Elopement / City Hall
$1,500–$2,500
2–3 hrs, ceremony + portraits
Start with Elopement / City Hall. Keep the portrait route close to the bureau and identify the photographs you would protect if waiting takes longer.
Ask about Elopement / City HallFor couples planning a civil ceremony
City Hall wedding photography, with room for the whole moment.
Start with 2–3 hrs, ceremony + portraits at $1,500–$2,500. Plan the appointment, waiting and portraits together, so a short ceremony does not become a rushed photography session.
Request City Hall coverageFree inquiry. Availability and final scope are confirmed before booking.
Choose coverage around your day.
These are the approved wedding packages. The first is the starting point for a City Hall ceremony; longer coverage is useful when the celebration extends beyond nearby portraits. Ask to review relevant work from the proposed photographer before deciding.
Half Day
$2,500–$5,000
5 hrs, ceremony through reception
Compare Half Day when you want a second neighborhood or reception coverage. Include travel and the meal start time in your brief; five hours is not five hours of portraits.
Ask about Half DayFull Day
$5,000+
8+ hrs, getting ready through send-off
Compare Full Day for a longer celebration. Confirm the exact start and finish, locations and photographer coverage in the written quote.
Ask about Full DayPersonal use is included. Confirm editing, deliverables and delivery date in the quote. City fees, venue hire, permits, styling and travel are separate where needed. Photography coverage does not include an officiant, ceremony appointment or guaranteed witness service.
Build a plan that can absorb a wait.
This is an illustrative planning sequence, not a guaranteed bureau timetable or a completed client shoot. Decide what matters most before assigning minutes: ceremony, essential family photographs, then one portrait route.
01
Before the appointment
Confirm the bureau, appointment and photographer meeting point. Keep documents accessible and nominate someone to hold bags during portraits.
02
Check-in, waiting and ceremony
Leave room for the bureau's process. Ask how waiting counts toward paid coverage and what happens if the appointment runs beyond the agreed finish.
03
First portraits outside
Photograph the couple and essential guest groups first. Write a short list of names so someone can gather each group without repeated searching.
04
Optional second location
Choose one priority backdrop. Walking, traffic, clothing changes and access checks use time; protect a nearby portrait option before adding a transfer.
Nearby first; a landmark second.
For a Manhattan ceremony, discuss a short Lower Manhattan portrait route before adding Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO or Central Park. Choose for walking comfort, guest mobility, weather and access. A distant backdrop needs a separate travel allowance; it is not automatically included because it appears on a wish list.
Separate your ceremony arrangements from photography.
NYC requires an appointment for a City Clerk ceremony. Check the official requirements for your license, identification and witness before planning the shoot. The ceremony booking and photography inquiry are separate processes.
NYC311 ceremony requirements and appointment guidance
Bring comfortable walking shoes, a weather layer, a compact bag and your essential group-photo list. Tell the photographer about mobility needs and anyone who needs to leave early. Confirm current guest and photographer admission rules directly with the bureau.
Include these details in your inquiry.
- Ceremony date, borough and appointment time, or whether it is still pending.
- Guest count, witness arrangements and accessibility needs.
- Priority photographs and one preferred portrait area.
- Getting-ready or reception coverage, with addresses and times.
- Delivery deadline, editing expectations and privacy preferences.
The optional $100 priority deposit after intake is credited toward the session but does not reserve a date by itself. A date is secured only after availability, scope, the booking agreement, and the required booking retainer are confirmed in writing.
Before you book.
Can the photographer be our witness?
Witness service is not included in the published catalog. Arrange your own eligible witness unless the proposed photographer explicitly agrees in writing. Tell us early if you need help so you can resolve this before the ceremony.
Can we book only an hour?
The published Elopement / City Hall package is 2–3 hours. If you need a different scope, describe it in the inquiry and request a written quote. This page does not offer a separate one-hour package.
How many photographs will we receive, and when?
The catalog specifies coverage, but does not set an image count or delivery deadline for these wedding packages. Agree on edited image quantity, selection, retouching, file delivery and timing before booking. Mention any announcement deadline.
What happens in rain or if we are delayed?
Agree on a weather decision time and a permitted alternative in advance. Indoor access is not included or guaranteed. Confirm delay, extra-coverage, cancellation and rescheduling terms in the booking agreement.
Can we keep the photographs private?
Tell us whether you want private delivery and whether you consent to portfolio or social publication. Ask for those preferences to be recorded in the agreement; do not assume that a public gallery is required.
Want portraits on another day? Explore engagement photography for a separate couple session.
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