San Francisco City Hall

As a wedding photographer, San Francisco's City Hall is nothing short of a dream. The iconic architecture, stunning natural light, and timeless elegance provide the perfect backdrop for capturing unforgettable moments. The grand staircase, with its soft glow and sweeping design, is always a showstopper for portraits, while the rotunda offers a magical setting for ceremonies. Every corner of City Hall—from the ornate balconies to the intricate details of the ceilings—feels like it was designed with photography in mind. The staff is professional and efficient, making the experience smooth and enjoyable for couples and vendors alike. Whether it's an intimate elopement or a grand affair, this venue consistently delivers breathtaking images that my clients treasure forever. San Francisco's City Hall isn’t just a venue; it’s a masterpiece, and I always look forward to photographing weddings there. Highly recommend!

I love spending my lunchtime here from other offices nearby because it is a very nice venue for all lovers of art and love alike. There’s always a ton of couples celebrating their love & making long term commitments here under the eyes of god. Place has four floors with many important city offices and services that are all accessible to the citizens of this great city.

SF City Hall at night is mesmerizing. I took a tour during the day and was not disappointed! I enjoyed learning the history and seeing where laws for the city are debated and enacted.

From the minute you walk in it's amazing. The security team is so friendly and efficient. The building is something out of Roman or Greek architecture and the the experience of having your wedding here is amzing! It's a little hard to hear the officiant unless they use their outdoor voice or a mic/PA but the setting, the the ambiance and the historical value of celebrating here is one of a kind. We attended my son's wedding here and were thrilled with the experience and highly recommend it it. I also recommend ride-share here as it made it much easier to be dropped off in front rather than seek and pay for parking. Very much a great venue for weeding ceremonies!

This is one of the most stunning City Hall's I've had the pleasure of photographing at! My visits here have been such a joy, from the exterior to the interior the architecture provides incredible ambience for an elopement or intimate wedding. At the last wedding I captured here, the client reserved the balcony and it was a stunning place to exchange vows and a comfortable space for an intimate ceremony. I believe that a one hour rental can be booked to accomodate 40-60 guests, and an additional hour affords you a quartet and cocktail hour. Such a fantastic location!!

🇺🇸This is my first time visiting San Francisco city hall,and it’s very magnificent & exquisite. The architecture itself is so beautiful that I feel pleasant whenever I see the city hall in person or on the photo.It’s worth visiting & seeing the city hall in San Francisco in our life time.😊

Stunning city hall with an amazing dome. There were many weddings going on while I was here. It is an absolutely beautiful work of architecture.

As a photographer, SF City Hall is a dream location and a gorgeous building. Been there bunch of times covering elopements, weddings ceremonies and love couple portraits and this place always surprise me. Something about the light and architecture, the white and contrast. If you're a couple looking for getting married, don't think it twice and go for it, you won't regret the whole experience. Enjoy the whole four floors and the emblematic picures on each on e of them.

Park in the civic center garage and walk over. Because finding street parking anywhere is like winning the lottery. Ok, maybe not that difficult but pretty close. Not sure what I can contribute since there's a million reviews that are probably much more articulate and helpful. It's a beautiful and historic building with a lot happening all the time. I like visiting once in a while to be reminded of these facts. Nothing like a cousin in law's small and intimate wedding to enjoy. The bathrooms are spacious and private. At least, the one I used didn't have any stalls and was nice. Can't wait to come back again for another wedding!

This review is just for the SF city ball wedding venue. Closes off to public at 6pm. Security escorts and checks. You have to pass through your bags and such through the machine to enter. It is just beautiful inside. For the winter even better with the light up Christmas tree. The rotunda with the steps/ stairs is where most people go for photos and the private weddings are held. I believe there's 4 floors and I saw many people including newly weds taking photos everywhere because of the beautiful architecture and design. Elevator can take you to garage

Excited to be included in Mayor Lurie's Inauguration! Happy and festive day blessed by sunny blue skies!

First time here at San Francisco City Hall and it was for a friend's wedding. Arrived at about 15 minutes to 9 am and the doors were locked. We thought maybe we were at the wrong entrance since the invite said 9 am. A Sheriff officer from within the building came out and said we were in the right spot but that the doors don't open til 9 pm the weekends. And so we had to wait. Once inside we went through security check and then into the mail hall where the tall staircase is at. The guest seating for the weekend has us all facing the staircase, with the backdrop of the beautifully light Christmas tree and exquisite patterns in the walls and ceiling. Similar to the design and pattern of the Legion of Honors. Beautiful venue!

