I love City Hall. It’s grand, cavernous, beautiful. But it presents a challenge for the photographer. How do you stay inspired? How do you continue to produce exciting and varied imagery, in a place that looks the same every day, and within the highly structured civil ceremony process? I believe I have the answer, and it’s two-fold. First, I draw inspiration from couples like Clarinda and Wryan, who are willing to play, experiment, and give 100% of their energy to being partners in the creative process. The other part of the equation is my own constant experimentation. I’m always looking for undiscovered nooks and crannies, new sources of light, and challenging myself and my clients to pursue both motion and stillness in new forms. Clarinda and Wryan were amazing to work with. There was no denying how physically charged their connection was, and the photos reflect it. Thank you guys! I’m really excited to have created these images for you!
Posts Tagged ‘san francisco city hall marriage’
San Francisco City Hall Wedding | Nicholas + Angie
July 18, 2011When I met Nicholas, Angie, and their girls, Oceana and Kieran, I couldn’t believe my eyes. This beautiful family was dressed to the nines, everyone perfectly buttoned up and color-coordinated. Black, white, silver, and then the striking red lipstick worn by Angie made it a very elegant affair, and a joy to photograph. It’s such a pleasure for me to document weddings at San Francisco City Hall, especially because just like Nicholas and Angie, the brides and grooms I work with put so much care and effort into the details. The other thing that completely blew me away was how patient and well-behaved the girls were, and how much energy they had as we walked around the building taking pictures. The unique style and amazing connection of this beautiful family definitely made this an incredible San Francisco City Hall wedding. Congrats, Nicholas, Angie and girls! All the best to your new family.
Julie + Josh | San Francisco City Hall Wedding
May 17, 2011Twinkies!! But, first…a little context. Julie and Josh traveled to San Francisco all the way from school in Pennsylvania, in order to get married at SF City Hall. Josh’s brother Sean came up from SoCal to be their witness. Meanwhile, it was Jody, Josh’s mom who found my work and asked me to document the wedding. At the County Clerk’s office, we must have missed our number in line, so we had to check in again. Perhaps this was fate, because we ended up with an awesome officiant. First, she kept throwing lovely compliments at these guys, and second, she was totally down to conduct the ceremony on the 4th Floor. We all got a little emotional during the vows, and afterwards we embarked on a whirlwind photographic tour of the building (and Sean found himself on lights). Suddenly everyone was hungry, and lucky for us, the food trucks were still parked outside. The 3 SUM EATS truck provided sandwiches, and even homemade twinkies, which before long were repurposed for a sweet (ba-da-bing!) ring shot. All in all, we just had a ton of fun, and I’m excited and proud that Julie and Josh will go back to Penn with some amazing memories of their San Francisco City Hall wedding!
Tara + Peter | San Francisco City Hall Wedding
May 5, 2011Love strikes without warning, and sometimes that means City Hall weddings happen on short notice. Tara and Peter contacted me just a few days before their ceremony. They had just two attendants with them, because their wedding was happening in secret, and it was to be revealed to family and friends at a big reception the following day. So hurried were their preparations that Tara didn’t have time to procure a bouquet – she just brought a single red rose, which turned out to be the perfect choice. She looked beautiful holding that rose, and she and Peter were just lost in one another the entire time. Thank you guys! I’m glad I was there to document your day!
San Francisco City Hall Wedding | Candice + Cleve
November 9, 2010Candice and Cleve decided to come all the way from Richmond, VA, in order to have their wedding at SF City Hall. Even though the skies stayed mostly grey, the day was quite warm, and their bold sense of style spiced things up. After taking some spontaneous portraits in and around City Hall, we ventured out towards Crissy Field and Golden Gate Bridge for some very ‘San Francisco’ shots. Congratulations, guys! Hope you had a great time in SF.
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Guide
June 30, 2010A San Francisco City Hall wedding ceremony is one of the hidden surprises this city offers, and couples come from all over the Bay Area, California, and even Europe to get married in this majestic building. And while the photos options inside and around the building are plentiful, it’s also fun and convenient to grab some quality portraits around the city after the ceremony. Since SF is so small, many scenic places such as Union Square, Yerba Buena Gardens, Financial District and the Embarcadero are just a short drive away.
If you’re coming in from out of town, or even if you live in SF but have never stepped foot in City Hall before, this post will help you get acquainted with the space and the process, and will help you feel more comfortable as you navigate the building on your wedding day.
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- Posing in front of the dome on a sunny day.
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- A moment on the majestic staircase at City Hall.
