Sure Thing Chapel NYC: Getting Married, Vegas Style
Sure Thing Chapel NYC: A Lower East Side Wedding Guide
If you know Sure Thing Chapel in Las Vegas, you know they do weddings a little differently. Now they've brought their eclectic, kitschy charm to New York City! Sure Thing NYC is a colorful little chapel on the Lower East Side for couples who want something less traditional. And yes, you can even have a clown officiate!
I've already photographed a wedding here, and between the eclectic decor, vintage details, and connected photobooth museum, there's SO much room to get creative.
Thinking about getting hitched here? I'm breaking down Sure Thing NYC wedding packages, pricing, what to expect, photography tips, and fun things to do nearby!
Last updated: October 2026. Package details and pricing may change, so check with Sure Thing Chapel for the latest information.
What Is Sure Thing NYC?
Located at 122 Allen Street in Manhattan's Lower East Side, Sure Thing NYC is a wedding chapel for couples who want to do things a little differently. It's the New York City location of the iconic Sure Thing Chapel in Las Vegas, bringing its signature retro, colorful, and beautifully weird personality to the East Coast.
The chapel is filled with eclectic decor, vintage furnishings, and tons of fun details that make it such a cool space to photograph. Couples can keep things intimate with just the two of them or invite up to 25 guests, depending on their wedding package. They even offer ceremonies officiated by Tillie the Clown!
And one of the coolest parts? The chapel is connected to the Autophoto Photobooth Museum, where couples can hop into vintage photo booths after their ceremony. It's such a fun addition to the whole experience, especially if you love having tangible memories to take home.
Sure Thing NYC Wedding Packages & Pricing
Whether you're eloping just the two of you or bringing your favorite people along, Sure Thing NYC has four wedding packages to choose from. Each includes your ceremony, an officiant, marriage license filing, and access to the connected Autophoto Photobooth Museum for the couple. Just keep in mind that photostrips are an additional cost!
Here's a quick look at the packages and their starting prices.
| Wedding Package | Chapel Time | Max Guests | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sure Thing | 30 minutes | 18 | $666+ |
| The Whole Shebang | 60 minutes | 25 | $999+ |
| Give It a Wurl! | 60 minutes | 25 | $1,222 |
| The Main Attraction | 60 minutes | 25 | $1,444 |
Prices and package details are subject to change. Confirm current information with Sure Thing Chapel before booking.
Not sure which package is your vibe? Open up the sections below for more details!
-
Keeping things short and sweet? This is their most popular package and a great option for couples planning a quick elopement or intimate ceremony. You'll have 30 minutes in the chapel for your ceremony and photos, with room for up to 18 guests.
-
If you want a little more time to soak everything in, this is the one I'd recommend! You get a full hour in the chapel, which means more breathing room for your ceremony, guest photos, and getting creative with portraits. You can also bring up to 25 guests, making it a great option for a small wedding.
-
For the vintage music lovers! This package includes everything you'd expect from a 60-minute ceremony, plus two songs performed live on the chapel's vintage electric Wurlitzer piano. You can choose your ceremony music from their song catalog, including favorites like Fade Into You by Mazzy Star and Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis.
-
Want to get married by a clown? Well, you absolutely can! This package features Tillie the Clown, a genderless jester who brings their own theatrical twist to your ceremony. You'll get 60 minutes in the chapel with room for up to 25 guests. Perfect if you're looking for a wedding that's a little weird, playful, and completely unforgettable.
Tillie's availability: Tillie is currently performing off-off-off-off-off Broadway, but has a dedicated understudy to help accommodate weddings! If you're not seeing the date or time you want, reach out to Sure Thing directly. Tillie takes requests!And for something extra fun, Tillie also offers personalized Cameo videos for wedding announcements, save-the-dates, invitations, and thank-you messages. How rad is that?!
Vow Renewals, Commitment Ceremonies & Photoshoots
You don't actually have to be getting legally married to book Sure Thing NYC! All four packages are also available for vow renewals, commitment ceremonies, and photoshoots at the same prices.
The chapel welcomes all kinds of love and celebrations, including polyamorous commitment ceremonies. You can even book the space for engagement photos or portraits if you got married somewhere else. Just choose the package that works for you and specify what you're planning when booking!
30 vs. 60 Minutes at Sure Thing NYC: Which Should You Choose?
One of the biggest decisions you'll make when booking Sure Thing NYC is whether to go with 30 or 60 minutes in the chapel. And while there's nothing wrong with a quick little ceremony, I'm personally a big fan of booking the full hour!
