San Francisco City Hall Wedding Package -

San Francisco City Hall Wedding | Two Hour Package
Photography and Videography

Your San Francisco City Hall wedding ceremony doesn’t mean you can’t have gorgeous, memorable images to document your wedding. Think about owning a small movie of your day so that you’ll always have it to remember that big day. That’s what we do; We're a wedding videography company and we will create beautiful and fun movie of your wedding. It’s what we love to do and San Francisco's Hall is a superb locale for a wedding video.

We are experienced with several kinds of City Hall weddings. First up is the hush hush wedding that you want to be private and perhaps surprise people with the news later. Some people bring a small group of friends and family, even a best man and maid of honor.

And there’s yet another kind of wedding. There’s a couple or just one of the couple who are shy of the video camera. We are quite experienced with people who are camera shy, no matter what the reason. We’re relaxed and confident and have a way with couples and always get beautiful images. We know your best angles and poses. It just comes naturally to us. It’s our art, what we were meant to do.

Photography saves memorable moments in a way that no other medium can. We all love beautiful photographs, there’s no doubt about it. And videography also saves those moments in its own way. Perhaps most notable is that you have a record of your voices when saying your vows, what you said, how you said it.

Visually, on a large scale, a movie captures the sense of the whole setting with all of the movement, all of the goings on. City Hall’s magnificent architecture and decoration are perfect, no other backdrops are needed. And in smaller scenes you can see a smile begin to spread across a face, tender small gestures, and that one special moment just as it happened. The moment you said, “I do.”

You’ve committed to each other and have chosen to have your City Hall wedding photographed. It’s a digital age and a high definition video of your wedding will be enjoyed by your children and grandchildren. Why not have a movie of your wedding for them too?

IQvideography films in HD video and, for a more nostalgic look, Super 8mm film. I hope you will take a moment to look at some of the movies that IQvideography has created in San Francisco’s City Hall.

San Francisco is fortunate to have one of the great city halls in the country. A big plus is that it’s been recently restored and brought back to its former grace and glory; the marble is shining, the gold leaf is sparking. There are a number of places within city hall to be married. Each has a different look and different light.

If San Francisco City Hall is your choice, I will create a wedding video for you that will document every step in the process. From walking into the building, going to the clerk’s office to get your marriage license, your vows presided over by a judge or perhaps even by Mayor Newsom, to your marriage sealed with a kiss, and smiles all around--once your nerves have flown away.

I’ve created a special package for your city hall wedding. The package is $1395 and includes 2 hours of my time. If you’d like more video of your wedding day at locations around the City or even as far as the wine country, I’m also happy to film some great outdoor footage for you. It makes a nice contract to the indoor footage at city hall. There are obviously so many spots in San Francisco for really wonderful videography. Golden Gate Park has many spots. There’s the courtyard of the Legion of Honor. Land’s end with the Golden Gate in the background. Coit Tower. If you can dream it, I can film it.

Your video will be uploaded to a password encoded site for you and your friends and family to view. Extra hours beyond the 2 hours in the basic package are billed at $500 per hour. For destinations beyond 50 miles, there is a separate mileage charge. Please ask about these options.

We offer City Hall photography package as well. It includes 2 hours of coverage and high resolution files. Our photography package is $1195.

We also offer combo photo/video packages at $2590. Photography package includes (printable & copyright release) high resolution files for $1195 with two hours of coverage. Edited images will be uploaded into password protected online gallery for your family and friends to view and for you to download. For more information about our photography please visit www.iqphoto.com/cityhall

Suggestions for San Francisco City Hall Weddings

I’ve gained a great deal of practical experience concerning city hall weddings that I hope can help in your planning.

If at all possible, obtain your license before your ceremony date. It can take twenty or thirty minutes or more, and Fridays it can take even longer.

San Francisco accepts civil ceremony reservations only within ninety days of a wedding date. If you’re planning a wedding on a popular date, mark that 90 days on your calendar and get to city hall! These dates would include all of the long holiday weekends and dates with interesting numbers such as 09/09/09 and 10/10/10.

