Marin County Civic Center wedding ceremony information

Move over, San Francisco City Hall! There’s a brand new City Hall on the town (effectively, a ‘civic center’ and it’s not really new, groundbreaking for the constructing befell in 1960). But a few of us, together with myself, have been a bit gradual catching on to this architectural surprise that you could get married in!

In this information, I need to share a few of what I’ve realized about getting married on the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael so you may resolve if it’s proper to your nuptials. I goal to replace this information steadily as I study extra, so in case you have any corrections or additional perception, please add your remark!

The Marin County Civic Center affords a easy course of, but in addition a really enjoyable and distinctive location. This just isn’t your grandma’s courthouse. This is a murals, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, with an enthralling, mild and shiny, mid-century trendy design that creates a cinematic backdrop for pictures.

This distinctive County Hall boasts the right mix of outdated (brick-red flooring, a rad sky-blue blue dome that resembles an area ship), new (a retro-futuristic escalator that appears like one thing from Star Trek) and quirky (that little curtained nook that appears like a photograph sales space!).

Wait, you even have your ‘something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue’ proper right here!

All of this selection and character make it a photographer’s dream, with the right smooth mild and sense of place. I feel that is the highest spot for {couples} with a assured however carefree imaginative and prescient, a playful facet, and that strategy their wedding ceremony day with a way of caprice. Whether it’s an elopement with simply the 2 of you, or a festive event with all of the fam, we’re able to have a good time with you! 🎉

Marin County Civic Center vs San Francisco City Hall

OK so I really feel like I must get this out of the best way first – comparisons with the constructing’s large sister over the bay – San Francisco City Hall. So I’ll make it fast.

Marin Civic Center has a totally completely different character from San Francisco City Hall. Instead of marble staircases, grand Beaux-Arts structure, and a really well-known wedding ceremony scene, it affords shade, curves, mid-century design, and a extra relaxed civic-building ambiance.

As it’s possible you’ll remember, SF City Hall has turn out to be markedly extra well-liked in recent times. Even within the 10 years I’ve been photographing weddings there, I’d say that since round 2022, the quantity of crowding has reached nearly unmanageable ranges. Marin County Civic Center affords a breath of recent air – it doesn’t have the mass enchantment of SF City Hall, so naturally, you may anticipate manner fewer crowds.

In that manner, the method is extra like a daily small metropolis’s municipal constructing than a marriage mill.

Another a part of the benefit of this place is that you just don’t must e book tremendous far prematurely to snag a ceremony reserving. I’ll get to that extra after I deal with the reserving part, however simply know, every part about working with this area is extra informal and fewer high-pressure.

The model is after all fully completely different and completely charming for the best {couples} – there’s shade a lot, curves, mid-century design, and funky indoor-outdoor areas. It’s truthfully very charming and quirky. Portraits right here can have extra distinction and edge than a typical courthouse setting (and with out the formality or depth of San Francisco City Hall).

And if you happen to’ve ever needed to get married in a Wes Anderson film, that is it!

How to e book your ceremony at Marin County Civic Center

You can solely get married right here at very particular occasions. It just isn’t open for ceremonies the entire time the constructing is open to the general public. Ceremonies are solely provided on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The timing could be very particular too. You can choose between these timeslots solely:

In phrases of methods to e book, I discover it refreshingly quaint that reserving your wedding ceremony ceremony right here requires calling them instantly. Their quantity is 415-473-6772 and you’ll name throughout enterprise hours, 9am – 4pm.

There’s additionally a contact type linked on the web page beneath the place you may contact them to search out out any data it’s possible you’ll want earlier than making your reserving official. They reply rapidly!

👉🏾 Here’s the official page the place you could find out every part that you must learn about elopements at Marin County Civic Center.

How a lot does a ceremony at Marin County Civic Center price?

💲 It’s solely $56* (sure, you learn that proper) to have your ceremony there.

How far out are you able to e book your ceremony?