Such a pretty place to get married! Been here multiple times for wedding, and every time, I am blown away by its stunning architecture. The building is absolutely gorgeous, from the grand staircase to the 3rd floor windows to the 4th floor balcony. The natural light flooding through the massive windows adds to the charm, making it perfect backdrop for photos.

Having lived in San Francisco for many years and having worked a block away for 26 years, I've taken for granted this iconic civic structure, City Hall. It is also known as the People's Palace as it is the seat of government for the City and County of San Francisco. Built in 1915 in the Civic Center area, the two block Beaux-Arts structure is a National Historical Landmark and is one of the largest and most beautiful City Halls in the country and is a subject photographers and movies. Its dome is also taller than that of the US Capitol. The building has gone through renovations over the years and it now features color changeable LED lighting at the outside of the rotunda and between the columns to coincide with different events happening in the City and elsewhere. The building has been lit up with Warriors, Forty-Niners and Giants colors, and for holidays just as Fourth of July. Many couples come here to be married, like my sister. Civic events and inaugurations are held here. Recently, the late Senator Dianne Feinstein's viewing and funeral was held here. She was a great Supervisor and Mayor for San Francisco and lastly as US Senator for the California. RIP! It was a great tribute that your funeral was held in the iconic City Hall.

2nd time at a private event held here. The first was in high school for senior prom. It was a good time, though I did feel the space was too big for how many people there were. The most recent time was for a wedding ceremony. My boy got married!!! Holy crap. They say once the first one goes, the rest of them will follow. I think my friend Barry real-estate-agent Cheung goes next, but who knows. The venue was large with many rooms, but of course there's only one place to do the ceremony. The only downside I could say is that they rush you out of the doors as soon as time is up. It felt like I was being ushered out of a rave or concert. Beautiful venue overall. I know nothing about cost or services.

The San Francisco City Hall is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. It is equal parts functional government building and historical museum. The main entrance is off UN Plaza and next to the Pan American Exhibition Hall. You have to go through security to enter, but it's free. The main atrium contains the staircase made famous in Raiders of the Lost Ark among other films. Off to the sides are the court houses which contain items and exhibits of historical interest including the original vault, models of the building, and San Francisco history. This is a great free activity to do on a visit to the city. Seeing UN Plaza on the exit is also a beauty of its own; there are city museums and other points of interest nearby. The building and stairs are popular wedding photo locations as well.

City Hall tax collectors office has some of the most rude and passive aggressive employees I've ever worked speaking to somebody in a belittling beneath you manner especially Erica

City Hall is such an iconic place- so many things have happened here. Winner of an Emmy Award in 2016, this remarkable piece of architecture had some dramatic events that have taken place under its dome: labor strife, political assassinations, civil rights struggles, and celebrations that have forged the character of contemporary San Francisco. Fiancé and I had other plans for our wedding but during the Covid age, we decided to hunker down in beautiful City Hall with close family and friends once it opened its doors for in-person marriage ceremonies. You have to register on their website for a marriage license and ceremony appointment. Make sure to print, complete and bring the required license form from the website to your appt. Upon stepping in City Hall, I was in awe. The domed ceiling, stairs, rotunda in the lobby were simply gorgeous. I felt like an ant and unworthy to be in its presence. My two female friends got married there when same sex marriage was allowed and it was absolutely magnificent and emotional. It's no wonder so many flock to its doors to tie the knot. We were able to get some stunning photos in the building, including the ceremony in front of the gold laden magical Christmas tree in the top staircase of the rotunda. Judge John who presided for us was so awesome. City Hall will always hold a special place in my heart for us and I'm so happy we were able to get married here during the pandemic!

How can you not love this place! I really do like coming here to conduct business. City hall workers are the best

I love the building, it is in my opinion THE NICEST building in all of San Francisco. I love the fact that the building changes its lightening based on what is happening, whether it is the gay parade or the Warriors playing or July 4th. I loved that I had a better and unique view than everyone else, waking up every day to this view is amazing.

Me and my husband had a civil ceremony here recently. Arriving to the location we were all extremely stressed because we were running late. We bounced around the whole building trying to figure out where to check in. When we finally found the correct room Ariel greeted us. She was our officiant and as soon we entered her presence she was able to calm the entire group down. While we signed our paperwork she offered me a small fan and was nothing but pleasant the entire time. Thanks to her we really got through the rest of the day with ease. She made our day so memorable and we will remember her for the rest of our lives.