Before going to city hall to reserve your date, it would be a good idea to check with us to make sure there is space in our calendar.

Sometimes city hall is crowded with tourists. I’ve found that the best time to avoid the crowd is around 3:00 p.m. I can shoot wonderful panoramic shots when the there are fewer people in the public spaces and I can focus on you as a couple and the friends and family who are accompanying you.

If it’s good lighting you’re looking for, noon has the best light streaming in from the rotunda.

I hope you won’t miss the chance to preserve your city hall marriage as it really happened, moment to moment.

Take a moment to see video samples of San Francisco City Hall marriage ceremonies. Or vew our San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photos.

In addition, we've also created a full guide to help you plan your city hall wedding. Just keep reading...

OUR COMPLETE SAN FRANCISCO CITY HALL WEDDING GUIDE

For those who dream being married at the classical, dreamy and beautiful City Hall of San Francisco, here are some of the frequently asked questions and useful tips that will help you in planning the wedding you’ve always dreamed of.

1. Where is the City Hall located?

The City Hall is strategically located at 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, California 94102, and sandwiched between Grove and McAllister. It is wheelchair accessible so no need to worry about elderly guests or persons with disabilities (PWD’s).

2. How can I make reservations for our big day?

The process is simple. You can either make reservations online or by going to the City Hall personally.

Online reservations

For those who would want to book their reservations in the comforts of their home, you can do so by visiting Online Civil Ceremony Reservations. Payments may be settled via Visa or MasterCard only. Expect to pay an additional $5.00 convenience fee.

Personal reservations

Reservations may also be made directly and personally at the City Hall either by one of the parties or a third person. San Francisco City Hall maintains the policy of “pay as you reserve system” so it’s best to bring some hard cash, but they also accept money order and debit card. Remember that these 3 are the only modes of payment accepted. Take note also that credit cards are not accepted.

3. What do I need to pay for in order to get married at the City Hall?

There are various fees that couples need to pay before celebrating their marriage in this grand location. Couples need to pay for the marriage license and a fee for the marriage ceremony.

a. Marriage license fee- $100

b. Couples may prefer any of the following places where they can hold their wedding ceremonies:

i. Rotunda onsite ceremony or a private ceremony room fee- $77

ii. County Clerk office in the City Hall grounds- $220

iii. Mayor’s Balcony or on the 4th floor- $1,002

For more information in holding a ceremony at the Office of the County Clerk, Room 168, you may contact them personally at their phone number: (415) 554-4950 or by visiting www.sfgov.org/countyclerkor through email at county.clerk@sfgov.org.

Others who are willing to shell out $1,002 for reserving the Mayor’s Balcony, you may directly contact the City Hall Events Department at (415) 554-6068.

4. Where should we process the marriage license?

Proceed directly to Room 168, located on the first floor. You must arrive at the Information Desk together with at least 2 witnesses for check-in 10 minutes before your appointment. If you have more than 2 witnesses, they will be asked to remain in the waiting area.

5. What time and day of the week should I make my reservations?

The City Hall is open for reservations Mondays through Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The City Hall accepts reservations for three weddings at a time; each wedding ceremony will be alloted 30 minutes max.

6. Can I make reservations on the wedding day itself?

Yes. However, it best advisable that you obtain a marriage license and book your wedding ceremony with at least 1 hour interval.

7. Can I cancel or change our wedding date?

Once reservations and payments are made, the time and date are no longer subject to change. So it’s best to finalize your wedding date so as not to put your money to waste should you decide to hold the ceremony on a different date.

8. How many days would the marriage license be valid?

It is valid for 90 days reckoned from the date of its issuance.

9. Can we hold our wedding ceremony on the weekend?

Definitely yes. For couples who opt to hold their weddings in the evening or on a weekend, kindly contact the Office of Specail Events, Room 495, at (415) 554-6079 or by checking them online.

