Everything You Need to Know About a NEW YORK City Hall ELOPEMENT
And why it might be the most romantic thing you ever do.
New York Magazine just published their guide to having a City Hall wedding, and I was lucky enough to be featured. This is work I've been doing for years and it's some of my favorite work. City Hall weddings are intimate, unscripted, and completely their own thing. No production. No timeline pressure. Just you two, making it real.
If you're thinking about eloping at City Hall or just want to know what the day actually feels like, here's a more detailed outline of what to expect from someone who's spent a lot of time in that capturing it.
The logistics
How it actually works
The ceremony takes place at the NYC City Clerk's Office at 141 Worth Street in Manhattan — not City Hall proper, despite the name. You'll need a marriage license first (get it at least 24 hours in advance via the Project Cupid portal, $35 fee), then book a separate ceremony appointment. Slots open three weeks out on Mondays at 9am — Friday afternoons go fast, so set a reminder.
You can bring up to four adult guests, and your photographer counts as one. The ceremony itself runs about three minutes. What takes the most time is the wait — and that waiting room is where some of my favorite photos happen, the iconic green couches.
"I walk my couples through what to expect, down to the hour — so when the moment comes, all they have to think about is each other."
— Meredith Morris, as quoted in New York Magazine
Past Elopements
Couples I've had the honor of photographing
Planning a New York City Hall Elopement?
Let’s connect.
Your love story deserves to be captured.
xx
Meredith
