Katie and Jose snuck away for an NY City Hall wedding in Manhattan in the spring. On your wedding day, sometimes just having two people keeps everything easier. A courthouse wedding simplifies planning by eliminating the need for a venue, decorations, and catering. You can save time and money by choosing a straightforward legal ceremony. Plus, the officiant and court staff handle most of the logistics, reducing stress for the couple.
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After the marriage ceremony, the clerk, the couple, and the witness (I could be yours!) or witnesses must sign the marriage license. I love getting to sign off as a witness when I do a courthouse wedding. I always bring my most pristine signature. For this NY City Hall wedding in Manhattan, I was witness to their marriage as it was just the three of us. It’s always an honor to be asked by the couple!
The NYC marriage bureau does a fantastic job setting the tone for love in their iconic building with stunning gold accents and ornate chandeliers. NYC makes in-person appointments for a marriage ceremony and marriage license through what they call Project Cupid. You don’t, however, get to choose which chapel you get. But, both the west and east chapel have a sweet bubble gum pink walls and actually upbeat and thoughtful ministers which you don’t always find in courthouse situations. Despite the fact that Katie + Jose waited against the east chapel wall, they were directed to the west chapel. The west chapel has a yellow and pink rainbow striped, abstract art. On the other hand, the east chapel has a stunning, large blue painting that I linked from another elopement!
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That day, all the magnolia trees were so fragrant as we walked through Manhattan and into Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. In addition, a lovely, little intentional garden is specially designed for wedding photos and it sits directly outside the Office of the City Clerk. Plus, if you forget to bring your own flowers, there’s a vendor right there that will sell you a perfectly bunched bouquet.
Katie’s white flower crown added to the city’s natural blossoms. Their post-nuptial excitement continued as we walked along, discovering quiet nooks to take photos. Just look at how vibrant their NY City Hall wedding, ahem, elopement, was!