10. How many days in advance should we consider in making reservations?

For those who wish to hold their wedding at the Rotunda, reservations may be made up to 90 days before your preferred date. Weddings to be held on the private Mayor’s Balcony may be reserved up to a year in advance.

Friendly reminder: Avoid booking your weddings on popular dates such as Valentine’s Day because these dates may no longer be available as they book up immediately.

11. What are the essentials that we need to bring on the wedding day itself?

It’s your big day! Relax, breathe and just smile but never ever forget to bring any legal photo identification (ID’s), your marriage license, cash or money order to pay all necessary fees (for those who will book on the same day), 1 witness and maximum guests of 6.

12. Is a witness necessary?

It depends. If you obtained a Private Marriage License, no witness is necessary. For those who secured a Public Marriage License, the presence of a witness is mandatory. Unfortunately if you do not have any witness, the City Hall cannot and will not take part in your ceremony as a witness.

13. Can I rely on my photographer to act as our witness?

Definitely, certainly, absolutely and positively YES. We have done the same favor for our past clients, and we will willingly do it again if we are asked to. It’s an honor and privilege at the same time.

14. How Many Guests Can We Invite?

The maximum is up to 6 guests for wedding ceremonies to be held in the Rotunda or a private ceremony room.

For reservations made in the Mayor’s Balcony, the place can hold up to 100 guests. It is recommended that you provide chairs and tables for your guests. Coordinate with the Office of Special Events for a smooth-flowing ceremony.

15. Where is the ceremony held?

Commissioners determine the place where ceremonies are to be conducted. The usual places are the rotunda, if available or sometimes the 4th floor. Unfortunately, specific requests for the famous rotunda or any other area in the City Hall cannot be acted upon favorably as they cannot assure availability.

For those who paid a whopping $1,002 fee, ceremonies are held either in the Mayor’s Balcony or on the 4th floor. Privacy is guaranteed on these areas as they are cordoned and roped off from the public during your wedding celebration. Both spaces can hold up to 100 guests and it is available for one hour.

16. What’s the best location to hold the wedding?

There are 4 locations in the City Hall to host your wedding event:

a. The Iconic Rotunda (most popular)

Most couples prefer this location, and you couldn’t blame them because this is a magically exquisite and beautiful spot inside the City Hall. However, specific requests to hold your wedding here cannot be availed of as the commissioner has the final say about this. The only downside to this elegant spot is the fact that it is next-door to the elevators and administrative offices, thus expect it to be crowded most of the time. Couples are allowed a maximum of 10 minutes for the ceremony and photo-taking.

b. The typical Private Ceremony Room (mainly for private ceremonies)

The Commissioner, instead of choosing the rotunda, may conduct your wedding at this room. The advantage of this location is that privacy and intimacy of the wedding ceremony is guaranteed as the room is occupied only by you and your 6 guests.

c. The Mayor’s Balcony

This is a charming place to hold your wedding ceremony, but it comes at a price. This is available during weekdays, and the spot is yours and your guests to enjoy for two hours. Although it comes at a steep price, the advantage of it though is the fact that it promises you exclusivity and privacy.

Weekday ceremonies should be conducted before 4:00 p.m.

d. The Fourth floor Monumental Archway

This is one of the best places to hold your wedding as it is one of the private wedding spots where you can hold your ceremonies. The area is roped off to guarantee private and intimate celebrations.

A word of advice: Book the Northern Side of this location to avoid the blinding sun. For weekday celebrations, make sure to start the same prior 4:00 p.m.

17. Can I book the place on weekends or weekday after hours?

Yes. The entire City Hall can be yours, but it may cost you a lot. The best thing about it though is that you get what you pay for as you’ll get a chance to keep the place at your disposal. The whole City Hall is secured and guarded with a number of metal detectors.

This wedding option is available only during Saturdays. Your big event should begin before 3:00 p.m.. It is inclusive of two hours time in the Rotunda, and you can invite as many as 200 guests.

P.S.: For more questions and inquiries, please feel free to contact us and we’ll provide the best possible answers.