Chicago Elopement at City Hall
June 3rd, 2026
Ariella & Damien decided to elope at Chicago’s City Hall back in April and wanted to keep things intimate and meaningful. They invited their families to celebrate with them in Chicago on a gorgeous spring day and the energy was nothing short of sweet! These two truly created the blueprint for an easy going elopement; plenty of room to breathe, took tender time with one another, and had a sweet afternoon lunch with their families by the river.
City Hall Elopements are hands down easier to plan than a bigger wedding, but there are definitely some details you need to take care of before you walk in. Below I’ve laid out all the steps you’ll need to do to have an easy going process at City Hall!
Step by Step Guide to Planning Your Chicago City Hall Elopement
Get your marriage license
You can now apply for your marriage license online here and then head to the courthouse with your ID’s and $60. The only caveat is you have to get your marriage license at least one day before your ceremony at City Hall, so I’d recommend doing this about one week before you plan to get married! After you get your marriage license, it’s valid for up to 60 days.
Head to Chicago City Hall
All ceremonies are held at the Chicago Courthouse (119 W. Randolph St. (Lower Level)) and you will need to bring your Marriage License, $10 in cash (for the ceremony fee), and valid government ID’s. During the week (Tuesday’s - Thursday’s) you do not need an appointment and can go in anytime between 9:00am - 12:00pm OR 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Ariella & Damien went in at 11:00am on a Thursday and we were the only ones in there, so if you’re looking to keep it more private with less people around, I’d recommend getting there early on a weekday! Otherwise you’re able to schedule an appointment on Saturday’s between 9:00am - 12:00pm by calling 312-603-5660.
Getting Married
Now comes the fun part! Once you arrive to the Lower Level of the Chicago Courthouse, head to the counter to check in. If you’re lucky & no one’s there, you can walk right into the room you’ll be getting married! Otherwise there’s a tiny waiting area or you can wait outside in the hallway as well. You’re allowed up to 10 people in the room including yourselves and your photographer, so realistically between 7-8 people (depends if you’re having a photographer or not)! The ceremony itself is about 10 minutes and if you’re wanting to make it sentimental for you two, the judge allows you to read off vows to each other. And just like that, you’re officially married!
This elopement with Ariella and Damien made me realize how much I love photographing Chicago City Hall elopements. They’re slow paced (in the best way), so intimate & personal, and you really get to prioritize you and your partner! Sometimes things can feel rushed on a wedding day but when you’re eloping, you truly don’t have to stick to a strict schedule and can make up your own timeline. A + D wanted to get married, then head over to the Art Institute of Chicago to take couples portraits for an hour, and follow it up with a lunch with their families at Nonnina’s. It felt so relaxing to take our time and walk around the museum for an hour while also capturing some sweet moments between A + D. I got to hear all about their first date, the things they enjoy, watched them giggle & be in love with one another, and really enjoyed spending some one on one time with them. It’s days like these where this job makes me so thankful and grateful; two people who were at first strangers quickly turned into two wonderful people who I felt like I’ve known for years. It’s a feeling unlike any other and I’m so eternally grateful for Ariella & Damien for welcoming me into their lives with so much warmth and kindness.
To make your elopement feel a little extra special, planning an afternoon lunch with some friends or family members does the trick! Some places I’d recommend are The Village, Bistro Monadnock, Bixi’s in Logan Square, or Tortoise Supper Club. Ariella & Damien decided to reserve a room at Nonnina’s, which is right by the river in River North. They had a moment to cut their cake and capture some family photos and eased into their late lunch with lots of laughs and a few sweet words from Damien. One more lovely detail to this elopement day was Ariella made all of her floral arrangements and bouquet, I couldn’t believe it! She has such a creative eye and seeing all of the bubblegum pink Anthuriums & green hanging Amaranth was such a treat to add onto their day.
Eloping in Chicago can be just as exciting and eventful as a regular wedding day! You have the time & space to curate a day all around you and your partner with endless opportunities for photos, restaurant choices, who you invite, and what you want the day to entail. As a Wisconsin wedding photographer, these Chicago City Hall elopements are such a joy to capture and if you happen to be looking for an elopement photographer, I’m your gal!