Planning a Boston Wedding: From City Hall Elopements to Iconic Photo Locations
This expert-written guide explains how to plan your Boston City Hall elopement, from understanding the booking process through what to expect the day-of. Packed with helpful tips, you’ll be able to plan the City Hall wedding of your dreams. This guide is the best, most comprehensive Boston City Hall planning resource!
Civil Ceremony and What to Expect
This is also known as the commitment ceremony. It’s the most cost-efficient and simplest way to get married. The way to book your ceremony slot is to visit the Boston City Hall website. I should note that the marriage license is only valid for 60 days from the day you apply.
What to expect when applying: If you apply in person, then you need to bring your government-issued ID and also $50. This is your license fee. It’s best to bring cash or a check. Your marriage license will be issued and put in the mail three days later.
To apply, you need to fill out your pre-intention form with the following information:
- Your legal names, and what last name you will use after marriage
- Where you both live now
- Your dates of birth and where you were born
- The names of your parents, including maiden names
- If you were previously married, we will need to know how many times and the date you were divorced
Wedding Ceremony Logistics
Wedding ceremonies at City Hall can be scheduled in Room 601 or Floor 2 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. An officiant is provided by the City. Civil ceremonies usually occur in an office on the 6th floor, or hallway in the basement. However, your officiant will have the final say. You are often allowed to say your own vows during this time.
Plan to arrive about 15 minutes early. You should also expect that your ceremony may not start on time. I’ve often photographed ceremonies that were 20-30 minutes late in starting.
Ways to Make Your Ceremony Special
Personal vows: Personal vows are my favourite way of making your ceremony your own. It’s a time to express how you feel about your partner and to make lifelong promises. You can also purchase little vow books instead of using your phone.
Streamers: Fairy wands are a fun way to add some spice to your ceremony and photos afterward. You can pick up some on Amazon. They also have biodegradable ones that I adore these days!
The Most Popular Places for Wedding Photos in Boston, MA
A part of planning every Boston wedding is deciding where you should take your wedding photos. Selecting a convenient location will eliminate the possibility of the stress of driving around, getting stuck in traffic, and giving you more time with your guest. Also, it comes down to a couple of things, such as how much time we have for your pictures and what you want in them.
Top Photo Locations by Vibe
- Boston Public Library (BPL): Beaux-Arts, grand architecture. Ideal late afternoon shade.
- Public Garden (Lagoon & Willow Trees): Green, scenic views with soft, even light mid-afternoon.
- Beacon Hill: Narrow, cobblestoned charm; avoid large groups and peak-tourist times.
- Fan Pier / Harborwalk (Seaport): City backdrop and glassy reflections near sunset.
- Commonwealth Ave Mall: Good light most of the day; great for first looks and holiday lights.
- Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park: Shaded nooks for parties; mid-day can be harsh.
Professional Photography Style and Workflow
My work has a very editorial look. I am for classic, clean imagery that isn't heavily altered from real life. My art is created through framing, composition, emotion and connection rather than props and trends.
Workflow and Editing Tips:
- Workflow: Cull → Lightroom import → global WB/exposure → sync → local polish → export → back up.
- Look & feel: True-to-life color and clean contrast; timeless across prep to dance floor.
- RAW vs JPEG: Always shoot RAW; maximizes latitude for highlights and shadows.
- Skin tones: Neutral white balance; adjust Temp/Tint and refine orange/red HSL gently.
- Low-light: Careful exposure lifts and denoise; reduce noise before sharpening.