How to Elope at Pasadena City Hall (Without Losing Your Mind or Your Light)

 Why Pasadena City Hall?

Honestly, it’s the kind of place that makes you go “Wait… this is in California?” Think European vibes: grand staircases, intricate ceilings, romantic arches, and a courtyard that glows during golden hour.

It’s elegant without being stuffy, and even on a random afternoon, it just feels special.

Can You Actually Get Married There?

Here’s the deal: Pasadena City Hall isn’t a courthouse. You can’t legally get married by a city clerk inside the building. But what you can do is:

1. Get legally married beforehand (at a courthouse or by an officiant)
2. Come to City Hall for a beautiful, heartfelt elopement ceremony and photos in an iconic setting

That’s exactly what my recent couple did — and it was one of the most peaceful, joy-filled elopements I’ve had the pleasure of capturing.

Real Elopement Story (Yes, It’s Yours If You Want It to Be)

I met R & M on a hot Sunday afternoon around 2pm — not exactly the quietest time at City Hall — but we were ready to make the most of it. We wandered through the arches, courtyards, and staircases, carefully chasing pockets of shade and those rare, quiet corners. (Spoiler: we absolutely nailed it.)

After about an hour and a half of relaxed, beautiful portraits, their closest family members began to arrive. The couple chose to stand in front of the grand central archway, where the bride’s sister led the sweetest little ceremony. No frills, no stress — just 20 peaceful, heartfelt minutes that honestly gave me chills.

Once the “I do’s” were said (with a few happy tears, of course), we gathered everyone for family photos — with probably the dreamiest backdrop Pasadena has to offer. And then, keeping things perfectly simple, everyone strolled over to a nearby restaurant for a cozy dinner.

No strict timeline, no rush — just love, laughter, and the kind of day you’ll always remember for how it felt.

We found Daria on Pinterest, I seen the dreamiest collage of photos from the Pasadena city hall and knew that is exactly the style we wanted! I sent an inquiry that same day and she responded very quickly! She was very informative about her packages and her prices were clear! 

From there we booked our engagement shoot, Daria had the most amazing set of locations from us to choose from! She was always on time, even though we weren’t lol. She had not only gave us a sneak peek physical Polaroid at the end of our shoot, but we also got our photos very quickly. What I loved about her ethic, is most people only give a few photos, but not Daria! She gave us access to tons of photos, and even told us we could pick some for extra editing, but they were so great we didn’t even need it! 

When our wedding date came around, Daria was prepped and ready to go, our shoot location was crowded, but that did not stop Daria from doing her thing and getting us beautiful photos! I even had a moment of panic, and she calmed me down and brought me back to the moment. Overall, we loved our entire experience with Daria, and can’t wait to have more photoshoots with Daria in the future! 🤍

Do You Need a Permit?

Here’s how it works: technically, yes — Pasadena requires a permit for professional photography at City Hall. The standard photography permit fee is $79/hour (as listed on the City of Pasadena site). 

But!

For small, simple engagements and elopements — like the one I recently shot with R & M (just the couple, an officiant, and a few close family members, no setups, no chairs or big equipment) — the city typically doesn’t require a permit.

If it’s just the two of you (and me with my camera), or a small group doing a short, heartfelt ceremony with minimal setup, you’re usually good to go without any extra paperwork. Now — if you’re planning a larger gathering, bringing lots of guests, a full arch or floral setup, chairs, or any kind of structure… then it’s definitely best to go through the permit process to avoid any interruptions.

Need help figuring it out?
I’ve done this so many times — I’m happy to advise on what you need, and even help with submitting the paperwork if needed.

When’s the Best Time to Elope Here?

Let’s talk light, crowds, and weather — the holy trinity of good photos.

Best times to shoot:

• Weekday mornings (for that peaceful, almost cinematic quiet)

• Weekday golden hour (about an hour before sunset — the courtyard glows, trust me)

Avoid:

• Weekends around noon — it’s usually packed with tourists, graduations, and, strangely, prom shoots, but with a little patience and smart movement (like we did for the Sunday elopement), it’s totally doable.

Also: California’s weather? Usually a dream. But summer heat is real, so spring and fall are especially lovely here.

Outfits, Props & Planning Details

Quick outfit change? Totally possible — you can use a nearby car or café bathroom. Here you can find my simple “what to wear for your couple’s session” guide. 

Props? Keep it simple and elegant: florals, a cute sign, a sweet little picnic setup… and yes — leashed pets are absolutely welcome. (I’m always here for a pup in a bowtie.)

One important note: Please avoid using glitter, plastic confetti, or anything that might leave a trace behind. Pasadena City Hall is such a beautiful space — let’s do our part to keep it as clean and lovely as we found it.

If you really want that fun celebratory moment, paper confetti streamers are a great eco-friendly option — easy to clean up and photo-friendly, too!

And don’t stress about logistics — I’ll help guide the timing, light, and best spots so everything flows naturally on the day.

Parking and Logistics

There’s tons of street parking and a couple of public lots nearby. Metered parking is usually available, especially on weekdays. I always arrive a bit early to scout the light and help guide you in — think of me as your photographer + calm, logistics-loving sidekick.

My Bonus Tips:

• Bring water (especially in warmer months!)
• Wear comfy shoes and change into your fancy ones just before photos
• Plan for tiny, unscripted moments — they always turn out the best (and always couples' favorite)
• Want a celebration dinner after? I know all the good nearby spots — this time the reception took place in a lovely Pinocchio’s Pizza in Pasadena.