How To Get Married At Hartford City Hall
A dream wedding venue, whether you’re planning an intimate elopement or a large wedding!
The Atrium at Hartford City Hall is easily one of my favorite wedding venues in Connecticut. The skylight, the grand staircases and the beautiful architecture make this an amazing spot for couples to get married at. It doesn’t matter if you’re planning a micro wedding elopement with just a handful of your closest friends and family or if you’re putting together something bigger, City Hall is perfect!
City Hall can also be rented out for photo shoots, both for wedding day shoots and engagement shoots. The hourly rate is pretty reasonable too! Whether it is a wedding or a regular shoot, some permits and fees are required.
How to rent Hartford City Hall
The process is fairly simple, rentals start at $50 and you can do it all on their website. Here are the steps:
Apply to get the proper permit and pay the necessary fee.
Obtain event liability insurance for wedding ceremonies and rental equipment.
Hire an officiant, a photographer and other vendors.
Apply and get your marriage license.
Get married!
City Hall Rental Rules
The maximum capacity for the Atrium is 200 guests and you must supply your own vendors, catering, and rentals (and insurance) like chairs if you are planning to have your ceremony there. Rental fees start at $50 for photos only and go up to $900 for a 6 hour rental for more than 50 guests, updated as of November 2024.
Where to have your ceremony
There are two spots that are the most popular ones for wedding ceremonies. The first floor of the atrium is well suited for larger ceremonies where chairs are needed. The third floor balconies (see image below) are better for smaller ceremonies as the spaces allow for about 15-20 people, and there’s a bench that seats about 3-4 folks in case you need seating for the oldest members of your family. The rest can stand. One last thing to note is that the building is not air-conditioned, so it may get pretty warm in summer.