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- In front of the dome on a cool, foggy day.
San Francisco City Hall History
The current building replaced the original city hall which, like much of San Francisco, was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire. It was designed by Arthur Brown, Jr. who also architected many other San Francisco landmarks, including the War Memorial Opera House, Temple Emanuel and Coit Tower. If you’ve ever been to Paris, you might find that the dome looks quite familiar; that’s because it’s an emulation of Mansart’s Les Invalides dome.
If your ceremony happens on a sunny day (best bet for this is to schedule the ceremony in the afternoon – after the famous fog burns off but before it rolls back in), the golden ornamentation on the dome’s exterior will gleam beautifully in the sunlight. I’ve taken some pretty stunning photographs with the dome and the blue sky in the background. Not to worry – even on foggy days the building’s grey exterior soaks up the ethereal light and makes for some beautiful photographs.
Some famous films have been shot at City Hall, including Dirty Harry, The Rock, and A View To A Kill.
Getting Married at City Hall
The good news about a San Francisco City Hall wedding ceremony, is that reservations may be made in person or online, and up to 90 days in advance of the date. Online, go to the county clerk’s website to make your San Francisco City Hall wedding reservation. You’ll need to book two appointments: the first, to get your marriage license, and the second is your Ceremony time. It takes about 30 minutes to get your license, so it’s best to book the two appointments at least 45 minutes apart.
As of July 1, 2010, the license fee for getting married at City Hall is $95.
Once you get to City Hall, head to the Office of the County Clerk – Room 168 – where you will obtain your marriage license. You’ll need to have valid photo ID’s with you. After this, you’ll “take a number” and will be called to sign the marriage documents in front of the officiant and your witnesses. It’s fun to have friends or family witness the signing. What about wedding photographers? Yep. I’ve been a witness for several couples. It’s an honor and I’m happy to help!
Selecting Your Ceremony Location
When you’ve obtained the license and all the documents have been signed and witnessed, the officiant will ask you where you’d like to hold your ceremony. There are several great spots to choose for your ceremony, but the Rotunda and the Balcony under the clock are the most popular. On busy days (usually later in the week) those spots may not be available or may require a longer wait. A good way to ensure that you get the spot of your choosing is to schedule your weekday San Francisco City Hall ceremony on Monday or Tuesday, when there aren’t as many ceremonies going on. The fourth floor is also an incredible spot to get married. You and your guests are perched above it all, and the huge windows provide beautiful, flattering diffused light which makes for gorgeous photographs.
Tips for San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photography
Your wedding photography at San Francisco City Hall consists of several parts:
- Obtaining the Marriage License – Although it’s important, this is not the most glamorous part of the day. I will photograph in a very photojournalistic style to capture your preparations, interactions, and those pre-ceremony butterflies.
- The Ceremony – City Hall is magnificent, so there will be beautiful photos no matter which location you choose for your City Hall wedding ceremony. I also shoot the ceremony in a very photojournalistic style, to let your wedding moments happen naturally and to allow you to enjoy making the commitment to one another.
- Portraits Inside City Hall – After the ceremony is an excellent time to take portraits that encompass the building’s majestic architecture, and also to take advantage of all the quirky nooks and crannies. From the expansive staircase, to the light wells and balconies, there are endless possibilities. This is where working with a knowledgeable photographer becomes really important, because you’ll be able to visit the most interesting spots in the shortest amount of time.
- Portraits Around City Hall – Once you joyously emerge through the gilded doors, there are ample opportunities to take photographs on the grounds outside the building. The lawns, groves of trees, surrounding buildings, and even some of San Francisco’s “characters” can all make for interesting pictures. Something’s always going on in the plaza and together we’ll play and create some memorable photos. Of course, City Hall itself provides the most stunning backdrop. Note that depending on your schedule, you can also take the outdoor portraits before you enter the building for your ceremony.
- Adventures Beyond City Hall – If you have time, there are many scenic places to visit in the vicinity of City Hall. From visiting the classic SF landmarks, to the famous neighborhoods, parks and beaches, I am happy to plan the day’s itinerary with you, and even be the guide and chauffeur.
I offer convenient weekday packages – contact me at 415.706.9350 or email info@sashaphotography.com when you are ready to book your San Francisco City Hall wedding photographer.
More information is available at the Office of the County Clerk, located in Room 168 in the City Hall building. You can reach them by phone at (415) 554-4950, by email at: county.clerk@sfgov.org, or online at www.sfgov.org/countyclerk.