30 Minutes: For a Quick & Sweet Elopement
If you're planning to keep things super simple, the 30-minute Sure Thing package might be all you need. It's great for couples who want to get married, grab some fun photos inside the chapel, and head off to celebrate elsewhere.
Just remember that those 30 minutes include your ceremony, too. So while we'll absolutely make the most of our time, there won't be as much room to slow down, explore different photo ideas, or take lots of portraits with guests at the chapel itself.
60 Minutes: More Time to Get Creative
Now THIS is where I'd lean, especially if you love the chapel's vintage and retro decor and want to make the most of it!
An hour gives us more room for your ceremony, portraits together, and photos with your favorite people. We can take our time checking out the space, playing with different poses, and getting those fun, candid moments that happen when you're not watching the clock.
It's also a great option if you're bringing guests. More people usually means more photos, and I never want you to feel like you're rushing through them just to fit everything in.
My recommendation? If it's within your budget, book the full hour. Sure Thing NYC is such a rad space, and having that extra time gives us so much more freedom to make photos that feel like YOU.
And remember, the 30 or 60 minutes refers to your time inside the chapel, not necessarily your entire photography coverage. We can always plan additional time together for portraits around the Lower East Side, photobooth fun, or wherever else your NYC wedding adventures take us!
Wedding Flowers at Sure Thing NYC: Fleur Fatale NYC
Need some florals to go with your Sure Thing NYC wedding? Fleur Fatale NYC has a special collection just for couples getting hitched at the chapel! They offer three floral styles, each with a bridal bouquet and matching boutonniere for $325.
And the coolest part? You can choose your flowers, book directly through Fleur Fatale, and they'll have everything waiting for you at the chapel on your wedding day. No extra stops to pick up flowers!
If you're looking for something a little more unique or want additional floral pieces, they also take custom requests. Definitely worth checking out if you want to add some extra personality to your wedding look!
How to Book Your Sure Thing NYC Wedding
Booking your Sure Thing NYC wedding is pretty straightforward! You can do everything directly through the chapel's website, where you'll find available dates, ceremony times, and package options. Here's what you'll need to know before making it official.
1. Choose Your Package & Ceremony Date
Head to Sure Thing Chapel's website and choose whichever wedding package fits your plans. From there, you'll be taken to their online booking calendar, where you can browse available dates and times.
If you're planning to hire a photographer, I'd recommend checking availability before officially locking in your ceremony time. That way, we can make sure everything lines up!
2. Pay Your Deposit & Select Any Add-Ons
Sure Thing NYC requires a 50% nonrefundable deposit, plus payment for any add-ons you select at booking. Your remaining balance is due 14 days before your wedding.
One add-on worth knowing about is their $50 witness option. New York requires at least one witness for a legal marriage ceremony, so this is helpful if you're eloping without guests.
But here's a little perk if I'm photographing your wedding: I'm happy to be your witness! No need to pay the additional $50 if I can sign for you instead.
3. Get Your New York Marriage License
If you're legally getting married, you'll also need a New York State marriage license. You can start your application online through the NYC City Clerk, but you'll still need to complete a license appointment before your wedding.
A few important things to know:
A New York City marriage license costs $35.
There's generally a 24-hour waiting period between receiving your license and getting married.
Your marriage license is valid for 60 days after it's issued.
Sure Thing NYC handles filing your marriage license after the ceremony, but you'll need to obtain the license beforehand!
4. Show Up Ready to Get Hitched!
Once your booking is confirmed, Sure Thing will collect your ceremony preferences and walk you through what they need from you. They know what they're doing, so there's no need to stress over every little detail.
Just make sure you're on time! The chapel operates by appointment and often has weddings booked back-to-back. If you're late or miss your scheduled time, you can lose your appointment without a refund.
And trust me, NYC traffic is no joke. Give yourself plenty of extra time to get there, especially if you're traveling from another part of the city. I'd much rather you arrive with time to spare than spend the morning stressing about making it to your own wedding!
What to Expect at Your Sure Thing NYC Wedding
One of the things I love about Sure Thing NYC is how easy they make the whole experience. These people know what they're doing! Before your wedding, they'll collect your paperwork and ceremony preferences, so you're not trying to figure everything out when you walk through the doors.
Once you're there, the Sure Thing team will walk you through the process and help get you ready for your ceremony. Whether you're keeping it short and sweet, exchanging vows with your favorite people watching, or getting married by Tillie the Clown, the whole experience is meant to be fun and a little outside the ordinary.
And of course, there's the photography! The chapel is full of colorful, vintage details that photograph SO well. Depending on your package, we'll have 30 or 60 minutes in the space for your ceremony and photos. Personally, I'm all about having that extra time to play around, get creative, and capture everything without feeling rushed.
