Lovely ceremony complete, beautiful wedding photos taken, what could possibly follow such wonderful moments?

Food!

I'm feeling a little guilty here. Not only do we offer the best Wedding Photography service at City Hall, we are also great at suggesting places to grab a quick bite. It's just not fair to our competition. To set the bar even higher we have compiled a list of our local favorites for you to peruse.

GREENS $$

This is an all-vegetarian restaurant located in the Fort Mason complex in the Marina District. Great views and the food is wonderful. Plenty of parking too.

Foreign Cinema $$$

A truly special place and one of the most famous restaurants in the city. Reservations are indeed a must. For a romantic wedding day dinner it really doesn't get any better. And the weekend brunch is one of the best in the city.

OFF THE GRID $

If you happen to be getting married on a Friday during lunchtime the selection of gourmet food trucks at Off the Grid is impressive. And they are all parked right in front of City Hall! From Senor Sisig to Korean BBQ, all of your cravings are covered. There are usually tables set out as well so you can people watch during the busy lunch hour.

5A5 Steak Lounge $$$

For those looking for a bit more, 5A5 easily serves one of the best steaks in the city.  From its unique atmosphere to its attentive staff 5A5 is a wonderful place for any meal. 

Hill Stone $$$

There has been more than once occasion where we actually drive the bride and groom directly from City Hall straight to a celebratory cocktail. The bar program at Hillstone is exceptional as well as the food. No one in the city does classic American comfort food like this place. Reservations recommended.

Picnic on Third $$

A little gem of a place in SOMA, Picnic on Third offers a new lunch menu everyday from Monday through Friday. Past standouts have been traditional Jamaican oxtail stew with rice and peas, and incredible roast meats. They also offer a Happy Hour menu after 3pm. Weekend brunch is a sight to behold, they do not accept reservations.

Garaje $

Another funky casual place in SOMA, Garaje specializes in beer and burgers. It can get a little crowded after 5pm but the line moves quickly and there are two-levels for seating. Cash only.

Brenda's $$

There is no food suggestion list for us without name-dropping Brenda's. There is always a line unless you arrive early (8am or so) but the staff moves things along at a brisk pace and before you know it you are sitting down to Beignets (try the flight of 4) and some delicious gumbo. Just three blocks from City Hall this is a great place to grab breakfast or lunch.

Swan's Oyster Depot $$$

A true San Francisco landmark. Emerson loves this place. Seating is along a long counter and the wait can be over an hour during peak times. But if you can get inside there is no better place to get fresh chilled seafood and chowder. Everything is good on the menu and remember it is cash only. No dinner service here, just lunch.

Osha Thai $$

While there are several OSHA locations scattered across the city, we are decidedly loyal to the Tenderloin location. It stays open the latest and if you ask nicely they will make their Thai Fried Rice with purple shrimp paste just like they do back home in Thailand. Delicious and authentic, what more can you ask for?

Molinari's $

A North Beach institution. This Italian deli has been around for decades and serves some of the best sandwiches in the city. No sitting inside but they do have a few tables in front you can hopefully snag to eat your meal and watch the passerby.

This post is in response to a question we get all the time: when should I schedule my ceremony appointment?  Of course, there really is no "perfect" time to photograph at City Hall,  our goal is to simply find the ideal balance between light and people. Other things to consider are guests, availability of friends and family, and any plans you may have for immediately after your ceremony.

Since City Hall is indoors, it relies on sprawling windows as its main source of light.  These windows diffuse the natural light, resulting in pockets of flattering light throughout the building.  Earlier appointments have the benefit of brighter ambient light, but there is still plenty of lovely light later in the day. If you are considering going to an additional location after your ceremony we do suggest having your City Hall ceremony start by 2pm at the latest. This will allow sufficient travel time to the next location after we are done at City Hall. We are happy to provide transportation for up to 3 people for these on-location shoots and can return you to City Hall afterwards.

Below is a picture of City Hall on a Friday at noon. This performance is a part of a series on cultural heritage taking place for the next 5 months at City Hall.  From the picture you can see the majority of spectators are tourists, who typically enjoy perusing throughout the building around lunch time.

View fullsize

Keep in mind that City Hall is also a fully-functioning government building.  It hosts  UN council meetings, protests and rallies, the Giants and Warriors championship parades, and a number of other city functions.  There is typically a press release on the official San Francisco City Hall site stating if there will be any kind of closure or event taking place. It is a good idea to check this calendar against your ceremony date to make sure there is no conflict.

View fullsize

The ceremony itself is generally quite short. Rarely do they last more than 5 minutes. Therefore, consider what you'd like to do afterwards (besides shooting with us of course!), i.e. are you planning lunch/dinner? Have you made reservations/arranged transportation?  Remember, a little preparation beforehand will save a lot of stress on your big day.  Also check out our article on food for ideas on great places to eat near City Hall.