Came here for a civil ceremony wedding on a very rainy day and despite the weather I truly enjoyed the entire process despite the rain. We were fortunate to have Judge Ted who was very personable who presided over the ceremony. The entire process was stress free and recommend it to those who don't want a lot of hoopla.

The secretaries in the Mayor's Office are very rude and they discriminate against black men.I visit the office three times about my door being broken for 10 days,they told me to get out of office and they didn't care.Very unprofessional staff and San Francisco needs new leadership at the Mayor's office.

Kit did such a great job at record speed. The experience I had here warranted a great positive review. She's multi-lingual, speaking English and Cantonese fluently. (Probably speaks Mandarin too but I didn't ask.) If you need record business taken care of, she's my go-to. Recommend in the utmost regard respectfully so!

So the roommate and I finally did it. We filed some paperwork. He made an appointment about a week prior for Monday, March 25th at 8:15am. From what he told me, it was pretty easy. He just went online and did it. When you have an appointment, you still have to stand in line. But we didn't have to wait long to be seen. There were only a few people in line when we got here. All we needed were our IDs and the paperwork. Do make sure everything is filled out correctly as the guy helping us made sure we understood that if we messed up the papers, it would cost $$$ to redo it. (Not sure how much, but I think it was something like $100.) After we got it signed, the roommate went back a few weeks later and turned it in. I didn't even have to be here. City Hall itself is very pretty. When we walked in, we saw a bunch of people on the staircase under the dome taking pix. It's a very pretty setting. I don't know if most things at City Hall are this easy, but early on a Monday morning, everything went smoothly. We were done in around 15 mins. Street parking can be a challenge as most of it is designated parking, so just park in the Civic Center Garage. It was only $3 for a little less than 30 mins. Pretty place to file some papers.

I was very fortunate to attend the 2020 PGA Championship Unveiling Gala. As a former political operative, it was a nostalgic visit. I've not stepped foot into the City Hall for at least 25 years. The Rotunda was transformed into mini golf dioramas of San Francisco's iconic neighborhoods. I wish I knew who catered the event. The food and service was delicious. The Rotunda was the perfect setting for an A-List party!

You must visit this building if you're in the area. Gorgeous interior. Chosen as wedding venue by many couples, including my daughter. We parked in the underground parking lot called Civic Center Garage right across from the building.

It is one of the finest city halls I have ever seen. The original city hall was built in 1899 and was destroyed in the earthquake and fire of 1906. The present city hall was rebuilt between 1913-1916 it displays an impressive Beaux Arts architectural style. The massive dome in the rotunda is 307' tall some 40' higher then the rotunda in the Nation's Capitol. With a magnificent rotunda of marble and jaw dropping grand staircase this city hall with it's four floor is second to none. Today the San Francisco City Hall has been redesigned to adjust to a possible earthquake that shook it's foundation on October 17, 1989. The 7.1 earthquake moved the structure 4'' and repairs continued until 1999. A state of the art computer controlled LED lighting system was installed which is capable of producing a variety of light shows. If you are in San Francisco, It is a sight to behold. City hall has been the site of of many notable events. Joe D'Maggio married Marilyn Monroe at City Hall in January of 1954. Mascone and Milk were assassinated here in 1979 and the first same-sex marriage was performed here in 2004. It is a National Historic landmark. Docent tours were available pre-COVID-19 on Mon-Fri at 10am, 12pm and 2pm. The tours were 45 minutes long. Sign-up for the tours were at the kiosk Goodlet Place elevator lobby. Admission is free. If you do not want a docent tour, you can enter city hall on your own. I was there prior to COVID-19. Check their website for any COVID-19 rules.

Great landmark in San Francisco. Gotta visit and take pictures around here. Friend had a wedding here, but I missed it. Great landmark that everyone should visit.

I actually just came here to use the restroom. The building is gorgeous and there were many people with pro photographers taking pictures around the rotunda. Bathrooms are clean and big and much better than using the public option in the park outside. Only drawback is that you have to go through a metal detector on the way in -- but at least the security folks were kind and quick.

