How to Get Married at NYC City Hall: A Step-by-Step Guide

Everything you need to know about getting married at NYC City Hall, from booking your marriage license appointment to what to expect on your wedding day. Updated for 2026.

Getting married at NYC City Hall is one of the most iconic ways to tie the knot in New York. It's straightforward, affordable, and genuinely special in its own low-key way. Whether you're planning a simple legal ceremony before a bigger celebration or you're fully embracing the elopement life, this guide walks you through everything you need to know, from your first appointment to the moment you walk out married.

Step 1: Get Your Marriage License

Before anything else, you'll need a marriage license. In New York City, licenses are issued through the City Clerk's Office via their online booking system called Project Cupid (cityclerk.nyc.gov). You can book either a virtual appointment or an in-person one.

Virtual vs. In-Person License Appointments

Virtual appointments are done over Microsoft Teams and are a great option if you want to handle the paperwork without making an extra trip. Here's the catch: both of you need to be in the same physical location during the call, and you both need to be in New York State at the time of the appointment (not just when you're booking it). Virtual slots are released every Thursday at 9am EST, roughly three weeks out.

In-person appointments are available at any of the five NYC Marriage Bureau locations. Manhattan's office is at 141 Worth Street. Slots are released every Monday between 8:30am and 9am EST, also three weeks in advance. In 2026, slots have been more available than in previous years, but popular times still go fast, so be ready to check the portal right at 8:30am on Mondays. If Monday is a holiday, the release shifts to Tuesday.

What You'll Need for the License Appointment

• Valid government-issued photo ID for both of you (passport or driver's license works)

• If either of you has been previously married, you'll need documentation of how that marriage ended

• Payment of $35 (credit card or money order)

You'll fill out an application with basic personal info, including your parents' names and birthplaces, so have that handy before your appointment.

Important License Details

• Your license is valid for 60 days from the date it's issued

• You must wait at least 24 hours after receiving your license before you can get married

• If you did a virtual appointment, you'll need to print the license before bringing it to your ceremony

Step 2: Book Your Ceremony Appointment

Once you have your license (or at least a confirmed license appointment date), you can book your ceremony through Project Cupid. Ceremony appointments are also released every Monday at 9am EST, three weeks out.

Ceremony times are available Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 3:45pm. The office closes for lunch from 12pm to 1pm, so the last morning slot is 11:30am and the next available is 1pm. No walk-ins, no exceptions.

A few things to keep in mind when choosing your time:

• Slots drop between 8:30am and 9am on Mondays — don't wait until 9am, start checking at 8:30

• Friday afternoon slots fill up first, often before slots for any other time of the week

• In 2026, overall availability has been better than prior years, so don't panic if you miss a Monday release. Cancellations happen regularly and it's worth checking back throughout the week

• If Monday is a federal holiday, the release moves to Tuesday

• If you dont see a slot you want, say at 10pm, try refreshing the page the next day at 8:30am, sometimes new slots show.

Step 3: What to Bring on Your Wedding Day

• Your printed marriage license (don't forget this one). It may help to bring a folder to keep it safe.

• Valid photo ID for both of you

• Your witness (at least one is required; they must be 18+ with valid ID)

• $25 ceremony fee (separate from the license fee)

• Up to 6 adult guests total, including yourselves, your witness and photographer. A limited number of children under 12 are also permitted.

Step 4: What to Expect When You Arrive

Plan to arrive about 15 to 30 minutes before your scheduled time. You'll enter through security at 141 Worth Street, show your IDs, and check in at the front desk. Everyone in your group will need to show ID, so make sure your guests know to bring theirs.

Once you're checked in, you'll receive a numbered ticket and wait in the main lobby until your number is called. The energy in there is actually kind of wonderful. It's a mix of couples from all over the world, proud families, and the occasional burst of cheers when someone walks out married.

When your number is called, you'll head to a clerk's station to hand over your marriage license and IDs. Your witness (which I’m happy to be if you need) will sign here. You'll pay the $25 fee at this point too.

After that, there's a second wait before you're called into one of the two ceremony rooms. The rooms are small but sweet. Put your bags and coats to the side, hold hands, and take it in. The ceremony itself takes about 30 seconds to a minute, and then you're married.

The entire process from arrival to walking out is usually 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how busy it is.

When Do You Get Your Marriage Certificate?

If you're a US couple, you'll receive your certificate right after the ceremony. International couples will have theirs mailed to them.

Tips for Making the Most of It

Hire a photographer. The City Hall ceremony itself is brief and beautiful in its simplicity, but the day doesn't have to be. Some of the most gorgeous elopement photos I've ever seen were taken in and around the Worth Street area, down by the Brooklyn Bridge at South Seaport, or wandering through Tribeca. Having a photographer with you means you'll actually remember what it felt like. (And yes, your photographer counts toward your 4-guest limit, so plan accordingly.)

Think about your outfit practically. The ground around Worth Street and the surrounding area is New York City sidewalk, which means it's not exactly clean. If you're wearing a long dress with a train, you'll spend half the day thinking about where it's dragging. Wear something you love that you can actually move in. And if it's cold out, wear a coat you don't mind being photographed in.

Book your photographer before you book your ceremony. Fridays and popular dates move fast, and a good photographer's calendar will fill up before ceremony slots do. Get your photographer locked in first, then coordinate your timing with them.

Plan something after. Brunch, dinner, a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, drinks somewhere you love. The ceremony is quick, but the day can be as full and celebratory as you want it to be.

The Five NYC Marriage Bureau Locations

You're not limited to the Manhattan office. There are five locations across the boroughs:

• Manhattan – 141 Worth Street (the most iconic, with great photo spots nearby)

• Brooklyn – 210 Joralemon Street

• Queens – 120-55 Queens Boulevard, Kew Gardens

• The Bronx – 851 Grand Concourse (note, photography is not allowed inside the building)

• Staten Island – 10 Richmond Terrace

You can use any office regardless of where you live.

Quick Reference Checklist

For your license appointment:

• Valid photo ID for both partners

• Documentation of any previous marriages (if applicable)

• $35 fee (credit card or money order)

For your ceremony:

• Printed marriage license

• Valid photo ID for both partners

• Witness (18+, with ID)

• $25 ceremony fee

• Up to 4 adult guests total (including witness and photographer)

Getting married at City Hall is honestly so romantic and intimate. There's something real and grounded about it. You're making it official in one of the greatest cities in the world, surrounded by the people you actually want there. No fuss, no performance. Just you two and whatever comes next.

If you're planning a City Hall elopement and you want someone there to capture it, we'd love to be your photographer.

Looking for more NYC city hall inspo? Check out a recent city hall elopement here.