Afterward, you can head into the connected Autophoto Photobooth Museum for some vintage photostrips. And if you want to keep the celebration going, there are plenty of fun spots around the Lower East Side to check out!
Best Time of Day for Sure Thing NYC Wedding Photos
If you're wondering what time to book your Sure Thing NYC wedding, I'd personally recommend scheduling your ceremony while there's still daylight! The chapel is already full of fun colors, vintage details, and personality, and having that natural daylight around gives us even more opportunities to play with color and lighting.
Plus, if you're planning to explore the Lower East Side for portraits afterward, having some daylight left makes it easier to capture all the colorful storefronts, street scenes, and little details that make NYC so fun to photograph.
That being said, I'm always down for some moody nighttime photos, too! It really comes down to the kind of photos you're drawn to and what you want your wedding day to feel like. We can always plan around your ceremony time and find some rad spots to photograph nearby.
Autophoto Photobooth Museum at Sure Thing NYC
Okay, this might be one of my favorite things about Sure Thing NYC! The chapel shares a space with AUTOPHOTO, a vintage photobooth museum and gallery dedicated to preserving the magic of analog photography. Truly a museum after my own heart. And yes, you can go straight from getting married to taking photostrips together!
The museum is filled with restored vintage photobooths, old photographs, and exhibits celebrating the history of these little machines. You can even hop into a booth and walk away with your own black-and-white photostrips. As someone who loves all things nostalgic and film, I'm a little obsessed with this.
Even better? Access to AUTOPHOTO is included with your Sure Thing NYC wedding package for the couple! Just keep in mind that the actual photostrips cost extra, with black-and-white strips starting at $8.
You'll find AUTOPHOTO at 121 Orchard Street, connected to the chapel at 122 Allen Street. It's such a fun way to end your ceremony with something tangible to take home from your NYC wedding day.
Where to Take Photos & Celebrate After Your Sure Thing NYC Wedding
One of the coolest things about getting married at Sure Thing NYC is that you're right in the Lower East Side, surrounded by cute little shops, bars, restaurants, and NYC character. So if you're not ready to call it a day after your ceremony, there's lots to see!
And if you're booking additional photography coverage with me, we can absolutely plan a little adventure around the neighborhood. I love helping couples find photo locations that feel like them, whether that's walking the streets, grabbing a drink, or stopping for ice cream in your wedding outfits.
Fun Spots for Wedding Photos Around the Lower East Side
Honestly, you don't have to venture far from the chapel to find some fun backdrops. The Lower East Side is full of historic buildings, fire escapes, colorful storefronts, and all those little details that make NYC, well, NYC.
I'd definitely consider exploring Allen Street and nearby Orchard Street for some casual, candid wedding portraits. We can walk around to see what catches our eye, and make the most of the neighborhood without needing a perfectly planned photo route.
Where to Grab Ice Cream, Drinks, or Celebrate
Soft Swerve Ice Cream
Located at 85B Allen Street, Soft Swerve is a fun little stop for couples craving something sweet after their ceremony. They're known for their colorful soft serve, including bright purple ube ice cream. I mean, getting ice cream in your wedding outfits? Always a good idea.
Double Chicken Please
If you'd rather celebrate with cocktails, Double Chicken Please is practically across the street at 115 Allen Street! This creative cocktail bar is known for turning unexpected food flavors into drinks, along with its fun approach to food. Definitely worth looking into if you want something a little different from your typical wedding toast.
Freemans
For a post-wedding meal, Freemans is tucked away at the end of Freeman Alley. It's a cozy, eclectic restaurant with a vintage-inspired atmosphere, perfect for couples who want to sit down, enjoy a good meal, and celebrate without planning a traditional reception.
Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO
Want to venture a little farther after your Sure Thing NYC wedding? Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO are definitely worth considering! Just across the East River, you'll find cute cobblestone streets, waterfront views, and some pretty rad backdrops of the Manhattan skyline and bridges.
Whether you want photos along the Brooklyn Bridge, checking out DUMBO, or soaking up those city views at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Just keep in mind that these are popular spots, so expect some crowds!
If this is something you're interested in, we can definitely work it into your wedding photo plans! We'll just want to account for travel time and book enough photography coverage so we're not rushing from one location to the next.
Chinatown
If you're up for exploring a little farther, Chinatown is just a short walk from Sure Thing NYC and SO much fun for wedding portraits! Between the colorful storefronts, busy streets, and all the little details that make this neighborhood what it is, there's plenty to work with.