I initially came here on a Wednesday for a wedding rehearsal. It was around 4pm during the last week of August. I had no idea people get married at City Hall, so after passing a quick security check, you enter the Grand City Hall. There were a mix of people, touring around, taking plenty of pictures, and there were plenty of wedding pictures being taken from all angles of this 4-story structure. The first thing I noticed was the architecture. Simply amazing! The wedding rehearsal did not take too long, and we didn't spend too much time touring around the area. The next day was the wedding ceremony. We went there around 1pm, and there was even more wedding ceremonies going on during that time. There was easily at least 5 wedding ceremonies happening all at once, a few on every level of the Hall. Though it was well organized and each party had their own spot. And it was such where in the pictures, you can easily hide other wedding ceremonies around you. There was a nice flow amongst the different wedding parties as everyone was respectful of others' pictures being taken. Though the City Hall is so big, that again, picture taking wasn't really an issue. Only on some spots you might have to wait momentarily for your turn. Like the grand stairway to the second floor. But all of the photographers were fast. Even though there was a lot of open room, our spot started to feel a little stuffed. Like I wished there was a fan or some windows that were available to open. Like just needed a little more ventilation with more bodies in the Hall. Other than that, I know the City Hall has a lower level parking garage underneath it. I forgot the cost as I didn't drive.

Instagram: l.lenses_ One of the perfect places to take pictures for quinceañera and weddings!

I love this building in the city! Where you mostly just see happy couples about to get hitched. Its a photogs dream to take pictures here and the architecture is just sublime. I have been to a couple of weddings but never had been during Christmas. City hall looks absolutely amazing during Christmas!! Festive and elegant all the way. Stop by even if your not getting married and marvel at this amazing building with so many great love stories.

11/24/2018: Feeding the parking meter in order, going to spend an hour at SF City Hall paying over $10.00 in quarters was a precarious feat due to the fact, several homeless people were staring at me as I fed the parking meter. I finished feeding the meter BUT, I felt strange like my hair was standing up on my arms, the back of my neck felt a sense of danger lurking behind me, and my heightened survival instincts kicked in . . . I took out my pepper spray from my backpack pocket, quickly turned around seeing a homeless man creeping behind me! Augh~I warned the man in a very commanding, gruff voice that I meant business to " . . . stand down or he'll get an eyeful of capsaicin and will be sent to the hospital bleeding to death!" . . . I know he saw I flipped my Leatherman knife opened inside my left pocket; however, he kept advancing towards me then, at the last second, he diverted behind the rear of the car next to the right side of my truck. I turned immediately towards looking at the sidewalk where the parking meter location is and another homeless person began advancing towards me; at that point, I quickly pressed the panic button on my truck's key FOB which remained attached to my pepper spray causing both homeless men scurrying away. Mind you, this happened around 11:30 AM-BROAD DAYLIGHT: This truly was an unnerving experience for me knowing I was armed with pepper spray in one hand and knowingly holding my Leatherman knife extending out at knife point held at bay inside my left blazer pocket! Please keep in mind I was trained in hand-to-hand combat in the USAF so, I was prepared doing some lethal, bloody damage if, provoked or harmed. As I walked towards City Hall checking my surroundings, walking along the tree-lined sidewalks searching for the two homeless men if, they were attempting ambushing me for a second time. I saw several other homeless people staring at me . . . I know all to well, word spreads fast like wildfire: The homeless peeps saw I had my knife still extended from my blazer pocket, deciding walking away from me, and leaving me alone. I possess a Leatherman, camping knife that's definitely not a typical, small, pocket knife; furthermore, I will not hesitate using my knife and pepper spray in order, protecting myself from harm's way. Inside City Hall: You must embark the "search and seizure queue" where you must submit your "gear," checking to the right and left of City Hall-the foreboding dark hallways, the eccentric atmosphere felt egregiously solemn, almost to the point of . . . Um~Yes . . . Impersonal! The line obtaining the marriage license felt like I was at the Department Of Motor Vehicles getting a driver's license. It felt absolutely impartially austere, unromantic, and observing couples patiently, quietly waiting for their number being summoned. The gallery where everyone congregates taking their wedding photos, there were a plethora of brides spread throughout the gallery, i.e, the same size as a typical grand ballroom. Above the grand hall via the mezzanine level and first floor, you may observe photographers sprawled dotting the grand staircase photographing "just married" couples; yet, each photographer grimacing, struggling, purposefully blocking out other wedding couples from their camera's viewfinders. Sadly and most unfortunately, the day Giovanni was married at SF City Hall, there were over two hundred couples congregating the area obtaining their marriage license, grand hall, gallery, grand staircase, mezzanine, and first floor: I searched everywhere for Giovanni but to no avail, I was unsuccessful finding Giovanni . . . or witnessing Giovanni getting married! WAAAH~I even had a wedding card filled with money, too. So, I left after 45-minutes searching for Giovanni, walked down City Hall's steps; low and behold, I see the two homeless men who attempted ambushing me earlier standing by the tree-lined sidewalks, not too far from where my truck was parked. Seriously, my current experience at City Hall was NOT a pleasurable, memorable experience in contrast, how San Francisco used to be where people were dressed to the nines-men dressed in business suits while women wore colorful dresses, no homeless peeps anywhere, no sweatpants or pajamas worn in public, streets were clean, and the SF atmosphere was lively and bright. Now, SF has this unclean, negative, depressing, dangerous energy, the sidewalks are ladened with feces which I find egregiously disgusting and highly intolerable; it's no wonder my reasons moving away from the city of my birth are valid.

