When a couple decides on an impromptu wedding, they now have a few options. Once, Las Vegas was the marriage hot spot of the United States. Now New York City is vying for the title, by sprucing up their city hall to be more appealling to those who want a civil wedding.

You may remember the almost clichéd appearance of New York’s city hall. Made famous on television and in movies, the charm of the earthy, rugged city hall was more suited to film than it was to most engaged couples.

New York City’s Mayor Michael Bloomburg has changed all that. He has redesigned a older Manhattan building, dating back to 1929, in an attempt to rival Las Vegas’ Little White Chapel. The renovated space offers old world charm, including elegant marble floors and towering columns to give a historical, yet regal feel to your wedding day.

The new wedding space includes plush seating arrangements, muted lighting, and even a small shop to supply the wedding essentials a hurried bride might have forgotten. You can bring your own wedding music, even if it’s only located on your iPod.

With a short 24 hour waiting period and reasonable fees, New York City may become the new wedding destination for many eloping couples. If your wedding cannot wait, the newest addition to New York’s tourist sights will be open to the public starting Monday, January 12th.