There’s no official steering wherever on-line about this, however many have reported 2 months out. One anecdote on Reddit shares that when the OP referred to as, there have been many slots accessible simply two weeks out. So, it doesn’t appear to be there’s a reserving frenzy, and extra like a reasonably relaxed course of.

However, as of June 2026 whereas researching for this publish, I additionally heard from a photographer who works there often that demand has picked up loads. Her present recommendation is to begin calling proper on the two-month mark, ideally when the workplace opens at 9am, particularly in case you have a particular date in thoughts.

I might deal with that as sensible subject intel relatively than official county coverage, however it could be helpful to know. 

Do you want an appointment and a wedding license?

Ceremonies are by appointment solely. You don’t want an appointment for a wedding license.

You might want to get hold of a wedding license from any county in California, obtained inside 90 days of the ceremony.

(However, be aware that in case you are utilizing a confidential license OR having somebody deputized to carry out the ceremony, affirm the small print with the Marin County Clerk earlier than planning, because it seems like the wedding license could have to be obtained from Marin County, not a special county).

Yes, you may get your marriage license the identical day, however I like to recommend dealing with it beforehand. It offers you one much less job on the marriage day, and you’ll concentrate on the ceremony, taking pictures, and spending time with household.

💲 The price of acquiring a wedding license from Marin County is $85* on the present time.

As with any civil venue, you have got a selection between a public marriage license or a confidential marriage license. The ‘regular’ form is public. The confidential sort implies that your marriage is not going to seem on the official, publicly accessible listing of marriage information.

Practically, this has one additional implication: public marriage licenses require you to deliver at the very least one witness to actually witness (signal) the shape. The most is 2.

And earlier than you ask, sure, photographers are pleased to behave as witness, and no photographer would cost further for this. It’s an honor! Especially if you happen to’re eloping, you’ll want to supply a witness out of your group (county employees can’t witness for you).

The confidential license doesn’t require any witnesses to be current with you. An additional stipulation with this sort is that it’s a must to be dwelling collectively.

After the ceremony, there may be some paperwork to handle. Whoever performs the ceremony (your officiant), should return the entire license inside 10 days of the ceremony. The room to return to varies by license sort.

• For public marriage licenses ➸ undergo the Recorder’s Office, Room 232
• For confidential marriage licenses ➸ undergo County Clerk’s Office, Room 234

💲 I like to recommend acquiring a number of copies at a really low price (presently $17*) from the suitable workplace in case they’re wanted. For this, you will need to both seem in particular person with photograph ID or mail a notarized request type and fee. Highly value it (particularly if you happen to’re altering your title!). Just ensure you resolve prematurely, as altering it later is a sophisticated course of.

👉🏾 Here’s the official page the place you may apply to your marriage license on-line. However, it isn’t a legitimate license till you seem earlier than the Marin County Clerk.  

Who performs ceremonies at Marin County Civic Center?

Ceremonies are carried out by the County Clerk’s Office by a Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages – which means you’ll have your personal officiant (the particular person within the black robe).

Can we’ve our personal officiant?

Yes! This is de facto neat they provide this. After the general public or confidential license is issued, it’s possible you’ll be married by a minister (priest, rabbi and so forth), or one other approved particular person of your selection (a pal or member of the family, for instance). 

This course of is named being deputized to turn out to be a ‘Deputy Commissioner for a day’. They’ll have to be an grownup, to use in particular person, to deliver the wedding license, and 💲 pay a $60 charge.

The advantage of going this route is that it opens up Monday and Friday ceremonies, as you’re not counting on the Deputy Marriage Commissioner, who is just accessible Tuesdays via Thursdays.

It’s the officiant’s job to submit the wedding license to the workplace the place it was obtained anytime after the marriage. That could be the identical day, or in case you are native to the world, it could be extra handy for them to submit it one other time. The cut-off time for submitting this paperwork is 3.30pm.

Which space ought to we select to get married in?

There a few decisions which may be offered to you in your wedding ceremony day at Marin County Civic Center. These are: the backyard space or the wedding ceremony room within the County Clerk’s workplace. I extremely suggest the backyard space (and, because it’s totally open air, planning accordingly with the climate).