What to say about SF City Hall, except that it is an absolutely legendary landmark. As a wedding photographer, it is one of my favorite places to photograph because there are so many nooks and corners that can make it feel and look different every time I visit. PRO TIP: Come here mid-day after lunch when there are less people and try to schedule your photo session with your photographer Mondays - Thursdays, because some Friday's may have special events that blocks off the rotunda / grand staircase, which means you won't be able to take photos there!

Nightmare! This is for the clerks office to get a marriage license. First off, if you are booked a appointment, just know they run this place is like the dmv so make sure you have your whole day cleared out! The appointments aren't actually when you will be seen but they don't tell you that. Typical government employee pass over saying "we're short staffed" when you want your issues addressed. They don't care if you have time restrictions. Also, even if they have your information, the clerk will still mess up your name... The 2 stars are only for the beauty of the building! Breathtaking!

Huge building! Good to this landmark and how well it's been preserved. Tons of opportunities for a great memorable picture. Unfortunately, the week I visited they didn't allow visitors inside but I'm sure I'll visit again.

Impressive building even you can only admire the outside. Entering requires security check. I saw a married couple and outside there was a music festival in the front. But worth to see how impressive this is, look up the background on this building as it was inspired by an Italian treasure.

Amazing building, timeless. No matter your political preferences, this building should outlive all of us and be a symbol of the city! Architect: Arther Brown Jr.

Today was my second time at SF City Hall. I was there taking photos for a wedding. It was the day after Christmas, and it was exactly how I remembered it. Busy. Lots of people get married here as it is a really pretty building. City Hall has a lot of pretty places to take pictures at. However, since there are a lot of people getting married, there are are a lot of people taking pictures. Patience is key when wanting to take photos in a prime location. The Grand staircase is absolutely beautiful And agreat place to take photos. However, it's a heavy foot traffic area so you may or may not get some strangers in your shots. Parking isn't an issue since the Civic Center parking garage is across the street. You do have to pay for parking (of course, it's SF). However, parking there isn't expensive (at least I think so). I paid $15 for 2 hrs and 49 mins. Prices vary by time of day. I was parked there during the time frame where it was $6 an hr. There are plenty of garages around the area if you don't mind walking further but Civic Center parking garage is the most convenient. While I've never gone through the marriage process here personally. It seems pretty straight forward. Check-in 5-10 mins before your appointment, wait for your number, do some paperwork, do the ceremony, then off you go. Pretty quick process. Overall, I love attending weddings and taking photos here. Beautiful location.

What a beautiful location! Perfect for weddings, engagement photos or simply a stroll to appreciate all the architecture details in this building. I have dreamt about getting married in San Francisco City Hall way before I got engaged. It's beauty and simplicity of the grand stairway of the rotunda was all I had envisioned. While obtaining our marriage license and eventually getting married on the Mayor's Balcony a few months later, was overall a good experience. The only problem I encountered was an interaction with an older gentleman who works at the check in table in the County Clerk office. It was our first time and there were questions that we had prior to being seated. This man was quite rude and was very unhelpful. He appeared to be annoyed and rushed us to sit down with unanswered questions. We saw multiple people checked in and was stunned by his attitude. Shortly after, another employee came and switched with him. Perhaps he was hangry and needed some food in his system. Ultimately, he didn't ruin my day but it wasn't a pleasant experience either. The wait for your number to be called can take 30 minutes to an hour and that is with an appointment. The process to get married in City Hall was quite easy thanks to Abby and Pamela who spoke to me on the phone and through numerous emails. I had a lot of questions and they kindly answered all of them up until the day before my wedding. I cannot thank you both enough!! I had reserved a specific area in City Hall to get marry so by the time I got there, the section was already blocked off and chairs were provided for our guests. There was also a sign so that other guests who are not a part of the wedding, are aware that this is a private event. That was extremely helpful because there are days where city hall can get crowded and this method helps us keep our wedding private and intimate as possible. Do not hesitant to get marry here or plan a visit! You will not regret it - plus it is also free to enter!

