Based on NYC City Clerk's Office published fee schedule, vendor pricing in The Blu List database, and publicly available vendor rates. Last updated May 2026.
The total cost of a legal NYC courthouse wedding runs between $35 and $175, not counting any vendors you layer on top. That's the marriage license plus the ceremony fee at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau. Everything else is optional.
Most couples don't stop there. Add a photographer for two hours, a small flowers arrangement, and a dinner reservation afterward, and a "courthouse wedding" realistically lands between $1,500 and $4,000 for the day. Still a fraction of the average NYC wedding cost, which The Knot pegged at $46,000 in 2025.
The Short Answer
The NYC City Clerk charges $35 for a marriage license and $25 for a Civil Ceremony at the Marriage Bureau — totaling $60 in government fees. If you want a ceremony room with a few guests and a bit more structure, the City Clerk's Office Ceremony Package runs $75, bringing the government-side total to $110.
Most couples getting married at a courthouse still hire a photographer (the most common add-on), and some bring in a florist or book a small dinner. A realistic all-in budget for a courthouse wedding day in NYC is $1,200–$3,500, depending on how much you build around it.
How the Costs Break Down
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage License | $35 | Required. Valid 60 days, wait period 24 hours |
| Civil Ceremony at Marriage Bureau | $25 | Walk-in or scheduled at City Clerk window |
| City Clerk Ceremony Package | $75 | Includes ceremony room, up to 6 guests |
| Officiant (private, outside venue) | $300–$800 | If you want ceremony elsewhere |
| Photographer (2–3 hours) | $800–$2,200 | Elopement or micro-wedding packages |
| Florist / bridal bouquet | $150–$400 | Single bouquet, no centerpieces |
| Hair & makeup | $250–$600 | Single appointment, no bridal party |
| Private dinner (per couple) | $200–$600 | NYC restaurant, mid-to-upscale |
| Full day, all-in estimate | $1,495–$4,710 | Varies by vendor tier |
The Government Process, Step by Step
1. Get your marriage license. Both partners must appear together at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau, located at 141 Worth Street in downtown Manhattan. Bring valid government-issued photo ID and, if applicable, proof of divorce or death certificate for any prior marriages. The fee is $35, payable by credit card. Cash is not accepted.
There is a mandatory 24-hour waiting period after the license is issued. Plan accordingly — you cannot get licensed and married the same day.
The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. If you miss that window, you start over.
2. Schedule (or walk in for) your ceremony. The City Clerk offers two civil ceremony options:
- Walk-in civil ceremony: $25. A clerk performs the ceremony at the window. No guests, no frills. Legally binding.
- Ceremony Package: $75. A private room, up to 6 guests, about 10–15 minutes. Available by appointment via the City Clerk's website (cityclerk.nyc.gov). Slots fill fast on Fridays and around Valentine's Day — book weeks in advance.
Locations: The Manhattan Marriage Bureau at 141 Worth Street handles the most volume. The other four boroughs have their own offices: Brooklyn (210 Joralemon St), Queens (120-55 Queens Blvd), The Bronx (851 Grand Concourse), Staten Island (130 Stuyvesant Pl). All charge the same fees.
3. Receive your marriage certificate. You'll get a Certificate of Marriage Registration at the end of your appointment. This is your legal record. Keep it somewhere you can find it — you'll need it for name changes, insurance updates, and immigration paperwork.
What You Get at Each Price Point
$60–$110: The bare minimum
Walk-in ceremony at the Marriage Bureau. Both partners, one witness (required by law), and a city clerk. No photos, no guests beyond the witness. Completely legal. Some couples prefer exactly this — fast, private, done.
$500–$1,200: License + photographer
The most common courthouse wedding upgrade. Hire a photographer for a two-hour elopement session that covers the ceremony and a short walk around the neighborhood — Collect Pond Park is steps from 141 Worth Street, and City Hall Park is a four-minute walk. Tribeca, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the waterfront are all close.
Two-hour elopement photography packages in NYC start around $800 from established photographers. Budget end runs $600–$800; mid-range runs $1,000–$1,500; editorial-style photographers charge $1,800–$2,500 for a half day. Browse NYC wedding photographers on The Blu List.
$1,500–$3,500: Full courthouse wedding day
License + Ceremony Package + photographer + bouquet + hair and makeup + dinner. This is the version most couples describe when they say "we did a courthouse wedding but made a day of it."
The ceremony itself takes 15 minutes. The rest of the day is yours.
What Drives the Price Up
-
Photography tier: The single biggest variable. A $650 photographer and a $2,200 photographer are both available in NYC. The difference shows in editing style, experience with low-light city interiors, and turnaround time. Check portfolios before booking. See how to hire a wedding photographer in NYC.
-
Hair and makeup: If you want both, budget $400–$600 for a single appointment at a salon, or $500–$700 for in-home service. Bridal-specific artists charge a premium over standard appointments.
-
Florals: A single bridal bouquet from a boutique NYC florist runs $150–$350. If you want matching boutonnieres, loose florals for photos, or a small arrangement for dinner, add $100–$200. Browse NYC wedding florists.