The backyard space (with reflecting pool) is open and spacious. There’s room for far more visitors and it images significantly better. It’s a public area, so technically it’s possible you’ll be sharing with the odd metropolis employee, however it’s simply not a brilliant crowded place. The non-public room is actually the County Clerk’s workplace and isn’t thought to be particular.

However, there could also be different choices you’re given on the marriage day, so if there’s someplace you take note of that speaks to you (particularly if it’s too scorching/chilly / moist to go outdoors), there’s each likelihood they’ll accommodate! A preferred, if unofficial space, appears to be the plant-filled atrium – skylit, with an indoor-outdoor really feel. In truth, these atria have been designed by Frank Lloyd Wright to be open-air, initially open to the sky and later coated with skylights. This is an particularly good location to make use of if you happen to’re bringing your personal officiant and don’t want to stick to the official timeslots.

As with most City Hall issues, it’s right down to the Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages you occur to get that day, however by all accounts, they’re all versatile and sort, and can mean you can get pleasure from your time there, soak all of it in, and take pictures along with your photographer.

How many visitors are you able to deliver?

You can deliver formally as much as 6 visitors for the marriage room and anecdotally, it’s capped at 25 visitors if you happen to select the outside backyard space by the pool. Or after all, if you happen to choose to maintain the day tremendous intimate, you may preserve it as a personal elopement, simply the 2 of you + your photographer!

Can anybody take pictures at Marin County Civic Center with out a allow?

You don’t want a allow to take your elopement pictures or couple’s portraits at Marin County Civic Center with knowledgeable wedding ceremony photographer any time in the course of the constructing’s working hours. Marin County Civic Center employees confirmed that {couples} could take pictures across the constructing with out a photograph allow. This is whether or not or not you have got booked an official civil ceremony there. Be conscious that different {couples}, employees and members of the general public will likely be current.

That is completely different from a industrial shoot, styled manufacturing, or filming challenge, which falls underneath separate allow guidelines and costs. If your plans contain a bigger crew, intensive tools, or something past normal wedding ceremony pictures for people/{couples}/households, affirm the present coverage with the county earlier than you proceed.

The Civic Center is a working public constructing, not a personal venue rental. For regular wedding ceremony portraits, you’re utilizing a public area throughout common entry hours.

What are you able to anticipate on the day?

Like with any City Hall, the very first thing you’ll do in your wedding ceremony day is verify in to your ceremony. You’ll need to enable loads of time for this (extra if you happen to’re acquiring your marriage license as well as). You’ll full your paperwork, meet your officiant, pay the ceremony charge, and have the witness signal as effectively.

Photography is normally permitted in the course of the check-in course of, but when different members of the general public are close by, it’s possible you’ll be requested to not take pictures throughout that point.

Next is the ceremony. Civil ceremonies final round 4 – 5 minutes (much less if you happen to select to not change rings). After that, household photograph groupings are the following merchandise on the agenda. Then, we will dismiss visitors and discover the campus collectively, specializing in simply the 2 of you plus any particular wedding ceremony particulars you’d like highlighted.

The photographer will lead the inventive components of the day.

I personally create detailed timelines for all our shoppers earlier than reserving. This will make sure the pictures we plan matches along with your day as an entire. We typically combine up the order primarily based on for instance, whether or not you like to take romantics early morning (when the sunshine could also be higher, or to mean you can easily transition for lunch along with your visitors), in order that will likely be customized for every couple.

