The ideas below run from the courthouse’s own officiant to a post-signing dinner or rooftop, and how much budget you keep for after the signing is what shapes your pick, since the legal part is identical either way.
The marriage license and a valid photo ID for each of you are fixed, and since witness rules vary by county and state, I’d confirm that part with your clerk’s office.
1. Marriage License
Bring the license to the ceremony, because without it the officiant has nothing to sign. A marriage license lists both names and dates, so check every spelling before you leave the counter; a typo here carries straight into your certificate.
Rules and fees vary by county, so look up your own clerk’s page for ID requirements, waiting periods and how long the license stays valid. Do that before you book a ceremony date.
2. Post-ceremony Celebrations Dinner
A dinner after the ceremony gives a short City Hall wedding the long, relaxed part it would otherwise lack.
A booth at a favorite restaurant works well for a small group, and it keeps the cost to one bill instead of a venue, a caterer and rentals.
Call ahead and ask about a reservation for your group. Keep the table decorations to a few pieces, since a restaurant with dark wood and low lighting already sets the mood.
3. City Hall Ceremony Officiants
Many City Halls provide an officiant, which means you can skip hiring one.
Ask when you book whether one is assigned to your time slot, and whether the ceremony is a standard script or can include a few of your own words.
For a couple on a tight budget, this is the easiest line item to cross off. A wood-paneled room with a desk and a couple of flags is plain, but the vows count the same.
4. Formal Ceremony Attire
Wear what you would pick if nobody were budgeting for you. A City Hall ceremony has no dress code, so a white dress with a bouquet and a suit are as welcome as jeans.
I lean toward going formal.
The ceremony is short, and the outfit is what you will see in every photo afterward, especially if you walk a few city blocks together. Dress for the walk, though: comfortable shoes beat a hem that drags on pavement.
5. Rooftop with a View
A rooftop stretches a short ceremony into a full afternoon. Choose a spot with a skyline behind it, and plan photos right after you sign, while the bouquet is fresh and everyone is still smiling.
Check whether the space is public or needs a reservation, and have a backup indoors in case of rain.
A restaurant you love or a place that means something to you works just as well if no rooftop fits the budget.
6. Marriage Certificate Copies
Order certified copies, not photocopies. Look for a certified copy with a raised, embossed seal, because agencies want that seal when you change a name or update records.
Ask the clerk how many you can get at the counter and what each costs; ordering several up front is usually easier than requesting more later. Keep one copy somewhere safe and never laminate it.
7. City Hall Elopement Photographer
A photographer who has shot City Hall weddings before will know where the best light and the grandest spots are, such as a balcony with columns and gold railings like this one.
That knowledge is worth more than a long portfolio of beach sessions.
Ask to see full City Hall galleries, not a handful of highlights. Check that the photographer is comfortable working fast in a short ceremony slot and in a busy public building, since you get one chance at the vows.
On a tight budget, I would spend here before spending on flowers. These photos are what remains of a city hall ceremony, which is why a photographer matters more here than at almost any other kind of wedding.
Ceremony Day Preparation
Arrive early, and plan on a security check at the door, since City Hall is a working government building. Lines at the scanner can eat into a short time slot.
Pack a folder with your printed marriage license, since a virtual copy needs to be on paper.
Both of you need a valid photo ID, such as a passport, driver’s license or state ID. Your witness needs one too, and must be at least 18.
Payment rules differ by city.
In Boston it is $75 and cash only, with an extra $25 if you run late. Check your own city’s rules before the day, and bring the exact form of payment.
Slip rings, vow books and anything you want photographed into the same bag, so nothing gets left at home.
The wedding ceremony costs $75 ($60 plus a $15 City service fee). If you are late, you will be charged an extra $25.
Legal Requirements
The legal bar is low. Each of you must be 18 or older and not currently married.
If either of you has been married before, find out what your county clerk wants to see about that earlier marriage ending. I would ask this before anything else, since it can hold up the license.
Then match the paperwork to the rules: a valid photo ID for each of you and the marriage license itself. Without the license and your IDs, the ceremony cannot go ahead.
Post-ceremony Options
Your options run from small to large, and none is the wrong one. Dinner for two at a place with real meaning for the pair of you is the easiest way to close out the day.
If you want more people, a micro reception of 15 to 30 guests feels like a real celebration without a full production. You can rent a small room or a whole restaurant for it.
Some couples sign at City Hall and plan a bigger party months later. I like that route when the budget is tight, because the legal part is done and you can save for the party at your own pace.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to get married at City Hall?
Fees vary by city, and the figures in my sources run from about $60 to $124 for the license and ceremony.
In New York City, the license runs $35 and the ceremony another $25, so $60 covers everything, though the city takes only cards or money orders. Check your own clerk’s page for the exact amount and accepted payment.
Can you go to a courthouse and just get married?
Usually not on the spot, since appointments are required for both the license and the ceremony. New York City, for example, takes in-person appointments only and allows no walk-ins.
Call your local clerk’s office to book a slot, then show up with your printed license, a photo ID for each of you, and one witness aged 18 or older.
Can I get married at City Hall in Massachusetts?
Yes; Massachusetts only asks that you both be at least 18 and free to marry, meaning neither of you has a living spouse on record.
At Boston City Hall, the ceremonies are performed by the City Clerk or the Assistant City Clerk.
