Count every person for a civil ceremony.
The current County Clerk reservation information permits a maximum of six guests and explicitly includes photographers and children in that count. Verify the rule at booking because enforcement and official language can change.
Use a private reservation for a real gathering.
The official one-hour package currently advertises access for up to 100 guests at the Mayor’s Balcony or Fourth Floor Gallery, with seating limits that are lower than total capacity. It requires advance reservation and weekday timing.
Do not invite people to wait outside the rules.
Asking extra guests to hover in the building can create confusion at check-in and make the couple responsible for enforcement. If more people matter, choose the ceremony format that welcomes them or meet everyone at a reception afterward.
Let intimacy be a real choice.
A small civil ceremony can feel focused and emotionally complete. A larger private ceremony can make the architecture and community part of the event. Neither option needs to imitate the other.
