Step 1: Get Your NYC Marriage License

Before your courthouse ceremony, you’ll need a New York State marriage license.

You can apply online through the NYC City Clerk’s office and then schedule an in-person or virtual appointment to finalize it.


Important details:

  • There is a 24-hour waiting period between receiving your license and having your ceremony.
  • The license is valid for 60 days.
  • Both parties must appear together (with valid ID).
  • Most couples go through the Manhattan office, but you can apply at any borough: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, or Staten Island.

Step 2: Book Your NYC City Hall Ceremony

Once you have your license, you’ll schedule your ceremony appointment through the NYC City Clerk website.

Ceremonies:

Are brief (about 3–5 minutes)

Cost $25

Require at least one witness (we often serve as witnesses if needed)


Typically allow a small number of guests

  • The Manhattan Marriage Bureau is the most popular location - and yes, it’s busy. But that’s part of the magic.

Manhattan Marriage Bureau



Address: 141 Worth Street, New York, NY

The Manhattan Marriage Bureau is iconic.

Expect: Time capsule of love / kitschy meets bureaucracy. Clean, minimal ceremony rooms, Fluorescent lighting (we know how to work with it) Lines on peak days, Couples from all over the world, It’s not ornate — which is exactly why styling and photography matter here.

Step 3: What to Wear to a NYC Courthouse Wedding

There are no rules.

  • We’ve seen:
  • Tailored white suits
  • Mini dresses with gloves
  • Vintage silk
  • Black editorial looks
  • Full bridal gowns
  • Denim and heels


City Hall pairs beautifully with intentional styling. Clean lines. Strong silhouettes. Fashion-forward pieces. The contrast between the bureaucratic setting and a refined look? Always striking. If you’re unsure, we guide our couples through wardrobe planning so your photos feel elevated, not casual.


Step 4: Timing Your Courthouse Wedding

For the best experience:

  • Midweek mornings (Tuesday–Thursday) are the calmest.
  • Avoid Fridays before holiday weekends.
  • Winter is dramatically less crowded than peak summer.

We often recommend:

2 hours total (1 hour for ceremony coverage + 1  hour after for portraits). A 3rd hour can be added as well.


Because the real magic often happens after you leave the building.


The Best Photo Locations After Your Ceremony

One of the biggest mistakes couples make? Leaving immediately.

Your courthouse wedding deserves portraits.

Soho Streets

For couples who lean editorial, SoHo’s cobblestone streets and cast-iron architecture create a fashion-forward backdrop.

This is where courthouse weddings start to feel like campaign shoots.


Should You Hire a Photographer for a Courthouse Wedding?

Short answer: yes.

Long answer: absolutely yes.

A courthouse ceremony lasts minutes. The photographs last forever.


Because City Hall lighting is flat and the ceremony room is minimal, it takes intention and technical skill to make images feel dimensional and emotional. That’s where experience matters.


At 2nd Story Studio, our approach is documentary with an editorial edge. We don’t over-direct. We observe. We anticipate. We shape light. And then we take you outside where the city becomes your backdrop.


Adding Super 8 Film to Your Courthouse Wedding

If you want your day to feel even more nostalgic, Super 8 film works beautifully with courthouse weddings. The grain. The motion. The ambient street sound.


City Hall + Super 8 = old New York romance.

It pairs especially well with:

Short coverage (2–3 hours)

Champagne toasts in Tribeca

Walk-and-talk portraits downtown


How Much Does a NYC Courthouse Wedding Cost?

Here’s a rough breakdown:

Marriage License: $35

Ceremony Fee: $25

Photographer: $2,000 - $6,000

Optional bouquet: $50–300

Dinner reservation: whatever you dream up

Courthouse weddings can be beautifully minimal — or intentionally styled. The beauty is that you choose where to invest.


Why Couples Choose a NYC Courthouse Wedding

We’ve noticed a pattern.


Couples choose City Hall because they want:

Intimacy, Less performance, Less production, More meaning, Or a legal ceremony before a larger celebration later

It strips away expectation. What’s left is just the two of you.

And New York.


Planning Your NYC Courthouse Wedding with 2nd Story Studio

If you’re planning a NYC courthouse wedding and want it documented in a way that feels elevated, honest, and cinematic, we’d love to connect.

We help with:

Timeline planning, Wardrobe guidance, Location scouting, Vendor recommendations, Super 8 add-ons, Serving as your witness if needed Courthouse doesn’t mean casual.

It can be intentional. It can be artful. It can be deeply personal. And in this city, it is always iconic.


Looking for a NYC Courthouse Wedding Photographer?


We specialize in:

  • NYC City Hall weddings
  • Manhattan Marriage Bureau ceremonies
  • Brooklyn courthouse weddings
  • Elopements and intimate celebrations

Reach out to 2nd Story Studio to begin planning your New York courthouse wedding.