Thinking about eloping in New York City? As one of the top elopement destinations in the United States, there's a lot of aspects of NYC that just might make it the perfect wedding location for you. Whether you're local, flying in from out of state, or coming from another country entirely, NYC makes eloping genuinely easy to plan without sacrificing taste.
I've photographed elopements in this city for 15 years and over 450 weddings, so consider this the no-fluff version of everything you need to know when eloping in NYC.
How to elope in NYC:
A Photographer's Guide
Why Elope in NYC?
Maybe it's obvious, but HELLO! You'd be getting married in NYC. And the best part about eloping in particular? We will generally be out and about exploring this wonderful city on your wedding day instead of being inside at a venue all day.
You also get the insane variety of venues, hotels, vendors, transportation, experiences, restaurants, and landmarks that the city has to offer. From that variety you can craft your truly unique wedding day to intertwine as many or as few of those things as you want.
You also don't need a guest list to elope, New York's marriage license process is famously simple, the city is basically an unlimited backdrop, and you can go from "just the two of us" to "married and eating dumplings in Chinatown" in the same afternoon.
Getting your Marriage Licnese
You'll get your license from one of the City Clerk's offices (Manhattan, where most couples go, is located at 141 Worth Street). It costs $35, and you can start the paperwork online before you show up in person. There's a 24-hour waiting period after you get the license before you can legally marry, and it stays valid for 60 days — so plan your ceremony date accordingly.
If you want the full step-by-step, including what to bring and what the office visit actually looks like, my City Hall wedding guide walks through it in detail.
Selecting your Ceremony
You've basically got two paths, each with their own pros/cons.
City Hall: Straightforward, official, and kind of iconic. You show up, you're married in about 45–60 minutes start to finish, and you walk out with a marriage certificate. Here's the full breakdown if City Hall is the move.
Good to know: reserved appointment times; no ceremony personalization; guest count restriction still in place
Private officiant: This is the choose-your-own-adventure option. A rooftop at golden hour, a park you've loved since college, a favorite restaurant's private room — if it means something to you, we can probably make it work.
Good to know: full customization including timing and location
Neither one is more "real" than the other, just focus on choosing what fits the flow of the day you want to experience.
Where we'll take Photos
New York doesn't run out of good backdrops, and a slice of it always plays a part in your photos. We can mix the iconic stuff — the kind of skyline and architecture shots that will always represent the energy of NYC — with the neighborhood spots that actually feel like you: your block, your favorite coffee shop's doorway, the bridge you stroll under on the weekends.
If you're coming from out of town and want the classic New York experience, we can even hire out one of the old checker cabs for portraits — it photographs so well and is so fun to ride in from location to location.
Getting-ready photos usually happen at your hotel or apartment, and from there we build the rest of the day around your ceremony location and however much time you'd like to explore for portraits.
After the "I do" - Reception Ideas
You don't need a ballroom to celebrate! A good dive bar, a slice joint, a restaurant, or a cupcake shop can do the job just fine, thank you. Keep it as simple or as done-up as you want — the point is celebrating with the people who matter, not filling a seating chart.
Coming from outside the US?
If you're not a U.S. citizen, there's some extra paperwork to make sure your marriage is recognized back home — typically an extended certificate and apostille certification. My City Hall guide covers the full process if that applies to you.
Dreaming up a wedding that feels adventurous, meaningful, and totally your own?
I’d love to hear about it! Reach out using the form below and you'll hear back from me ASAP.
Ready to fall in love with your photography?
"Jon brings charm and most importantly sincerity to his work. We were blown away by his level of communication and putting us at ease throughout the whole pre-planning. He was flexible with our craziness, all while getting great photos we'll cherish forever!"
"Jon was an absolute joy to work with from the first call to the ultimate delivery of the photos. He is fun, easy going, encouraging, and unfailingly positive and able to go with the flow. His photos were beyond belief. Every important moment was captured perfectly."
"Jon is an absolute gem of a person + photographer. We hired him for our city hall wedding in Manhattan, and added some locations around the city. From our first consultation, he was friendly, professional, and really tried to understand our vision and intent for the day."
"Jon was our photographer for our wedding and he did such a great job that we asked him again for our wedding/house warming party. Jon was easy to work with, creative, professional and fantastic at his craft! Above all, it was SO MUCH FUN to work with him."
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JC Lemon is a New York City elopement and wedding photographer for couples who live and love boldly.
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