Getting Married at Manhattan City Hall: A Step-by-Step Guide (and Why Some Couples Choose Cakewalk Instead)
You can get legally married at Manhattan City Hall for $60 and a little patience. Here's what that actually involves, what it costs, and how it compares to other ways to get married in NYC.
How to Get Married at City Hall: The Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Get Your Marriage License
You'll need to apply for a marriage license at least 24 hours before your ceremony. Apply online through Project Cupid at cityclerk.nyc.gov.
What to bring to your appointment:
A valid photo ID (passport, driver's license, or state ID)
Your Social Security number
Any required documents if you've been married before (certified divorce decree or death certificate)
Both partners must appear at the appointment — either in person or via the virtual option.
The 24-hour waiting period: Once your license is issued, you have to wait 24 hours before you can legally marry. Plan accordingly.
The license is valid for 60 days from the date it's issued. If you don't use it within 60 days, you start over.
For a full breakdown of the paperwork, see our complete NYC marriage license guide.
Step 2: Booking a City Hall Ceremony
Once you have your license, you book the actual ceremony slot through Project Cupid.
Slots drop every Monday at 8:30 a.m. EST, for appointments three weeks out. If you want to get married on a specific date, you need to book three weeks beforehand. If you're flexible, you can sometimes find same-week openings from cancellations, but don't count on it.
Appointments are 15-minute windows. Your actual ceremony will take about 2-3 minutes. The rest is waiting and processing.
Step 3: Show up and get married
You'll enter through the regular entrance at 1 Centre Street and go through security (metal detectors, bag checks). There's usually a line.
Here's what actually happens:
Check-in at the kiosk. You scan a barcode from your appointment confirmation.
Wait. Could be 10 minutes, could be 45. Depends on staffing and how many couples are there. The waiting room is fluorescent and institutional. It's efficient, not romantic.
Get called back to a clerk's desk. A clerk verifies your information, confirms your witness is there, and collects the $25 ceremony fee.
Go to the ceremony room. You, your witness, and any guests head to a small office that serves as the ceremony room.
The ceremony. A city clerk reads a standardized script. It's about 2-3 minutes. You say "I do." You exchange rings if you want to (not required). Your witness signs the license. There's no option to alter the script or personalize the words.
You get copies. You walk out with certified copies of your marriage license.
The whole experience — from walking in to walking out — is usually 45 minutes to an hour.
What you get and what you don’t get.
You get:
Legally married in New York State
A certified marriage license
Minimal cost ($60 total)
Speed and certainty
You don't get:
Any photography from the ceremony itself (bring your own, and they count toward your 4-guest limit)
A location you chose
Any personalization of the ceremony
Flexibility with timing
A coordinator or anyone managing the day
More than 4 guests in the room
International Couples and Apostilles
If you're an international couple, City Hall is only the beginning. After the ceremony, you may need:
An extended marriage certificate
Authentication through New York State
An apostille for international recognition (required for Hague Convention countries)
Consulate or embassy verification
Each country has different requirements, and the process can involve multiple offices, appointments, and weeks of waiting. We have a full guide for international couples getting married in NYC that walks through every step.
City Hall vs. Cakewalk: A Quick Comparison
City Hall
You handle all logistics yourself
Cakewalk
Up to 20 guests
Photography included
Hands-on planning and coordination
So here’s the deal…
City Hall is a functional option for couples who want to be legally married as quickly and cheaply as possible.
But if you’re traveling to New York, bringing loved ones, or hoping your wedding day actually feels like a wedding, many couples find City Hall limiting—and choose Cakewalk instead.
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