Weddings at San Francisco City Hall are always a favorite of mine, including private ceremonies on the 4th floor of San Francisco City Hall.
The 4th floor is truly a stunning spot to plan your wedding, as the space exudes grandeur and beautiful natural light streams through the large windows. Nothing about getting married here feels like your typical government building ceremony – instead, a celebration here feels luxurious and intimate.
Another reason I love the 4th floor for weddings is the privacy it offers. Since you’ll be on the last floor of the building, you won’t have to worry about anyone accidentally interrupting your ceremony.
Keep reading to discover more about what planning a celebration here could look like and take a behind-the-lens look at James + Rodney’s beautiful 4th Floor San Francisco City Hall wedding.
What You Need to Know About Planning a 4th Floor San Francisco City Hall Wedding
Did you know that San Francisco City Hall offers you the option of having a private wedding ceremony where you can rent the 4th floor of City Hall just for you, your partner, and your guests?
Here’s what you can expect for your ceremony:
- Cost – $1200. Chairs are an additional charge.
- Available to rent for 1 hour—they are very strict about this. Be sure to arrive early on the day of your ceremony. I always suggest arriving at least 20 minutes before your ceremony, preferably even earlier if possible. This way, you’ll have plenty of time to find parking and go through security.
- Locations available include the Fourth Floor Gallery or the Mayor’s Balcony.
- Available to book Monday-Friday. The earliest ceremony begins at 9 am and the latest starts at 3 pm. Up to 100 guests are permitted to attend.
- Guest count – 4th Floor: 60 seated plus 40 standing.
- The one-hour wedding package includes insurance and basic building services.
A few other things that are important to know about planning a private wedding ceremony on the 4th floor are that you will need to hire your own officiant, you can’t bring any outside food or drinks, and only acoustic string musicians are permitted to perform for your ceremony.
For the most up-to-date info on planning a wedding or to reserve a date for your ceremony on the 4th floor, go here!
James + Rodney’s 4th Floor San Francisco City Hall Wedding & Reception Dinner at Fiorella Sunset
James and Rodney, both from Los Angeles, love everything about San Francisco and the iconic City Hall, which made it the perfect location for them to say “I do.” They booked me for their ceremony at City Hall and for partial reception coverage at Fiorella Sunset.
I’ve found that this is the ideal alternative that I offer for couples like James and Rodney, who choose to have a more intimate celebration at City Hall but also know that they still want some photography at their reception, even if their reception venue is a smaller space or their celebration falls on a weekday.
Background on the couple
Rodney and James met in August of 2020 during the height of the COVID shutdowns. Their relationship started with talking on the phone, then with bike rides and hikes together. They haven’t gone a day without communicating since the first time they spoke!
They were looking for someone who could capture the intimate nature of their wedding while also celebrating who they are as a couple. They are both a bit introverted, so being in front of the camera was a new experience for them!
This was especially true for James, who used to be a photojournalist and is much more used to being on the other side of the camera. But, they both have so much fun together and are always cracking jokes and making each other laugh, so we focused on capturing those authentic moments and making both of them as comfortable as possible!
Wedding and reception
James and Rodney rented out the 4th floor of San Francisco City Hall for an hour for a private ceremony. Their ceremony was absolutely breathtaking and full of so much love, laughter, and heartfelt moments. The lighting during their ceremony was magical, and you could sense how adored these two were by their guests and how excited everyone was for them to embark on this new chapter in their relationship.
After their ceremony at San Francisco City Hall, James and Rodney chose Fiorella Sunset for their reception, where they had a full rooftop buyout. It was raining pretty hard the evening of James and Rodney’s wedding, but thankfully, Fiorella Sunset had a retractable roof to keep everyone dry.
The decoration was all DIY by the couple and a few helpers. It all really came together, especially with the romantic touch the couple’s Quémalo.co candles added to the tablescape. Quemalo is actually the couple’s candle company! They also gave candles as wedding favors for their guests, which was such a thoughtful gesture.
The staff at Fiorella Sunset were extremely helpful, and the food was delicious. The pizza and the arancini al parmigiano were my personal favorites!
James and Rodney’s intimate wedding reminded me how thankful I am that I get to call this my job!
James + Rodney’s Wedding Vendors:
I wanted to give a special shout-out to J + R’s wedding vendors who made this day possible:
Rings: Hiholden.com
Officiant: Pardis at Wedding Vows and Notary Now
Reception venue: Fiorella Sunset
Cake: butter&
Favors: Quémalo.co
Ready to Plan Your Wedding in San Francisco?
I hope you found all the information about getting married on the 4th floor of San Francisco City Hall helpful and that this post provided you with all the answers you were looking for.
And… if you’re still looking for a San Francisco wedding photographer with a documentary-style approach who values inclusivity and authenticity, let’s connect! Your love story is a one-of-a-kind celebration of authenticity and connection that deserves to be captured on camera.
You can learn more about my wedding services here or get in touch with me here.
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Your Ultimate Guide to Getting Married at San Francisco City Hall
