Ever dreamed of eloping? How about getting hitched at City Hall in New York, just like Carrie and Big? (And, in real life, Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso; Ellen Pompeo and Chris Ivery, and Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio?)
It’s not just pie in the sky—if you can get yourself to NYC and want a simple but incredibly romantic city hall wedding, here’s how to do it. (And yes, I know because I did it, too.)
What You Need
The good news is, you don’t have to be a U.S. citizen, or even a resident to get married in New York City. But you do need to be in New York at least 24 hours before you want to wed—on a day that the Marriage Bureau is open. Both you and your groom have to appear at the office—they don’t take appointments, so go early—with your passports. You fill out a form, show your I.D, pay the clerk US$35 (with a credit card or money order), and your marriage license is processed while you wait. All in all, it takes about 20 minutes, depending on the line. Take a peek at the wedding chapel on the way out, and you’re good to go.
The Ceremony
Once you have the license you can have your wedding anywhere in the state of New York, as long as it’s conducted by a state-approved marriage officiant. Choosing to have the ceremony at one of the City Hall offices, however, is easy, and an instant classic experience you’ll never forget.
There is an office in each of New York’s five boroughs. My husband and I chose Brooklyn because that’s where we live, and it’s a lot quieter than the bustling Manhattan office. (You can’t make appointments or reservations, you just show up during business hours.)
We loved the Brooklyn municipal building, but if you want a little gloss and comfort, the Manhattan office recently moved to a new building with revamped décor by the designer of one of Madonna’s L.A. homes.
It’s a lot more bride-friendly than the previous incarnation (and other borough offices), with two chapels in pastel shades, dressing rooms, a professional backdrop, bouquets and faux-diamond bands for sale, and self-service kiosks for filling out the forms.
It’s pleasant, sure, but if you love New York for its pace, and its people, and its unpredictability, I say go with one of the other bureaus.
When I arrived at the Brooklyn office, there were guys trying to sell me hideous plastic bouquets outside, I had to put my (live) flowers through the metal detector, and passersby going to the post office or to get building permits would call out, “Hey, good luck!” and chuckle. In other words, it was exactly like living in New York.
After meeting my husband (still then fiancé) in the hall, we filed into the office to line up and pay for our ceremony (US$25). We also had to present a witness with a passport or a U.S. driver’s license.
Then it was time: no walking down the aisle to your groom’s side. We sat together with family and friends in the chapel’s waiting area before the city clerk called our names. Not as fancy as the new Manhattan digs, the Brooklyn Chapel is attractive in its own way, and we got a kick out of the big American flag standing by the podium. The ceremony is quick and to the point—but no less romantic, if you can do without religious or personalized vows.
The clerk seemed to enjoy that we had dressed up (some people have their ceremonies in trackies), and that we appeared to be genuinely in love. Once she pronounced us husband and wife, she handed us our marriage certificate, wished us luck, and let us stay in the chapel for as long as we liked to take photos.
That’s it: we were married.
Time to party
If you’re only in town for a short visit, plan your reception or celebratory drink/dinner around the City Hall hours (weekdays, 8:30–4; except Manhattan, which closes at 3:45pm). You might want to get hitched on a Friday, and party on the weekend. We chose to have our ceremony on a Friday around noon, and planned an afternoon reception to follow at our favorite bar in Manhattan.
Choosing a space doesn’t have to be a huge production. Many bars and restaurants here have private dining rooms or alcoves for parties. Call ahead and ask about using a space for a few hours, and what menu is available. Working out a set food and drink package shouldn’t be hard. But—unless you want a traditional reception—keep the fact that the party is a wedding to yourself. Just call it a celebration, and you’ll save yourself the steep wedding mark-up. New York Magazine has trusty bar (http://nymag.com/nightlife/) and restaurant (http://nymag.com/restaurants/) reviews, (including good picks for birthday parties), or you can simply head to one of the city’s countless restaurants or bars for an intimate get-together. One friend had oysters and beers at a restaurant in Little Italy after her City Hall wedding, and was as happy as—yep—a clam.
For more information on New York City Hall weddings, visit the Marriage Bureau’s website
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