Not on the top of your must-see list in SF, but if you have time why not stop by The City Hall area is a government district with City Hall, government buildings, court offices, a library, the Asian Art Museum (this you have to pay for) and more. It's so nice that there's marriages happening the in hallways of City Hall. I came on a day when there was even a farmers' market going on outside. Only problem is there's a lot of homeless people everywhere, more than usual. SF needs to fix this problem.

This review is solely about the City Hall Building not the City of San Francisco. I love this building, I got married here. It is a gem, no matter what season of the year it is the building will always have something to offer. I consider this a must see for visitors and a treasure to the city of San Francisco.

Dear City Hall, The one moment that sticks out most is being married on your marble steps. We were a young couple in love that just wanted to get married. No judgements, no bling, no social stereotypes. What better place than on the steps of the historic, over a century old, City Hall. A Beaux-Arts monument to the city of San Francisco, a time of high-minded American Renaissance. Your dome is 42-feet taller than that of the United States Capitol! You are a beacon of equality, fairness, and just plain decency. And although time has passed on by, we grew apart, & went our separate ways, I will always remember that moment of "I do" in San Francisco, California. Thank you for the memories, City Hall. Always, Eric

Wow, SF City Hall is so incredibly gorgeous. I spent most of my time in the Rotunda for an event and saw nearly 30 newly wed couples taking wedding photos (because it's so insanely beautiful!) If you have a large bag/items, you'll need to go through security. Shouldn't take too terribly long. There's ample restrooms inside and ample parking nearby. Even if you don't have business to do in City Hall, I suggest taking a visit to see the architecture!

I have photographed a couple of weddings here and it is a stunning location. The aesthetic, and lighting is beautiful. I highly suggest getting your wedding photos taken here even if you're not having a civil wedding. There are a lot of areas to take photos and I would suggest booking your photographer to take photos of you in the morning. It is the quietest in the morning with less people walking around. Looking forward photographing more client's at this place!

Beautiful building really nice architecture and aesthetic.. too bad it's a swamp (I'm rating 4 stars for the building itself which i have no complaints with) Neoliberalism ruins everything smh i love this city so much still but we havent had a good mayor since moscone and boy does it show !

Omg this place is so gorgeous! I came on a Monday and City Hall was filled with brides taking pictures. It was really an amazing sight with brides of all types and styles. The place was radiating good energy and I had a nice time looking at the architecture.

disappointed with San Fran. One of the richest cities in America with the worst homeless problem i have seen in my life. The walk to the City Hall is filled with homeless people in the streets. Very disappointed and unsafe to walk around downtown, union square and city hall area.

For people like me who don't want to deal with the stress of a "real" wedding, SF City Hall is a GREAT place to have a small, intimate ceremony on the cheap! We did ours in December 2018 and were able to have the beautiful decorated Christmas tree in the background! What a bonus. However, I know that on some days they're setting up for an event later in the evening, so they actually can't have ceremonies on the main stairs. On those days, couples getting married are offered an alternative of the balcony or the main courthouse room. I'm not sure if they're allowed to take photos in front of the tree afterwards. We had a 9:30am appointment on December 18 and were called in around 9:40am by the judge. I think we were the first couple to get married that day, which ended up being nice because there wasn't any waiting on the stairs or in front of the tree to take photos. In fact, it was pretty empty! When we were done, there was another group waiting for space to take photos (I felt a little guilty as we were taking our time and I didn't notice them!). We had plenty of time to walk to Hayes valley for a celebratory brunch afterwards. On the photos - be creative! They have stained glass windows on the sides of the 2nd floor. There are beautiful columns. Plus, of course, the stairs! Note we had come in a few weeks beforehand to get our license. It was a 12:30pm appointment on Wednesday, November 28. When I turned the corner to the office, I was shocked to see maybe 10 different brides and their groups getting ready or taking pictures in the hallway! This mentally prepared me for my actual ceremony day, but it was much more empty on December 18 (not sure if that was because it was closer to the holidays or because it was early in the morning). They have a very strict no-cancellation policy, so when we realized we had to change our date so my father-in-law could make it, I was pretty upset at having to pay two fees. However, it turns out you are allowed one rescheduling of your ceremony! And even though I booked online and paid twice, they refunded one of my payments.