I've actually photographed another NYC couple around Chinatown after their Manhattan courthouse wedding, and it's such a cool area for photos. If you love candid, colorful, city-inspired portraits, this is definitely somewhere we can explore after your ceremony!
Of course, these are just a few ideas! If you have somewhere else in NYC you've been dying to visit, I'm always down to help plan a photo adventure that feels like you. Just keep in mind that some restaurants, bars, and other private spaces may have their own photography rules, so we'll want to check before planning portraits inside.
Things to Know Before Your Sure Thing NYC Wedding
Sure Thing NYC makes getting married pretty simple, but there are a few things that are good to know beforehand! Between the chapel's rules and navigating NYC, a little planning ahead can make the whole experience that much smoother.
Plan Ahead for NYC Traffic & Parking
If there's one thing I'd recommend, it's giving yourself PLENTY of time to get to the chapel. NYC traffic can be a doozy, and parking isn't always easy to find. I'd consider taking public transportation or a rideshare if you're not familiar with the area.
Sure Thing is also super punctual, with ceremonies often booked back-to-back. If you're late or miss your appointment, you'll lose your reserved time without a refund. So definitely plan to arrive early rather than cutting it close!
Be Mindful of the Chapel's Vintage Decor
Part of what makes Sure Thing NYC so cool is all the vintage furniture, eclectic decor, and one-of-a-kind pieces throughout the space. But that also means you'll want to be extra careful with everything!
The chapel specifically notes that the space isn't well suited for small children or rowdy adults. If you're bringing guests, just make sure everyone's aware and respectful of the space.
Skip the Confetti & Flower Tosses
As fun as a confetti exit might sound, Sure Thing NYC doesn't allow confetti, flower petals, rice, or anything similar to be thrown inside OR outside the chapel. There's a $250 cleaning fee if this rule is broken.
Check Before Bringing Additional Vendors
Photographers and videographers are welcome at Sure Thing NYC, so you're all good to bring me along! However, if you're planning to bring other vendors, you'll need approval from the chapel beforehand.
Double-Check Your Plans Before Booking
One last thing! Sure Thing NYC requires nonrefundable payments, and changes to your ceremony date or time within 14 days of your wedding come with a $150 fee. Cancellations within that window also leave you responsible for the full booking amount.
Basically, make sure you're happy with your date, time, and package before locking everything in!
Sure Thing NYC Wedding FAQs
-
Yes! Sure Thing NYC performs legal wedding ceremonies and includes marriage license filing in its wedding packages. You'll need to obtain your New York State marriage license before your ceremony and follow the state's 24-hour waiting period. The chapel handles filing the completed license afterward.
-
Yes, you'll need at least one witness who is 18 or older for a legal wedding ceremony. Sure Thing NYC offers a witness add-on for $50 if you're eloping without guests. But if you book me as your photographer, I'm more than happy to be your witness! One less thing to worry about (and $50 saved!).
-
Absolutely! Sure Thing NYC allows outside photographers and videographers. And if you're looking for someone who's already photographed a wedding here, knows the space, and loves all things funky and unconventional, I'd love to be your photographer!
-
You sure can! You don't have to be getting legally married to book the chapel. They also welcome engagement sessions, couples portraits, vow renewals, and commitment ceremonies. Just choose the package that works for your plans and specify what you're booking when scheduling.
-
Sure Thing NYC includes access to the connected Autophoto Photobooth Museum for the couple, with photostrips available for an additional cost. Guest access isn't listed as part of the wedding packages, so I'd recommend checking with the chapel directly if you're hoping to include everyone in the photobooth fun.
Meet Cruz, Your Sure Thing NYC Wedding & Elopement Photographer
Hey, I'm Cruz! A wedding and elopement photographer who loves all things nostalgic, funky, a little weird, and completely true to you. If you're planning a wedding that breaks a few traditions and feels more like you two, we're probably going to get along pretty damn well!
I've already photographed a wedding at Sure Thing NYC, along with other weddings around the city, including a Manhattan courthouse elopement with portraits in Chinatown! But my history with Sure Thing actually goes way back to Las Vegas. I photograph weddings regularly at both the original Sure Thing Chapel and Sure Thing Too, so I'm no stranger to their team, how things work, or the magic they bring to these little weddings. Same owners, same rad energy, just a whole new city to get creative in!
Whether you want your day captured on digital, film, Super 8, or a little bit of it all, I'm all about documenting the real moments while leaving room for some fun, creative portraits. And if you're looking for someone to help you plan where to take photos around NYC, I'm happy to help with that, too!
Want me to photograph your Sure Thing NYC wedding? Let's make it happen! And if you want to get to know me a little better first, you can read more about me here.
