Let Tiffany and Justin’s NYC elopement show you that your wedding can be anything you want it to be. See all the details from their perfect, simple NYC city hall elopement from the perspective of a New York City elopement photographer.
New York City Hall Wedding Inspiration & How-To’s:
The best thing to keep in mind is that your elopement (or your wedding) can be whatever you want it to be. Think about the elements of your day that are the most important to you and prioritize those. Whatever you are dreaming of for your day can happen – there’s no tradition or obligations that you have to follow. Tiffany and Justin’s NYC city hall elopement was a short and sweet three hours filled with so much love. It started with them taking one hour to get ready together, which was such a sweet and intimate experience.
This was my favorite part of the day to document because of how tender and emotional the couple was. Tiffany and Justin deciding to get ready together just goes to show that your elopement can be anything you want it to be, and their wanting to share this moment together shows how sentimental they are as a couple.
The Ceremony:
As far as the ceremony, elopements can be as extravagant as booking and decorating a venue for the two of you, or as simple as a city hall elopement. Tiffany and Justin wanted a simpler and laid-back experience of a city hall wedding, so we headed towards the ceremony at the City Clerk’s office, walking from their hotel, The Walker Hotel, and grabbing some photos on the way there. The NYC streets were the perfect backdrop for these intimate wedding photos.
The City Clerk’s Office was the perfect location for Tiffany and Justin to have their New York City Hall Wedding. A simple yet elegant location made the perfect backdrop for their NYC elopement – exactly what they traveled from Sacramento for. They were able to have an intimate, romantic, and sentimental ceremony with all of the emotions.
How to Get Married at NYC’s City Hall:
If you’re planning to get married at the City Clerk’s Office, here’s what you need to know:
Step 1: Make a marriage license appointment
You’ll need to apply for your marriage license first. You can start online at cityclerk.nyc.gov, then go in person to complete the process. The license is valid after 24 hours and up to 60 days, so plan accordingly after this first step.
Step 2: Make a ceremony appointment
Once you have your license, you’ll need to book a separate appointment for the actual ceremony. You’ll choose a time and date that works for you. (Pro tip: early weekday mornings tend to be less busy.)
Step 3: Bring your IDs and one witness
One valid photo ID per person and a witness over the age of 18 are required – your photographer can be your witness if you want it to be really just the two of you with no family or friends around.
Your Elopement Celebration:
Celebrating is one of the most important parts of your special day, and again, can look however you want it to look. Whether you’re inviting all your family or friends to a huge party or opting for a small fried chicken date with your closest family and friends like Tiffany and Justin, your elopement can be exactly how you make it. Their celebration took place at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken – the perfect ending to the perfect elopement.
Tiffany and Justin were the most fun and laid-back couple, and getting fried chicken after their wedding was the most perfect celebration I could imagine for their elopement.
Planning Your Elopement Timeline:
When planning your elopement, think about how detailed vs how simple you’ll want your day to be to plan the timeline. If you want more time for photos and a more editorial look, consider that when booking your elopement photographer. If you’re planning a larger party after you elope, consider that when booking a space. With Tiffany and Justin’s elopement timeline, we had some extra time to capture some elopement photos on film, which went along perfectly with Tiffany and Justin’s vibe.
Film photography can be so special and capture such raw and authentic moments from days like this. We had the best NYC elopement locations for photos, and these wedding film photos captured the day perfectly.
Tiffany and Justin’s NYC Elopement Details:
It was a stunningly simple wedding day. Both the bride’s dress and the groom’s outfit were from Zara, and the bride’s shoes were from Franco Sarto. The bridal bouquet was made by a friend of the bride with flowers bought from a stand on the street. The couple didn’t need much of anything to convey and celebrate their love, which you can tell just from these elopement photos – so the simplicity of all of their wedding details was absolutely perfect for their New York City Hall elopement.
NYC City Hall Elopement Tips from a Photographer:
- Stay nearby – Book a hotel within walking distance so you can take in the city on the way. This also gives you more time for wedding photos.
- Bring your ID and marriage license – No license = no ceremony.
- Have backup photo locations – In case of weather or construction. I’ve got a list of favorites I always share with my couples.
- Weekday elopements = smoother logistics – City Hall is less crowded, and vendors often have more availability.
- Consider film photos – They bring an extra layer of emotion and timelessness to your gallery.
If you’ve been looking for NYC elopement inspo or wanted to see how to elope in New York City, I hope this was helpful for you. Tiffany and Justin’s day truly was the most peaceful and perfect day, and is the perfect NYC elopement inspiration for your city hall elopement. If you’re looking for an NYC wedding photographer to capture your city hall elopement, click here to reach out.
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