Grungey Minneapolis City Hall Elopement

Sophie (she/her) and Austin (he/him) are friends of mine and local artists who were down to model for my Minneapolis City Hall elopement styled shoot this fall. The two met while working for the same nonprofit, but reconnected several years later via drunken DM. They’re getting married next summer, and our session served as practice for the real thing. Read on for inspo on what your own Minneapolis elopement could look like, and for some practical tips on how to elope at Minneapolis City Hall.

Drinks at a Local Dive

Even though this was a styled shoot, it was still important to me that the activities and locations chosen reflected the couple. I also wanted to choose models who were a real couple, and make sure that the activities and locations were feasible for an actual elopement.

We started their session at Grumpy’s, a dive bar in Northeast, for some drinks and a round of pinball. We chose this location because it’s a favorite of Sophie and Austin’s, and because the vibes are immaculate. The staff was so kind and accommodating, letting us come in before they opened to ensure we’d have plenty of space without other patrons present. I called ahead to ask for permission, and they were great to work with. Grumpy’s is also a 10 minute drive to City Hall, which made it an easy choice for location.

Minneapolis City Hall Elopement

After some drinks, we headed over to the historic Minneapolis City Hall in downtown Minneapolis, also known as the Municipal Building. There’s no public street parking allowed right outside City Hall, but there’s plenty available across the street and many public ramps nearby. Sophie and Austin exchanged rings and some sweet vows, and were down to take a few artsy portraits.

Pro-tip: if you’re looking for relative privacy for your downtown elopement and don’t want a judge to officiate, go on a Sunday afternoon. But if you’re eloping during September – January (football season, gross 🙁 ), just make sure there’s not a Vikings game that day. US Bank Stadium is just a few blocks from the courthouse, so the area will be overrun with fans.

Lunch at an Iconic Twin Cities Diner

We were hungry after our City Hall visit, so we stopped in for a quick bite at iconic Hi-Lo Diner. As always when I photograph in public-facing businesses, I called ahead to get permission. The staff recommended we go in the afternoon after the breakfast/brunch rush ended. Hi-Lo is located on Lake Street, and is only 10 minutes from City Hall.

How to Elope at Minneapolis City Hall

If you want to elope at Minneapolis City Hall, here’s a quickie rundown on how to make that happen.

First, get a marriage license from the Hennepin County Courthouse, housed within the Hennepin County Government Center (which is kind confusing I know! Just go to the one on South 6th St and you’re golden 😊). I recommend making an appointment and bringing appropriate identification documents, like the ones listed here. The marriage license fee for Hennepin County is $125, but there’s a reduced rate of $50 for folks who’ve completed 12 hours of premarital education. This license is valid for up to 6 months from the date of application.

Then, you’ll need to reserve a time with a judge, who will officiate. You can do this by calling Hennepin County District Court or going online to check out their weekly rotating list of judges who perform marriage ceremonies. Officiant fees vary from anywhere between $150 and $200, depending on the judge and day of the week. You’ll ask your judge to perform the ceremony at City Hall. You can also elope at City Hall by stopping in during business hours, but I do recommend getting a reservation as it will be busy!

You’ll also need to have two witnesses over the age of 16 present for the marriage to be legal.

If you’re looking for unique places to stay for your downtown elopement, check out this article I wrote, which also details some fun activities you can do during your Minnesota elopement.

To book me as your photographer for your Minneapolis City Hall elopement, inquire here!

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