If you are considering getting married at a New York City Marriage Bureau in 2023 or 2024, you might be wondering what the process is like. Since reopening after the pandemic closure, the bureau operates on an appointment only basis for getting a license and for ceremonies. Both can be obtained a maximum of about 3 weeks before the date you are looking for. The site to obtain the appointment(s) is here. You will be required to create a Project Cupid account.

Availability has gotten better as the year has progressed however the overall capacity of the bureau is still reduced. If you are looking for a specific date, a Friday or during a popular time you may not get the day/time you are looking for. I suggest setting an alarm and when the appointments are released at 9AM EST on the correct Monday (or Thursday or online license appointments) to have the best shot at your coveted time. When you get your license, you will be given a # or when you make the appointment, a confirmation #. You must use that number for booking your ceremony appointment.

On the day of your ceremony, you and your one witness (name must be given at the license appointment) need to arrive 30 mins before your scheduled ceremony time. Masks are still required inside the building. (You may remove for the ceremony at least!) After a security screening and checking in with IDs, you will be given a number. Because of the appointments, this part moves much faster than in the past. After you both and your witness sign the license and pay the fee, you will be asked to wait again. You will then be called by name into one of the two ceremony rooms. The ceremony lasts less than 2 mins and is preformed by a clerk behind plexiglass. You will be given your certificate at the conclusion, as opposed to waiting 4-6 weeks if having an officiant perform the ceremony. Once it's complete, you are officially married! The entire process has been taking about 30 mins.

New York City's iconic Marriage Bureaus (aka, City Hall) are popular destinations for locals and couples from all over the United States and abroad. The most popular bureaus are located in Manhattan and in Brooklyn.

Due to the pandemic, NYC Marriage Bureaus now require an appointment for licenses (virtual or online) and limited in person ceremonies restricted to the couple and one witness. The Manhattan Marriage Bureau has been covered in scaffolding since the Spring making exterior photographs not ideal. However, there are other locations nearby with a similar feel.

The Ceremony Process

What You Need to Marry at an NYC Marriage Bureau

• a license issued by the State of New York (can be NYC or another clerk's office) no more than 60 days prior
• an appointment for a ceremony (released about 3 weeks prior through the Project Cupid Portal)
• at least one witness (at the moment, due to COVID, you are only allowed one witness and no guests)
• IDs or passport

In person ceremonies are released on Monday mornings for the week 3 weeks in advance. (See my chart for appointment release dates) I offer a back-up officiating option for my clients who want to attempt to get an appointment. You will need you marriage license # or confirmation number to book a ceremony appointment. This makes it more challenging if you are coming to NYC from out of town and need to book both appointments in the same week. 

Marriage License Info

In order to marry in New York State, you need a marriage license. The marriage license fee in NYC is $35 payable by credit card or money order. It is valid for 60 days (or 180 for active duty military).

For virtual license appointments (you must be in NY state at the time of the appointment but not booking) are released on Thursday mornings at 9am EST. They are for the 3rd week after the release as such, via @nycclerk Twitter. You need to make an account on Project Cupid before you can schedule. 

In person license appointments are released on Mondays 9am EST 3 weeks in advance at either the Manhattan, Queens or Bronx locations. Remember, you must get your license at least 24 hours before you can marry and no more than 60 days in advance. These don't go as fast as the ceremony appointments, but I'd try and book it as close to 9am as possible as they are usually all gone by the end of release day.

If you can't get a license in NYC, it may be easier to get one in another area of NY state. This can also be used to marry you.

Contact the clerk's office for emergencies.

Choose your Marriage Bureau (or Location)