Getting married at New York's City Hall used to be nothing to write home about. You would go into a dark, dingy all-purpose room, for a quick and dirty affair. But it's amazing what can be done with $12.3 million and a little mortar and paint.
Look out Las Vegas....New York City is bucking to become the new Number 1 destination for couples who want to wed.
The new quarters have gotten a gleaming makeover with fewer lines, more room to take pictures, video screens to monitor wait times and wedding chapels with gauzy curtains and walls painted in soft tones.
There's even a small shop built into the premises in case the newlyweds-to-be forget anything, like fresh flowers, disposable cameras, tissues, hairspray and even fake diamond rings that sparkle for just $9 apiece.
The goal in all of this, according Deputy Mayor Patti Harris, is to attract more tourism dollars to the city.
``We want to be the wedding destination of the world,''
The Bloomberg administration, always on the lookout for new ways to market the city to tourists around the world, plans to advertise its marriage bureau in a way that will attract more visitors. It's also working with local hotels and other attractions to create special wedding packages for couples.
Last year, the city issued nearly 70,000 marriage licenses, but now with these new digs, it's set on competing with places like Las Vegas, which tops the list. And there may be an opening. In Clark County, where Las Vegas is located, nearly 96,000 licenses were issues in 2008. But that was L.A.'s lowest number of marriages in 15 years, according to a county spokesman.
The new space was launched on Wednesday. Officials gave the media a preview and kicked off the launch with the wedding of a Queens, New York couple, Carlos Sanchez and Jennifer Avila. Afterward, the newlyweds were asked about the new quarters. They said the marriage bureau makeover gave them a romantic setting for their wedding -- and it was a major improvement from the old digs.
"It's not comparable,'' Avila said. ``This place is beautiful.''
The overhaul began in 2006. As part of the $12.3 million project, contractors brought in Mayor Bloomberg's favorite decorator, Jamie Drake, who worked on his Upper East Side town house.
The result is stupendous....It's a gleaming space on the ground level of an ornate lower Manhattan building that dates to 1929, and still has some of its original features like grandiose columns and marble floors. The atmosphere is filled with soft lighting, cushioned seating and computerized kiosks for online application processing. There are also large restrooms with vanities and full-length mirrors, giving brides more room to get ready for the big moment. Couples can also bring iPods to play their own music during the ceremonies.
Within this space, you will also be able to find directions to get or amend Marriage Records, to register as a Marriage Officiant, to obtain a Certificate of Non-Impediment (necessary to obtain a Marriage License in other countries), and to appeal a denial of a Marriage License.
New York state law requires brides and grooms to wait 24 hours after getting a marriage license before they can have the ceremony.
Those from out of the country need only to have valid passports. Marriage licenses cost $35, and there is a $25 fee to hold a ceremony at the new facility. But hurry, city officials say prices may be going up soon.