I'm a wedding photographer and have photographed here over 200x over the years...so this is review is based on the wedding process in its entirety, and not only just how pretty the building is. But what else can I add to this gorgeous building that is arguably more pretty than other "wedding designated" venues in the SF Bay Area, that hasn't already been said? The entire marriage process is seamless, from lining up to get your number, to signing the marriage license, to the actual wedding ceremony...it all is done within 30 minutes! (FYI 90% of the time your wedding ceremony will not start at your designated time unless its one of the first ones made). A fun fact that I doubt most people DO NOT know about this place is that on the first ground floor (or basement level) under the grand staircase are rotating exhibits / photos throughout the year. I have seen National Geographic's top 50 best photographs displayed here even...so sad most people don't go down on the basement level to view these. And other times it could be as simple as local schoolchildren drawing something for a contest. You never know what beauty awaits! As a photographer, the basement level is my secret playground that allows me to capture unique images for my photography Clients that no one else shoots. Shhh...don't tell anyone ;) If you want to check out some of my work feel free to look me up on IG @ onlysfcityhallweddings :P All photos attached here were taken at SF City Hall by Ian Chin Photography

It's been a little over a year since my husband and I exchange our vows on the 4th floor balcony. If you want a no fuss, no stress kind of civil wedding, SF City Hall is definitely the place. With its beautiful architecture and majestic staircase, its perfect backdrop makes any picture breathtaking! If you decide to have a separate private ceremony, I would advise getting your marriage license the day before your official wedding day. I did, and it made my life so much easier! In retrospect, I would also advise you to book your ceremony during the lunch hour. The building is almost literally empty and photos come out great. Wish I had! Not even going to lie about this one, I don't know where parking is cuz I used Uber to pull up in my wedding dress lol!

I was trying to figure out how I was getting back to my hotel from a local ice cream shop, and walked by City Hall. I can only speak of just viewing City Hall from the outside at night. The building is very picturesque late night, so I took a few pictures with my trusty Pixel XL phone. I noticed across the street, I could take a wider shot of the building and realized that there was an army of figures. These funny statues added a little character to my photos. The building is well lit at night, a great Instagram photo opportunity!

This more like a museum rather than a city hall! There is so much to look at and the building is beautiful. Hard to believe that SF has a city hall this magnificent. It's truly a site to behold. Came here yesterday in hopes to get our marriage license, but foolhardy me didn't realize you need an appointment and they are book for almost the entire month! Sad face. Still, they were somewhat nice about, but there was a dude picking his nose while helping us. Kinda weird. It's a huge building and worth of a visit. It's part of history folks!

I grew up inter in here! They pretty much set me up for my entire professional career. It is beautiful architecture that I can't help but fall in love with. My cousin got married here and it's a great place for weddings!

Everyone loves this building. It was very well designed with no expenses spared. Beautiful marble details every where and extremely well crafted. Completed in 1913 the dome at 307 feet in height, is 42 feet taller than the dome of the nation's capitol. The Loma Prieta earthquake of October 17, 1989 damaged it severely. The earth retrofit was completed in 1999 and it included a base isolation system to protect the building from future large earthquakes. A popular place for wedding photography, right after tying the knot at the wedding registry. There is no charge for entry so come and enjoy this classical architecture.

I visited City Hall for the first time a couple of months ago to be the witness to my friend's wedding. The building itself is beautiful and many couples choose this to be their venue as the photos have the potential to be stunning. Unfortunately for my friend, she chose a bad day to get married because there were official City events taking place in most of the building. Both the Mayor and the Sheriff were being sworn in that day, meaning that the grand staircase and lobby were blocked off for press and even other floors were sectioned off for security reasons. The ceremony ended up taking place in a tiny room with little decor. It was underwhelming. The judge who presided over my friend's wedding pronounced the names of both the bride and groom incorrectly. Given how multicultural the Bay Area is, it would be a good practice to ask the parties involved how to pronounce their names before the ceremony starts.