All this being said we have to say that there is no bad time to take pictures at City Hall. Morning, mid-day, or late afternoon all have their own unique characteristics of light and we utilize them to full effect. Book with confidence knowing we will use this light to create the best possible images for you.

With such great natural light, San Francisco City Hall offers stunning backdrops for photographers and visitors alike.  This article highlights five great spots for taking pictures, and to helps provide people with a sense of familiarity with the building prior to their visit. 

 

* NOTE - NO PARTICULAR ORDER *

1. FRONT OF CITY HALL

A true must-have for anyone getting married at city hall.   This sign is located above the middle door of the main entrance on the Polk Street side, and offers the perfect cover to any photo album.  This spot is relatively easy to access and usually doesn't require a wait (Except when protests or demonstrations are commandeering the front steps!)

2. GRAND STAIRCASE

The grand staircase leading to the rotunda is one of the first things you'll see once you pass security and enter the main building of City Hall. 

This is arguably the most difficult location to photograph since there are often dozens of people trying to get the same shots.  However, with a little patience and luck, great shots await.

3. GOVERNOR'S BALCONY

Staring out at the rotunda  and the vast beauty of City Hall, the Governor's balcony is a perfect location for couples and group shots alike.  While sometimes difficult to secure unattended, it highlights the architectural beauty of City Hall.

4. THIRD FLOOR WINDOWS

These windows are an absolute must for couples visiting city hall.  Not only does everyone have a blast here, the photos turn out incredible.  Further, since most people avoid exploring the upper levels of city hall, these hallways are usually empty.

5. FOURTH FLOOR

In order to truly appreciate the magnificence and grandeur of San Francisco's City Hall, one must venture up to the fourth floor balcony.  Here you'll fine beautiful light for group and couples shots alike.  

* TREE GARDEN *

Technically not inside of City Hall, the trees lined up outside the front entrance make for even more great photo opportunities.  Living above a massive underground parking lot, these trees offer a great spot for people to capture SF City Hall in a different light. 

SF City Hall Wedding Walkthrough

---

SF City Hall Photo began in 2015 as an affordable and high-quality photography service for couples getting married inside the iconic downtown building. After spending so much time in and around the structure, we thought we should share some tips and suggestions for making your San Francisco City Hall wedding even more enjoyable, and perhaps alleviate any confusion you may have about how the entire process works.

Civil ceremonies take place Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 3:30pm. You must first make a reservation online to schedule an appointment for your marriage license and your marriage ceremony.  Payment for both services is due upon making the reservation, and is $107, and $86 respectively.  

Whenever possible, we recommend getting your marriage license on a day other than your ceremony date. However, if your license and ceremony appointments are on the same day, make sure to schedule them at least one hour apart.

      Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio got married at SF City Hall in 1954!

The County Clerks Office in room 168 is where you will check in and handle your paperwork.  You'll receive a ticket before being asked to wait in the hallway until your number is called. Getting through the office is generally a breeze, however, it's always wise to arrive early in case their are delays.  

Once your number is called we go back inside the clerk's office and meet the person who will be marrying you that day. Interestingly enough there are more than a dozen volunteer officiants who rotate during the week. We have had the pleasure of working with almost all of them and, very similar to us, they love what they do.

After greeting and handling paperwork, you will be asked if you are exchanging rings and given the choice of where you would like the ceremony to take place: private room or the Rotunda. The idea of a private room may sound appealing but in reality is a rather drab, windowless box which doesn't allow for stunning images. The Rotunda is the place to be.

You too can be a deputy marriage officiant for a day!

Another thing to keep in mind is the length of the ceremony itself. If you elected to use a city-appointed officiant the ceremony itself lasts no more than 5 minutes. You will also not be allowed to exchange your own vows. A private officiant is something to consider if you would like to share your own written vows with your partner. We enthusiastically recommend the services of San Francisco-based officiant Mark Hespeth. 

After choosing your location you both will be asked to show your identification and sign the marriage license. One witness (Two Max) needs to be present to sign the license as well as the decorative certificate City Hall provides for newlyweds. If your wedding is a low-key affair with just the two of you we can happily act as an official witness and sign the corresponding documents, just let us know.

Finally, the paperwork is settled and you are asked to head upstairs to the Rotunda to wait for the beginning of your ceremony. Typically there are at least 2-3 other couples getting married by the same officiant, so while you may be the first or last, it is best to go straight to the Rotunda forthwith to avoid any delays and potentially lose your place. We can help usher the rest of your party upstairs so everyone can watch this magical moment.

Helpful Links

ONLINE RESERVATION SYSTEM

Fee Schedule

County Clerk Office: General Info, Marriage

County Clerk Office: FAQ