-
Day-of dinner: This is where budgets vary most. A casual dinner for two in Tribeca or the West Village runs $150–$250. A tasting-menu restaurant or private dining experience can run $300–$600 per couple. Neither requires special "wedding" booking — most couples just make a regular reservation.
-
Witnesses: You need one witness minimum under New York State law. Most couples bring a friend or family member. If you need a witness, some photographers and officiants offer this service for a small fee.
-
Day/time of ceremony: Friday afternoon slots at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau are the most popular and fill fastest. Midweek mornings are easier to book. The office is open Monday–Friday; no weekend ceremonies.
Three Realistic Scenarios
Scenario 1: The $200 Wedding
License ($35) + walk-in civil ceremony ($25) + one witness (a friend) + lunch nearby = roughly $200 all-in. No photos, no flowers. Some couples document the day on their phones; others deliberately leave no record. This works best when the point is the legal fact of marriage, not the celebration.
Scenario 2: The $1,800 Day
License ($35) + Ceremony Package ($75) + mid-range elopement photographer for 2.5 hours ($1,100) + simple bridal bouquet ($175) + dinner for two at a Tribeca restaurant ($350) = approximately $1,735. This is the most common version of a "courthouse wedding done right." You get real photos, a real bouquet, and a real dinner.
Scenario 3: The $3,500 Micro-Wedding
License ($35) + Ceremony Package ($75) + editorial photographer for 4 hours ($2,000) + hair and makeup ($500) + boutique florist bouquet and boutonniere ($300) + private dinner for two ($500) = approximately $3,410. This is a full wedding day — it's just small and fast. Some couples in this tier also book a hotel room for the night, adding $250–$500 depending on neighborhood.
How to Build Your Courthouse Wedding Day
-
Book the marriage license appointment first. Both partners must appear together. Schedule at cityclerk.nyc.gov. The site also lists current wait times. Morning slots are faster.
-
Decide on the ceremony type before you arrive. Walk-in ($25) or Ceremony Package ($75, up to 6 guests). If you want the private room, book it online in advance. Same-day Ceremony Package appointments are rare — don't count on walk-in availability.
-
Hire a photographer early. Good elopement photographers in NYC book 4–8 weeks out, and the best ones run 8–12 weeks out for popular dates (spring Fridays especially). Give yourself time. Browse NYC wedding photographers.
-
Plan the after. The ceremony takes 15 minutes. Build a two-to-four hour photo walk into the day if you have a photographer — City Hall Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, Dumbo, or the High Line are all within 20 minutes of 141 Worth Street. Then dinner.
-
Handle the paperwork before you leave. Confirm you have your Certificate of Marriage Registration in hand before walking out of the building. This is your legal proof of marriage. Photograph it immediately.
-
Check your wedding budget before adding vendors. The government fees are fixed and cheap. It's the vendor layer that varies — and where most couples underestimate cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance do I need to book the NYC Ceremony Package?
At least 3–4 weeks for most dates. Friday afternoons and any date near Valentine's Day book out much faster — sometimes 6–8 weeks. Monday through Thursday mornings are the easiest to book on short notice. Check cityclerk.nyc.gov for real-time availability.
Can we have more than 6 guests at a courthouse ceremony in NYC?
No. The Ceremony Package at the City Clerk's office accommodates a maximum of 6 guests in the ceremony room. If you have more guests, you have two options: hold a private ceremony elsewhere with a licensed officiant (a park, loft, restaurant private room), or do the legal ceremony at the Clerk's office and hold a separate celebration with guests afterward.
Do we need a witness at an NYC civil ceremony?
Yes. New York State law requires one witness at the marriage ceremony. The City Clerk's office typically provides a witness if you don't bring one for the standard civil ceremony. For the Ceremony Package, you can bring your own guests (up to 6), one of whom can serve as witness. Confirm this when you book.
Can we get married on a weekend at the NYC Marriage Bureau?
No. The City Clerk's offices in all five boroughs are open Monday through Friday only, typically 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. (hours vary by borough). There are no Saturday or Sunday ceremonies. If you want a weekend date, you'll need a private officiant and a separate venue. The courthouse handles the license on a weekday; the ceremony can happen wherever and whenever you want within the 60-day license validity window.
What's the difference between a marriage license and a marriage certificate in New York?
The license is what you get before the ceremony — it's the government's permission to marry. The certificate is what you receive after the ceremony is performed — it's the legal record that you did marry. You apply for the license, wait 24 hours, have the ceremony, and walk out with the certificate. You'll use the certificate (not the license) for name changes, Social Security updates, insurance, and any future legal or immigration purposes.
Government fee data sourced from the NYC City Clerk's Office published schedule (cityclerk.nyc.gov). Vendor pricing based on The Blu List database and publicly published rates, May 2026. Related reading: Average Cost of a Wedding in NYC (2026) · Browse NYC Wedding Photographers · Browse NYC Wedding Florists