It’s perfect to get that sweeping view of downtown Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Two options for Brooklyn Bridge Park for your wedding or elopement photos, we can take a cab from City Hall, or we can continue our walk from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, down the Squibb Bridge, which also has some fun views, and end up on the waterfront on the far edge of Pier 1. From here we can walk as far as you like and take in all the views Brooklyn Bridge Park has to offer! There’s loads to see and stunning views for photos all around. If after checking out the park, you decide to have your elopement in Brooklyn Bridge Park, I can help there too!
If you’re looking for classic NYC Elopement Photos with all the skyline and bridges to make your friends back home jealous, this spot is huge popular for a reason!
Dumbo, Brooklyn
This is the neighborhood that is just above Pier 1 of Brooklyn Bridge Park. It has the classic street shot with the Manhattan Bridge you’ve seen all over Instagram, as well as lots of other fun street art. If you want to add a little funky, industrial vibe to your classic brownstones, it’s a great spot!
Anywhere you chose, there are tons of options for photos after your Brooklyn City Hall elopement! If you need more ideas, or help planning your NYC elopement, don’t be afraid to reach out! More information on eloping on my site is on my site here: Guide to NYC Elopements!
