Trying to boost City Hall weddings! City hall has a new "wedding office" in NYC!

[JUSTUSTWO]

Saw this in todays Metro newspaper. Thought it was interesting. I wonder if the number of weddings will increase just because of this.

metro

 

In a bid to make "City Hall" weddings a destination, instead of a last resort officials unveiled a new, expanded marriage bureau yesterday.

New York is trying to woo couples into taking the plunge at a new marriage bureau. Marriages come with a City Hall backdrop for memorable photographs.

 

New office for wedded bliss in city

 

by amy zimmer / metro new york

 

Manhattan. Move over Vegas. New York hopes to be the place to get hitched.

 

After decades of couples going to the Municipal Building’s sterile and cramped Room 257 for their vows, the city will officially open on Monday a new marriage bureau at 141 Worth St., transforming the cavernous space that once housed the Department of Motor Vehicles with two wedding chapels wired to accept music from your iPod. A one-stop wedding teller process paperwork with instructions in 170 languages. After getting their license, couples must wait 24 hours before they marry.

 

 

“We want to be the wedding destination of the world,†said First Deputy Mayor Patricia Harris.

 

 

For the unprepared betrothed, flowers, stain remover, bobby pins and certificate frames are available for sale. No more prepping over the sink — bathrooms in the new digs have full-length mirrors. There’s even a fake City Hall backdrop for photos. The city spent $12.3 million for the renovations in a bid to boost the more than the 16,000 couples who typically marry in its Manhattan marriage bureau. City officials expect to increase the $35 marriage license fee (major credit cards accepted). Las Vegas charges $55, but there’s no wait.

 

 

 

A New York nuptial, on the cheap:

 

Marriage or domestic partnership license: $35

 

Chapel fee: $25

 

Costume ring at CityStore: $9

 

Tissue with hearts printed on them: $1.75

 

Flowers: Ranges from $50 for the “passion†bouquet of roses to $4 for the “admiration†carnation.