Everything you need to know to make it official — beautifully, simply, and on your own terms.
The Honest Truth
As a photographer who has stood beside dozens of couples on their wedding day — from grand ballrooms to quiet courthouse steps — I can tell you this with certainty: some of the most moving ceremonies I’ve ever witnessed happened in a Town Hall lobby with twelve people and a marriage license.
Eloping on Long Island is simpler than you think, more beautiful than you’d expect, and absolutely worth doing. This guide will walk you through every step, from the paperwork to the portraits, so you can stop stressing and start planning the day that’s actually right for you.
The Legal Foundation
Think of your marriage license as the permission slip that makes everything official in New York State. Before any vows are exchanged, before any photographer lifts a camera, this piece of paper needs to be in your hands.
Here’s how it works: you and your partner show up together at your local Town Clerk’s office, bring the right documentation, fill out a short form, and pay a small fee. If everything checks out, the clerk issues the license on the spot. It becomes valid 24 hours later and stays valid for 60 days — so plan accordingly.
Don’t leave home without it. Truly — this is the one thing I remind every couple about. No license, no ceremony.
Acceptable Forms of ID
- Passport or Driver’s License
- Original Birth Certificate (or a certified, stamped/sealed copy) — in English, or with a certified translation if in another language
- No birth certificate? A Baptismal Certificate is also accepted
- Previously married? Bring proof of divorce
No birth record at all? No problem — head to any City Hall in the five boroughs of NYC. They only require a photo ID, nothing else. Easy.
View a list of Town Hall Locations here.
Finding Your Officiant
Once your license is sorted, you need someone authorized to perform the ceremony. A 2023 New York State law allows non-ordained friends and family to officiate weddings.
Long Island has a wonderful community of officiants who specialize in intimate elopements if you’re looking for a professional. A great officiant sets the entire tone of your ceremony. Whether you want something heartfelt and poetic, brief and classic, or completely personalized with your own words — the right person makes all the difference. I highly recommend Long Island Wedding Officiants, LLC.
Capturing The Day
This is the question I get asked most. And the answer — as with most things in wedding photography — depends on what the day looks like. Here’s how I break it down for eloping couples on Long Island:
- One Hour- Covers your Town Hall ceremony plus roughly 40 minutes of portraits — just the two of you, or with immediate family — at a beautiful nearby location. Perfect for the couple who wants intimate, unhurried coverage without the full day.
- Two Hours-Ideal if you’re including extended family, a larger immediate group, or want to ease into the beginning of a dinner celebration. Two hours gives us room to breathe — and room to make real photographs, not just snapshots.
My honest recommendation: if it’s just the two of you and maybe a few close witnesses, one hour is genuinely enough to create a full, beautiful gallery of your day. If family is flying in or you’re making an evening of it, the second hour pays for itself.
Ready to Make Your Day Happen?
