If you’re dreaming of a courthouse wedding in New York City—equal parts romantic, chaotic, and iconic—this post is for you. Gabriel and I just did it, learned a few things the hard way (first-time getting married energy 😅), and I want to walk you through exactly how it works so you don’t make the same mistakes we did.

This is a personal recap of our NYC City Hall–style wedding, plus a very practical, step‑by‑step guide you can actually use.

Our NYC Courthouse Wedding Story

We flew from Florida to New York City, landed at JFK, and headed straight into wedding mode. We had scheduled what we thought was the right appointment with the Office of the City Clerk – NYC Marriage Bureau.

Spoiler: it wasn’t.

Here’s the big thing we didn’t realize:

👉 The marriage license and the marriage ceremony are two separate appointments.

You must:

Apply for and receive your New York marriage license first
Wait at least 24 hours (per New York State law)
Then attend your actual wedding day / marriage ceremony

Since it was our first time getting married (obviously lol), we didn’t fully understand how the process worked. We had only scheduled one appointment—and because in‑person ceremony appointments can only be scheduled two weeks in advance, we were stuck.

Cue mild panic.

The Fix: How We Pivoted (and Still Got Married)

Because the marriage license application and ceremony both require appointments, and we were already in NYC, we had to get creative.

We ended up booking a ceremony outside of the courthouse with an officiant who can legally marry you anywhere in the city. We worked with Simply Eloped, a company that specializes in stress-free elopements and intimate weddings, and they connected us with Reverend Ron Sheppard.

Simply Eloped handled the logistics and made the entire process feel calm and doable—especially when we were already in NYC and scrambling for a Plan B. Reverend Ron was absolutely exceptional—warm, grounding, and genuinely present. He made our ceremony feel personal, intentional, and not rushed, even though we were standing in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world.

This option saved our wedding.

Step 1: Getting Your Marriage License in NYC

We went to the Manhattan Marriage Bureau for our in‑person license appointment.

Where to Go

Office of the City Clerk – NYC Marriage Bureau
Worth Street, Downtown Manhattan
Inside the Supreme Court Building, ground floor

Nearby subway stations:

Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall Station
City Hall Station
Chambers Street Station
Park Place Station

What to Bring

Proper identification (form of valid photo ID)
- Driver’s license or passport works
Your confirmation email and confirmation number
Payment
- Credit card or money order accepted

Getting married is a whopping $32, one of my favorite parts.

What the Appointment Is Like

Honestly? Seamless.

There were so many couples—same‑sex couples, international couples, couples with close friends and family in tow. It felt celebratory, not stuffy. Everyone was dressed differently: full bridal looks, casual fits, city‑chic outfits. It was actually really fun.

You’ll fill out the application form, verify your information, and receive your original marriage license.

⚠️ Important: You must wait 24 hours before your ceremony. AND DON'T misplace your license.

Step 2: Scheduling the Marriage Ceremony (What to Know)

Normally, you’d schedule an in‑person city hall ceremony at the New York City courthouse through Project Cupid.

Key things to know:

Virtual marriage license appointments and virtual appointments exist, but ceremonies are often in‑person
In‑person ceremony appointments open only two weeks in advance
Walk‑in visits are extremely limited and depend on marriage bureau hours
Ceremonies are held Monday through Friday

Wedding ceremony rooms vary by location:

Manhattan: Room 141 or smaller antechambers
Some ceremonies happen in a small room or smaller antechamber

Other borough locations include:

Room G‑100, Manhattan
Borough Hall Building, Brooklyn (near Joralemon Street)
120‑55 Queens Boulevard, Kew Gardens
Grand Concourse, Bronx
Richmond Terrace, Staten Island

Because we missed the timing window, we pivoted.

Our Actual Ceremony: Central Park

The next day, we met our officiant in Central Park and got married right in front of the Bethesda Fountain, by the pond.

We chose this spot for a reason.

Gabriel and I used to live on 77th and 3rd, and Central Park was our place. Morning walks and coffee —this park holds so many memories for us. Getting married there felt grounding and personal.

We kept it simple and let the city do what it does best: be magical.

A photographer being there was optional, but highly recommended if you want to document the moment without stress. We used: Casey Campbell, a Brooklyn local photographer (also my wonderfully talented cousin, how lucky am I)

After we were married, we did what felt most us: we walked back through the Upper East Side and went to our favorite Chinese restaurant, Tri Dim Sum, and ordered dumplings. No big reception, no timeline—just good food and that "wait… we’re actually married" feeling settling in.

After the Wedding: Certificates & Records

After your ceremony, you can order:

Extended marriage certificate
Extended certificate copies

These are useful for:

Name changes
Dual citizenship paperwork
International documentation

Marriage records are typically available 4–6 weeks after the ceremony.

Final Tips If You’re Planning a NYC Courthouse Wedding

✅ The first step is the marriage license—don’t skip this
✅ License and ceremony are separate appointments
✅ Build in the 24‑hour waiting period
✅ Book ceremonies exactly two weeks out
✅ Have backup plans (officiants, locations)
✅ Bring proper identification and confirmations

Would we change anything?

Nope

Honestly, whether you get married in a courthouse room or under the trees in Central Park, NYC is one of the most special places to do it.

If you’re planning a New York City Hall wedding, I hope this helps you do it with way less stress and way more joy.

— Rachel

Getting Married at the NYC Courthouse (and What We Wish We Knew)