Downtown Chicago Elopement at City Hall | Kelly & John's Halloween Wedding

There's nothing like a Chicago City Hall elopement! Kelly and John decided to elope on October 31, 2025. While the two are planning a reception for October 2026, they wanted to get married before and have a private ceremony for just the two of them. They also really wanted to keep their Halloween anniversary, and honestly, who can blame them?!

When we met at the Daley Center for the 2 pm time slot, the energy was high! So many people were lined up, waiting for their turn to get married, and it was really sweet to see. Kelly and John were equally excited! Kelly had on an adorable two piece, white set, with her hair done up in a low bun. John was wearing dress pants and a jacket. The perfect vibe for an elopement!

After we checked in, we were shown into a room where a judge would marry Kelly and John. It was so fun to be there with them in those moments! Their photographer, Anastasiia, snagged some detail photos while we filmed Kelly and John just soaking in the moment. The ceremony itself only took a few minutes but it was so sweet. Once that formality was done, it was time to have some fun!

We walked over to City Hall where marriage court usually takes place (it was being renovated the day they got married, which is why we were at the Daley Center) for some photos and videos. If you've never been in this building, it's really gorgeous! The perfect moody setting for elopement photos and videos. We had so much fun posing Kelly and John all around the first floor - in the hallways, near the elevators, on the staircases. We got so much great footage!

Once we were done inside, we went outside to get some shots with the various City Hall plaques on the building. Then, we had Kelly and John run down the street with the Board of Trade building in the background. It's one of my favorite shots ever! We then walked over to the Chicago Theatre and got some shots of them with the iconic sign behind them. Once again, those are some of my favorite shots we've ever gotten!

That night, Charlie edited together a quick video for them to share on social media. No one knew they were getting married that day, so it was a big surprise for everyone! Sharing it online and seeing everyone's response was so much fun. We're big fans of surprises and reveals around here!

Overall, it was such a fun afternoon with Kelly and John that resulted in some amazing photos and videos. If you're considering an elopement, we think it's a great option! Hire a photographer and videographer and you'll have plenty of content to remember the special day and share with your friends and family.

Watch Kelly and John's video below!