Day-of suggestions for Marin County Civil Center ceremonies

• Get your marriage license earlier than the marriage day, if attainable. Marin says you want a wedding license earlier than the ceremony, and the ceremony appointment is separate from the license course of.
• Bring the authorized fundamentals: marriage license, legitimate photograph IDs (driver’s license/passport), and rings in case you are exchanging them.
• Keep your fingers free. Assign one visitor to carry telephones, keys, wallets, luggage, paperwork, and something you don’t want in pictures or bulging in pockets. If you’re eloping and haven’t any visitors, I can maintain onto small private objects in my backpack.
• Choose footwear you may stand and stroll in. There is quite a lot of strolling concerned, and on completely different terrains, too (lawns and arduous indoor surfaces).
• If you’re getting skilled hair or make-up, ask for a glance that may maintain up via strolling, indoor mild, outside portraits and humidity within the hotter months.
• With its mid-century civic really feel, fashion-forward, vintage-feeling, tailor-made, quick clothes, or much less formal however quirkier or easier outfits could make numerous sense right here. This just isn’t a timid constructing, so be daring!
• Consider private flowers in the event that they really feel such as you. A bouquet, boutonnière, or small floral element can add character, texture and shade, particularly in a constructing with sturdy traces and heat shade.
• Plan so as to add a second location. You might go for portraits elsewhere in Marin, and / or partial protection of lunch or dinner with family members.
• Expect a public constructing. It’s pretty quiet, however that’s not a assure. Ceremony appointments occur throughout common civic exercise, and the county doesn’t block off areas for pictures. Any plans made will want some flexibility.
• Avoid reserving your ceremony in the course of the Marin County Fair, which is held annually over the 4^th of July vacation. It takes place on the Civic Center campus and might have an effect on parking, visitors and crowds. If you do e book throughout truthful week, select an early appointment and construct in further time.

Where is Marin County Civic Center positioned and what’s one of the best ways to get there?

The deal with of Marin County Civic Center is 3501 Civic Center Dr, San Rafael, CA 94903.

The constructing is in San Rafael, north of San Francisco, and is best for many {couples} and visitors to succeed in by automotive or rideshare. The Civic Center sits close to Highway 101, so it’s comparatively easy from San Francisco, the East Bay, Sonoma, and different components of Marin.

There is public parking across the Civic Center campus, however {couples} ought to nonetheless construct in further arrival time, particularly on weekdays when county workplaces and courtroom companies are open. The Marin Civic Center SMART station is close by, however I might deal with transit as helpful for some visitors relatively than the default wedding-day plan.

For wedding ceremony planning functions, assume most individuals will arrive by automotive or rideshare. Send visitors the precise deal with, construct in time for parking, and ensure everybody is aware of the place to satisfy earlier than the ceremony appointment. The campus is massive sufficient that “meet at the Civic Center” will not be particular sufficient.

An elopement setting with actual character

To get married in a Frank Lloyd Wright midcentury marvel is de facto such a flex! And tremendous cool in a low-key, relaxed manner for the best {couples} which are interested in this one-of-a-kind architectural oddity.

The pink stucco, blue roofline, scalloped balconies, archways, skylights, and gold spire give the constructing a glance that’s arduous to confuse with wherever else. Inside, the arched hallways and heat subtle mild create sturdy pure framing.

Outside, the curved walkways, fountain, and open views of the constructing give portraits extra space and air. The purple elevators add a playful, very Civic Center-specific element.

The constructing actually is extraordinary. Where else are you able to discover a round library housed inside a rotunda, organ-pipe-like gold gates, a 172-foot gold spire containing the boiler plant’s chimney, and a round USPS?

OK, I feel I’ve finished sufficient promoting it! Find out extra about our companies and pricing on the button beneath. Yes, that is for SF City Hall—I’m pricing it the identical manner. With one additional profit to you….

For now, Marin County Civic Center ceremonies/elopements are priced the identical manner as my San Francisco City Hall civil ceremony protection, with companies beginning with the 2-hour bundle. Because Marin Civic Center has a extra relaxed circulate and might have nearer to three hours to cowl the check-in & license, ceremony, group pictures and portraits comfortably, I’m constructing in that flexibility as an introductory supply so there may be sufficient time to do your wedding ceremony justice! I’d like to shoot your nuptials on this iconic constructing.

* costs could change with out discover, please verify official sources earlier than reserving.  

Zoe Larkin

I’m Zoe, a marriage photographer primarily based in San Francisco! My model is candid, capturing genuine moments for my {couples} everywhere in the Bay Area and Northern California. Creating content material is my ardour! Follow alongside on the weblog, Instagram, TikTok & YouTube!

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