Every week we photograph couples who decided they didn't want a 150-person wedding. Some of them planned it for six months. Some decided on a Tuesday and were married by Thursday. Both work.This is the guide we wish existed when couples first email us asking how any of it actually works — the license, the ceremony, the difference between City Hall and a park, and what it costs. No fluff about your dream day. Just how to elope in NYC.

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What is an elopement?

Elopements are intimate, flexible celebrations, typically with 0–10 guests. They can be spontaneous or planned months in advance. What defines an elopement isn't just the size — it's the intention. It's a deeply personal way to get married without the pressure, the timeline, or the expense of a traditional wedding.

You can elope at City Hall, in a public park, on a rooftop, or even on a ferry. New York City is full of incredible backdrops, and most of them are free. Whether it's just the two of you or a handful of your favorite people, your elopement can be exactly what you want it to be.

How to elope in NYC

Elopements are intimate, flexible celebrations, typically with 0–10 guests. They can be spontaneous or planned months in advance. What defines an elopement isn't just the size — it's the intention. It's a deeply personal way to get married without the pressure, the timeline, or the expense of a traditional wedding.

You can elope at City Hall, in a public park, on a rooftop, or even on a ferry. New York City is full of incredible backdrops, and most of them are free. Whether it's just the two of you or a handful of your favorite people, your elopement can be exactly what you want it to be.

1. Get your marriage license

Everything starts here, and it's the step couples underestimate.

  • • Apply through Project Cupid, the City Clerk's official portal. Walk-ins are no longer permitted — the portal is the only way in. -

  • • Schedule an appointment. Both in-person and virtual appointments are available, but for a virtual appointment both partners must be physically in New York State during the call.

  • •Bring valid, original government-issued photo ID. Photocopies and expired IDs are not accepted.

  • • The fee is $35, paid by credit card or money order. Cash is not accepted.

  • • You must wait a full 24 hours after your license is issued before you can legally marry.

  • • Your license is valid for 60 days, starting the day after it's issued.

Four things couples miss:

• Appointment slots are limited and they go fast. Give yourself two to four weeks of lead time, not two days.

• The 24-hour wait is not negotiable without a judicial waiver. If you're flying in, arrive at least two days before you plan to marry.

• You need at least one witness over 18 to sign the license. Two is common, one is the legal minimum. If it's truly just the two of you, this is worth solving in advance.

• 60 days is generous but it's a window. You can't grab a license months early "just in case."

2. Decide where to get married

You have two paths:1) Ceremony managed by the city:- City Hall — the Manhattan Marriage Bureau, 141 Worth St. Quick, iconic, and the ceremony itself costs $25 on top of the license. Appointment required.2) Choose your own location and hire a registered officiant:- Outside City Hall (the steps and surrounding architecture are genuinely beautiful, and there's no appointment to book)- Central Park — Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge, Wagner Cove- Brooklyn Bridge Park or DUMBO- A rooftop, a restaurant, a friend's apartment, the Staten Island Ferry
If you go this route, the officiant is on you. They must be registered to perform marriages in New York City.
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City Hall vs. Outdoor Elopements

Neither is better. They're different days.

City Hall Elopements

Pros:

  • - Fast, affordable, and a genuinely classic

  • - New York experienceYou're legally married in about fifteen minutes

  • - No officiant to hire, no permits to chase

Cons:

  • - Strict guest limits inside the ceremony room, and your photographer counts toward them

  • - Appointment required, and there's usually a wait once you're there

  • - No personal vows, no customized ceremony — it's a script, and it's short

Outdoor Elopements

Pros:

  • - Freedom over location, vows, and timing

  • - Gorgeous photo opportunities across the city

  • - More guests allowed, though permits may be required in public parks

  • - You control the pace, which almost always makes for better photographs

Cons:

  • - You have to hire your own officiant

  • - More planning and logistics

  • - Weather is a real variable, and you need a backup

A note on how we shoot elopements

We're a husband-and-wife team, and we shoot every elopement together — two photographers, two angles, on every single booking. It isn't an upgrade or an add-on.For an elopement specifically, this matters more than it does at a big wedding. There's no second chance at a fifteen-minute ceremony. While one of us is on your faces, the other is on your hands, your witness crying in the back, the room. You get the whole thing, not one angle of it.

Our pricing is published on the site. You don't need to book a consultation to find out what we cost.

Ready to plan yours?

 See our elopement pricing  or get in touch — tell us your date and where you're thinking, and we'll tell you straight whether we're the right fit.