Commitment Ceremony at City Hall

Please Note: All Domestic Partnership services are currently being conducted by video conference only. For more information: https://sfgov.org/countyclerk/video-domestic-partnership-filings

Couples may choose to have a commitment ceremony at City Hall performed by a San Franicsco County Clerk Deputy Marriage Commissioner.

Couples may invite up to 6 guests. This limit applies to everyone attending the ceremony including photo/videographers and children.

Couples bringing more than 6 guests, or guests who are creating a nuisance, impeding official government business, or impeding the enjoyment of the building by others may be removed by the Sheriff’s Department.

If you are bringing more than 6 guests, and/or would like to request a specific venue for your marriage ceremony at City Hall, please make arrangements with the San Francisco City Hall Events Department at www.sfgov.org/cityhallevents

Ceremonies are available Monday-Friday at 9:30 a.m through 3:30 p.m. every half hour. There are three appointments available during each available time period.

Appointments require a payment of $93 at the time of booking. Appointments may be made:

• Online - Reservations can be made with credit card only (Visa or MasterCard): Online Ceremony Reservations.
• In person - Reservations may be made by one of the parties to the marriage or a third party. The person making the reservation must be able to pay at the time of making the appointment. Cash, money order, and debit / credit card are accepted when making the reservation in person. Appointments do not need to be made by one of the parties involved; however, person must be able to pay at the time of making the appointment.

Rescheduling and No-Refund Policy – Please make sure you make your reservation selection very carefully as there will be ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS  issued once the reservation has been made.  Note: If you are also having your ceremony at City Hall, be sure to check both marriage license and marriage ceremony calendars first and schedule your ceremony appointment first as there are less ceremony appointments as there are marriage license appointments.  We recognize that situations may arise, which may prevent you from making an existing appointment; therefore, you will be allowed to reschedule by submitting a request to our office at least 3 business days prior to your existing appointment.  This will allow other members of the public to have an opportunity of taking the slot you are vacating and will allow our office to schedule staff accordingly.

For Domestic Partners...

The ceremony will NOT be performed unless you are already registered as Domestic Partners with the office of the San Francisco County Clerk.

If you are planning on registering your Domestic Partnership on the same day as your ceremony, you will be required to arrive at our office at least 30 minutes BEFORE your appointment in order to allow enough time to file your Declaration of Domestic Partnership form.

Both Domestic Partners must be able to speak and understand English. If the commissioner feels that either party does not speak English, he/she may refuse to perform the ceremony unless you provide your own third-party interpreter. Couples requiring a ceremony performed in American Sign Language (ASL) or any other language, must notify the County Clerk's Office in person or Contact Us to make arrangements, prior to booking an appointment online. Please allow a minimum of two week advance notice for all sign language bookings.

Domestic Partners and no more than 2 witnesses should arrive at the INFORMATION DESK at City Hall, Room 168 for CHECK-IN 10 minutes before your appointment time (other witnesses shall wait in outside area.)

The couple must bring:

• San Francisco Domestic Partner Registration Certificate
• Unexpired government issued photo identification in English
• No more than 6 guests total* (includes witnesses, children, photographer, etc...).

Ceremonies are performed in a location determined by the commissioner (usually our private ceremony room or the rotunda, if available.) Specific requests for the rotunda or any other area will NOT be accepted as we cannot guarantee availability.

No form of litter is permitted to be thrown anywhere inside or outside the building; including exterior steps (flower petals, bird seed, rice, confetti, silly string, etc...). Helium balloons, alcohol, and knives are not allowed into the building.

Camcorders and cameras are permitted.

Off Site Weekend Ceremonies (Only Saturdays, Sundays, and Legal Holidays):

Arrangements for off-site weekend ceremonies can be made for registered City and County of San Francisco Domestic Partners through our office. A Deputy County Clerk can be scheduled to perform a commitment ceremony at a San Francisco location of your choice and time (you are responsible for arranging and paying for venue, permits, etc.).  Off-site ceremonies can be arranged with provided we are given 7-60 days notice. We will not accept requests within 7 days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the ceremony date.

To make arrangements, complete and submit an Off-Site Ceremony Request Form and $154.00 non-refundable fee to the SF County Clerk. Arrangements will not be made without receipt of payment. Upon receiving the request form and payment, you will be provided with your assigned Deputy County Clerk's name, phone number, and email address (if available).

On the day of the ceremony, $150.00 CASH must be paid to the Deputy County Clerk. These Deputy County Clerks are volunteers and not City and County of San Francisco employees.

Note: The ceremony must take place in San Francisco. Re-scheduling or rehearsal time is at the discretion of the Deputy County Clerk .

One Day Deputization:

• Any person age 18+ years may be granted authorization to perform ONE commitment ceremony as a Deputy County Clerk with the following restrictions.
• Deputization will only be granted on a Declaration of Domestic Partnership filed with the San Francisco County Clerk.
• Must appear in person in our office, be at least 18 years of age, have valid legal picture identification, and be fluent in the English language.
• You must bring a copy of the San Francisco Domestic Partnership Certificate at the time of deputization.
• Applicant will be required to take the oath of office swearing/affirming to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California.
• Ceremony must be performed in California for the specific couple and date listed on the oath.
• California residency is not a requirement.
• Deputization services are offered Monday through Thursday, between 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. only. You should come no earlier than 60 days from the ceremony date. No appointment is necessary.
• Authorization (deputization) is limited to performing one ceremony to one specific couple on a specific date.
• No religious wording is allowed during the ceremony.
• Fee is $154.00 payable to S.F. County Clerk by cash, money order or debit / credit card.

The Office of the County Clerk has a right to refuse deputization services to anyone, should the office feel that the person is unable to complete the paperwork correctly or fulfill the duties required of a Deputy County Clerk.