NYC City Hall Elopement Timeline: What Your Wedding Day Could Actually Look Like
Planning your New York City Hall wedding and wondering how the day actually flows? Whether you’re eloping just the two of you or bringing a few guests, this guide walks you through a real wedding-day timeline—from slow mornings to sharing vows, to post-ceremony portraits across the city.
As a documentary-style photographer who’s captured dozens of elopements at the Manhattan and Brooklyn Clerk's Offices, I’m sharing a breakdown that helps you feel calm, prepared, and totally present.
Your NYC City Hall Elopement Timeline
10:30 AM – Slow Morning, Getting Ready
Even if your elopement is intentionally simple, start slow. Get ready together, cue your playlist, share breakfast or coffee in your hotel or apartment. This is your first moment of the day to just be—with no pressure.
📸 Optional: Add-on storytelling coverage of your morning prep
12:00 PM – Vows, Rings & Final Prep
This is your final “just us” moment before heading to the clerk’s office. Double-check your documents, pack your rings, and if you’re sharing private vows, this is a great time to do it—on a rooftop, street corner, or tucked-away stairwell.
Couple Portrait right as they exit 6 Subway Line near City Hall taken by Stef Reyes Photo
12:30 PM – Travel to City Hall
Leave extra time for cabs, subway hiccups, or just nerves.
🗽Pro tip: Manhattan weddings have a busier vibe; Brooklyn tends to be more intimate and low-key.
1:00 PM – Photography Begins: Arrival & Candid Moments
From the moment you arrive, the story begins. I photograph your walk-in, the waiting room glances and all the quiet anticipation. These are the photos that feel like being there later.
1:30 PM – Inside the City Clerk’s Office
Here’s what typically happens:
Go through multiple security points
Get called to do paperwork and payment
Wait to be called to the ceremony room
Get married in a 5–8 minute ceremony
⏳ Wait Times:
Manhattan: 30–90 minutes
Brooklyn: 20–60 minutes (typically quicker)
📸 Yes, I photograph throughout this whole process—some of the most tender, funny, emotional images come from these moments. On days when the wait time is a little longer, we make the most of it by capturing portraits throughout City Hall.
2:00 PM – Exit & Group Portraits
You’re married! Whether it’s just the two of you or your chosen family is there, we’ll capture celebratory portraits right outside, under the arches or steps.
Couple Exiting Manhattan City Hall taken by Stef Reyes Photo
2:15 PM – Walk to a Portrait Location
Let’s take a short walk—maybe through Chinatown, to the Brooklyn Promenade, or into a tucked-away bar or café. This is where the city becomes your backdrop and your love story gets told in real time.
Dancing Portrait of Bride and Groom about to enter their Manhattan City Hall Appointment taken by Stef Reyes Photo
2:30 PM – Creative Portraits on Film
We’ll slow things down and take editorial-style film photos, candids, and documentary moments. Think holding hands across a café table, crossing wet cobblestones, or toasting each other on a park bench.
3:30 PM – Photography Wraps: Shift into Celebration Mode
This could be a rooftop toast, a cozy lunch at your favorite restaurant, or even a dumpling run in Chinatown. Whatever feels most you.
4:00 PM – Optional: The Rest of the Day is Yours
After our time together, I’ll gently step away so you can move into whatever comes next—maybe a quiet hotel moment, a stroll through a museum, or a ferry ride toward a tucked-away dinner in Red Hook.
There’s no one right way to elope at City Hall—but there is a way to make it feel easy, honest, and unmistakably you. This timeline is here to give you clarity, but the real magic comes from how the day unfolds between the moments.
If you’re looking for someone who understands the rhythm of a City Hall wedding—and knows how to move through it without rushing or staging—
✨ I’d love to document it for you ✨
