St. Louis City Hall Hosts Free Valentine’s Eve Wedding Ceremonies as Couples Secure Licenses and Time Slots
A one-day City Hall program brought Valentine’s-themed weddings into a working seat of government
St. Louis City Hall became a venue for marriage ceremonies on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, as the city’s Recorder of Deeds office offered free wedding ceremonies timed for Valentine’s Day weekend. The ceremonies were scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside City Hall at 1200 Market Street.
The event paired a no-cost ceremony with the standard marriage-license process required in the City of St. Louis. Couples still had to apply for and receive a marriage license through the Recorder of Deeds Marriage Department, which operates out of City Hall, Room 128. The nonrefundable marriage application fee is $60 and is payable by Visa/MasterCard or cash; checks are not accepted. The city’s published fee breakdown includes the marriage license and a certificate copy.
How the City Hall weddings worked
The program was built around reserved time slots, reflecting the logistics of hosting multiple ceremonies in a municipal building that normally functions as an administrative hub. Interested couples were directed to secure an appointment by phone in advance; the limited schedule meant availability could be exhausted ahead of the event date.
In addition to an officiant, the City Hall setup included a decorated ceremony space and small commemorative elements. Attendance limits were also part of the planning: each couple was allowed to bring up to 10 guests, a cap intended to keep ceremonies moving and manage space within City Hall.
Date: Friday, Feb. 13, 2026
Time window: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: St. Louis City Hall, 1200 Market St.
Marriage license: Required in advance or obtained the day of, in person, with valid ID
Fee: $60 nonrefundable application fee (license and certificate copy included in the city’s published fee structure)
The legal step that still applies: obtaining and using a Missouri marriage license
Even with a free ceremony, couples still needed to meet the city’s license requirements. The city instructs applicants to appear together in person with acceptable identification. Once issued, the license must be used within 29 days, and the ceremony must be performed in Missouri by an eligible officiant. Missouri procedure also requires two witnesses to sign the license, and the completed license must be returned for recording within 15 days after the ceremony.
The event illustrates how local government offices can combine routine public-record functions with short-term, appointment-based civic programming—while maintaining the same legal requirements that apply year-round.
What residents should know before coming to City Hall
City Hall’s general hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with specific office hours varying by department. For marriage-license services, applicants are encouraged to start the application process in advance and confirm current requirements and payment methods before arriving.