Why More Couples Are Choosing a Philadelphia City Hall Wedding
Philadelphia City Hall Wedding
Did you know that you can get married at Philadelphia City Hall? Courthouse weddings in Philadelphia are a popular choice for many couples! As a Philadelphia wedding photographer, I have had the opportunity to photograph many city hall weddings, and I have gotten a unique inside look at the many reasons couples are gravitating toward this micro-wedding option.
Five Reasons Couples are Getting Married at Philadelphia City Hall
Philadelphia City Hall Weddings are Affordable
One of the most obvious reasons may be that it is an affordable option to get married in Philadelphia. Having a wedding can be very costly, and as the wedding gets bigger in size, often the cost does too. Although there is a fee to get your marriage license(which you do have to get before you are able to get married), there is no fee to have a ceremony in Philadelphia City Hall by a judge. If you are wondering how to get your marriage license, click this link for a step-by-step guide on how get your marriage license at Philadelphia City Hall. Signing up to have your ceremony at City Hall is a separate process, and you can get more details about it on my blog post: 8 Tips For Your Philadelphia City Hall Wedding. Getting married is a life-changing moment of love and commitment, but you get to decide how much you want to spend on the wedding. City Hall weddings are certainly a budget-friendly way to tie the knot. You can still choose to celebrate afterwards with a bigger reception, or you can keep it to an intimate dinner in the city or a toast just the two of you. By saving money on the cost of the ceremony, maybe you can then splurge a bit on something else for your wedding that is important to you.
Philadelphia City Hall is Beautiful
Whether you live in Philadelphia or are just visiting, if you have been downtown, you have probably seen the iconic Philadelphia City Hall Building; it’s pretty hard to miss. It sits at the intersection of two of the main streets of the city, Broad Street and Market Street, and it takes up a full city block. It is a massive and impressive building with grand architecture and awe-inspiring allure. It is a popular location for wedding photos, even for couples getting married at other locations across the city, so getting married inside this historic Philadelphia institution has its own special appeal. I have to say that the room inside, where the actual ceremony is performed, is pretty plain and doesn’t hold that same feeling, but the ceremony is only about five minutes, and then you are able to take photos on the romantic inside staircase and outside the building as well.
Philadelphia City Hall Weddings Are Intimate
Weddings at Philadelphia City Hall only allow a limited number of people to be guests at the ceremony. The limit is 6 guests(note that if you have a photographer, they are considered one of your six guests). This guest count restriction will keep your wedding ceremony intimate. Some couples may see this as a negative as they may want to widen the circle and invite more loved ones to witness this moment, and other couples may see this as just perfect, and it keeps the moment very intimate and personal. Once the ceremony is over, if you do want others to join in a dinner or larger celebration, you can surely do that or maybe you are going for an elopement with just the two of you. Having a small ceremony allows you to be nimble and to connect and spend time with each person who is present.
Philadelphia City Hall Weddings Are Low-Key
Wedding days are always exciting, no matter how big or how small. Some couples want to go all out and have the biggest celebration, bringing together friends from different parts of their lives and different places around the country or world. Other couples’ vision for their wedding day is for something quiet, modest, and relaxed. They want to get married, but want to keep it to a minimum as far as the wedding. There is no right or wrong way to celebrate your love. There is something truly beautiful about having an all-out bash and bringing together loved ones for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration. There is also something beautiful about having a more casual celebration and keeping the day easygoing. If a relaxed, laid-back wedding is more your style, a Philadelphia City Hall wedding is an option to consider. A courthouse wedding offers simpler logistics; you don’t get bogged down in making decisions about decor, complicated seating charts, or the big wedding stress. Philadelphia City Hall weddings are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays only, and this weekday wedding option offers an unfussy option for couples looking for something quieter.
Philadelphia City Hall Weddings Are Flexible
City Hall weddings can offer more flexibility. Having a smaller guest list can open up the options of what you choose to do post-ceremony. Maybe you wander through the city and take photos, and then meet up for a delectable dinner at your favorite BYOB, maybe you plan a celebration at a friend’s house for a backyard BBQ. You have more freedom to choose to do whatever appeals to you after the ceremony. As far as wedding day style, you could go anywhere from full on formal with a wedding dress, veil, tux etc. or you could lean towards the other end of the spectrum and go more casual with perhaps a fun cocktail dress, pantsuit, or whatever fits your personal aesthetic.
Photo Location Opportunities
Philadelphia City Hall offers some spectacular locations for photos inside and outside which are popular because of the impressive architecture. Couples often like getting photos of City Hall behind them in photos, and you can get great vantage points by going two blocks north or south on Broad Street. You can also go across the street to LOVE Park to include City Hall in the background. Check out this blog post for a list of some of the best locations for photos around Philadelphia City Hall
Rain or Shine
One thing couples often worry about for their wedding day is rain. What if it rains on my wedding day? Well, as a long-time wedding photographer in Philadelphia, I have photographed my share of rainy weddings. The good news is you still get married and if you choose Philadelphia City Hall, you will still have pretty locations around the building, inside and outside, to take photos where you are under cover. Knowing this can bring some ease to your wedding day!
City Hall Wedding Photographer
If you are planning your City Hall wedding and looking for a photographer, I would love to hop on a call and learn more about the vision you have for your day. You can schedule an inquiry call to learn more about the special photo packages I have perfect for city hall weddings. Just complete the online contact form for Heidi Roland Photograhy and we can arrange a time for a call that is convenient for you!
Here are a few other blogs to check out for City Hall Weddings:
City Hall Micro Wedding Philadelphia
Philadelphia City Hall Wedding Photographer
Philadelphia Elopement at City Hall
