Top 10 San Francisco Wedding Vendors for City Hall Elopements
It’s no secret that San Francisco City Hall is an iconic place to elope. The building is absolutely stunning, with rich Beaux-Arts architecture sitting right in the center of San Francisco — the space is perfect for a romantic wedding of any size. One of the most important parts of planning an elopement or wedding is the vendor team that you source for your day. I say vendor “team” because they will truly work together to bring your vision to life. You want to be sure you’re hiring professional wedding vendors with great rapport, similar vision and compatible personalities. Sounds like a lot, right? Let’s take the stress out of choosing the perfect vendors and get to celebrating! Look no further, I’m going to make recommendations for some incredible vendors in the Bay Area so you don’t have to research for hours and hours. Let’s get started!
San Francisco Hair & Makeup Artists: picture - perfect ready
Your hair + makeup artist is most likely the first vendor you’re going to interact with on your wedding day and has the ability to positively (or negatively) impact the entire day. Making sure they understand and can execute your vision is paramount. Like all wedding vendors, you want to be able to trust this person(s) and not feel like you need to micromanage or worry about whether you like what they are doing.
A few key questions to have answered by your makeup artist:
Showing examples of wedding hair + makeup that you like and being sure it’s within their realm of services. Look through their website/social to be sure you feel aligned with what they are sharing.
Ask them how much time you should pencil in for their service to make sure they aren’t rushed. Options like starting earlier or hiring assistants / associate artists can really help your wedding day go smoother. You don’t want to start out your day feeling late, stressed or rushed.
Here are some of my favorite San Francisco Wedding Hair + Makeup Artists!
Dreamcatcher Artistry | Cheri Voyage | April Foster | @chelskay.beautyco
Bay Area Officiants: Making it official
If you are having a civil ceremony at San Francisco City Hall, they will provide an officiant for your elopement ceremony. If you are reserving the Fourth Floor or Mayors Balcony, you will need to secure your own. You can either hire a professional officiant or have a friend/family member who is willing to get ordained. Universal Life Church is a great place to receive a certificate. If you’re hiring a professional, I think it’s important to find someone who you feel has a similar vision or can at least honor your vision.
If you’re looking for an officiant, I highly recommend Tomoro Ceremonies by Ebbony!
San Francisco Florists: Bouquets + Boutonnieres
Even for a small elopement, florals can have a huge impact. If you’re not doing a larger wedding at a later date, I encourage you to consider purchasing a bouquet/boutonniere for your elopement! There is something about florals that adds a layer of romance and style to your day — and just makes the day feel more special.
City Hall is absolutely stunning, so you aren’t going to be able to out-do the venue. Choose florals that you love! Don’t be afraid to go big — but don’t worry about being too small either.
Check out some incredible San Francisco Florists:
Golden Fields Floristry | Golden Fields Floristry | C+M Fleuri
Videography: Capturing the Emotion
Hiring a wedding videographer isn’t as common for a small elopement, but is still definitely an option! Having video of your elopement can be especially important if you won’t have any family or friends with you. Being able to share those special moments, even after the fact, is such a great way to help people feel like they are included. Having a dinner party with your favorite people and sharing the film with them together would be such an intimate and beautiful way to celebrate!
Here are some amazing Bay Area Videographers:
Studio Arcady | Cherry Hill Wedding Films | Frame Story Studios
Wedding Attire: Where to Find the Perfect Dress or Suit
If you’re local to San Francisco, there are so many incredible bridal shops to browse! I love finding small, local shops that offer individualized experiences that feel authentic and meaningful. Picking out your attire should be fun, exciting and empowering! You want to find an environment that is encouraging so you leave feeling confident.
In terms of attire, San Francisco City Hall elopements can really be whatever you want! From casual to black tie, the venue is the perfect backdrop. I’ve seen everything from pantsuits to 8 foot trains — choose something you love and feel confident in! On your elopement day, you’ll be in good company with dozens of other brides and grooms dressed for the occasion! Don’t be afraid to go all out.
Many of the grooms I’ve worked with have found the perfect tux or suit at The Black Tux!
Check out these bridal shops!
Unveiled Bridal | A&Be Bridal Shop | Lace and Liberty
Transportation: Arrive in Style
To be honest, being in SF you have really great access to Uber, Lyft and Waymo — so you don’t necessarily need to reserve transportation beforehand! If you’ll be driving yourself, I highly recommend parking at 355 McAllister Street! It’s a parking garage right across from San Francisco City Hall and has reasonable rates. If you’re looking for a party bus or limo — you could check out:
Planner or Coordinator: Stress-Free Execution
If you are having a simple civil ceremony, a planner might not be necessary. But! If you’re having 25+ guests, hosting people at a hotel and plan to hold a reception after your ceremony — I highly recommend hiring a planner or coordinator to take a lot of the stress off your plate. This can be especially helpful if you’re coming in from out of town and aren’t familiar with different venues in the Bay Area.
Wedding coordinators truly are the heros of many wedding days. They allow you to kick back, relax and enjoy your wedding without stressing over details, timelines and vendor coordination. Weddings with coordinators are almost always more enjoyable as a couple, guest or vendor. Think of them as your team leader — without them, everyone is just a little less organized.
Check out some iconic planners here:
Paige Events | Studio DBI | Bari Elexa Events | E Events Co.
SF Restaurants: post elopement celebration
San Francisco City Hall is in the heart of the city and central to so many great restaurant options! I actually wrote an entire blog post about my favorite spots for post city hall celebrations — you can check it out here!
TLDR: No matter how you choose to celebrate after your San Francisco City Hall wedding, the city is filled with incredible dining options to match your vibe. Whether you're craving an intimate dinner for two, a lively group gathering, or a breathtaking waterfront view, there's a perfect spot for you. Your wedding day should be stress-free and unforgettable—so sit back, savor a delicious meal, and soak in the joy of your newlywed moments in one of the most beautiful cities in the world!
dessert: never too intimate for a cake
In my opinion, you should take advantage of every good opportunity to sneak in some extra dessert! San Francisco has some of the best sweets — if you’re looking for a traditional cake, SF has got you covered! But if cake is not your thing, might I suggest a chocolate croissant from Arsicault — YUM.
Butter& | Arsicault Bakery | b. patisserie | Tartine Bakery
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer:
You didn’t think I’d just let this one go, did you? Photography is truly one vendor that I think you should have no matter the size of your elopement. Whether it’s just the two of you or you’ve got a whole entourage — having photos to remember such a special moment is so important! These are the images you’re great, great grandkids will look back on one day. They are truly a part of your legacy!
Choosing the right photographer for you — start here:
Are they experienced?
Do you like their portfolio / style?
Do you get along with their personality?
Are they prompt and communicative?
I’d like to think I have five stars in each of these categories :) I absolutely LOVE photographing at San Francisco City Hall. I moved here in 2020 and it quickly became my favorite type of photography session. I would love to chat with you if you’re still looking for the right photographer!
Most people only get married once — Choosing the right vendors for your San Francisco City Hall elopement is so important. I hope that this blog post helps you narrow your search down and gives you the confidence to go out and hire the dream team you deserve! Cheers!
