Everything You Need To Know About Registry Office Weddings

Registry office weddings are having a moment thanks to Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo who tied the knot at the Chelsea registry office just a few days ago. Google searches for ‘Chelsea registry office’ saw a 140% spike over the weekend thanks to the Made in Chelsea star and his new wife. Over here at The Thrifty Bride we couldn’t be more excited that registry office weddings are finally getting the love they deserve.

We’ve long been believers that registry office weddings are just as beautiful as other weddings however there’s a long held view that registry offices are only for the legal bit and not for a main wedding. Lots of people chose to have a very small legal ceremony with a couple of witnesses at a registry office and then have a big wedding at a venue where they have a celebrant in place of a registrar. This then feeds into the idea that registry offices are a bit stuffy, formal and just not giving the wedding vibe. Something to do to just get the legalities out of the way. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The UK’s Most Popular Registry Offices

The UK is home to some beautiful registry offices. Boring and bland council buildings are not the vibe you want for your big day and even though that’s what may come to mind when you think about registry office weddings, you should pop on over to Instagram and check out the stunning registry office buildings in the list below.

As a 2023 wedding trend that is only gaining in popularity, experts at leading wedding planning website Hitched.co.uk have rounded up the top 24 most popular registry offices in the UK based on how many Google searches each receives every month, as well as how many images are linked to hashtags for each venue. Combining these figures reveals that Manchester Town Hall is the most popular registry office in the UK, while the Chelsea Old Town Hall takes the fourth spot on the list.

Now we can personally vouch for how beautiful some of these buildings are. As you may know my own wedding was in a registry office so I am beyond delighted that registry offices are getting a chance to shine as an option for a wedding venue.

Although the registry office I got married in – Barnsley Town Hall – hasn’t made it onto the list (the woes of living in a small town!) I will say it is a stunning building and made for the most gorgeous backdrop for our wedding photos. However, our original choice of St George’s Hall in Liverpool is number 5 on the list and having attending university in Coventry I’m very happy to see their gorgeous registry office coming in at number 15.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Married in a Registry Office?

Exclusive research by Hitched.co.uk reveals that the average cost of a wedding in 2022 increased to £18,400, with the majority of the cost going towards the cost to hire a venue (£8,400). Meanwhile, a registry office can cost as little as £57 plus admin fees to hire for a legal wedding, saving couples thousands of pounds, so there’s no surprise that this cut-price option is becoming more common in the UK. 

As long time readers will know my own wedding came in at under £4,000 in total with the registry office portion of that costing just £296. This was for a Saturday wedding in the larger room with two marriage certificates and the fees for giving notice of marriage. It definitely makes my eyes water too see an average venue cost of £8,400.

Almost half of the 2,400 couples surveyed by Hitched for the National Wedding Survey in 2022 revealed that they had gone over their original budget. Now, as the UK struggles through an ongoing cost of living crisis, many couples are looking for budget solutions for all aspects of their lives, including their wedding days. I don’t want to say we’ve been ahead of the trend but The Thrifty Bride has been championing small budget weddings since 2019!

The price of getting married in a registry office varies depending on which one you want to get married at, whether you’re getting married during the week or on a Saturday and whether you get married in a registry office room (where it’s just you and witnesses) or a ceremony room where you can have guests. However the standard cost of giving notice of marriage is £35 across most venues.

What Do You Need to Get Married in a Registry Office?

You don’t have to get married in your local registry office, you can choose any location. It could be in a place that’s special to you both or just one that you both like the look of.

You may also need to be a little flexible with dates if possible. Each registry office is different and where some will let you book a couple of years in advance, others will only let you book 12 months in advance so you have to keep registrar availability in mind.

What’s important to remember though is that you must give notice of marriage and this has to be done at your local registry office regardless of where you’re getting married. If you and your partner live in different districts you will need to each go to your own local registry office to give notice. You must give notice of marriage even if you’re getting married at another registered venue like a hotel or barn. Don’t worry though because we have a bumper guide to giving notice of marriage that tells you everything you need to know about the process.

Can You Wear A Wedding Dress For A Registry Office Wedding?

Absolutely you can! As we’re a big fan of reminding couples that it’s your wedding, your rules! Anything goes for a registry office wedding. So if you’re keen on the idea of a low key ceremony but still want the big wedding dress, go for it! From traditional wedding dresses, sharp tailoring, fun colours, two pieces, shorter dresses, you can go with whatever best fits your day.

The same goes for grooms. It can be a full suit or a more relaxed shirt and trousers combo. There really are no rules. It’s about doing what you feel happy and comfortable with.

For example, I had a proper wedding dress – a stunning vintage inspired tea length dress to be precise -but my husband knew he didn’t want a full suit because it’s just not his style. So instead he went for trousers and a waistcoat but kept the sleeves on his shirt rolled up for that more relaxed feel.

Can A Registry Office Wedding Be Personalised?

A big misconception about a registry office wedding is that it can’t be tailored to the couple. In actual fact there are quite a few aspects of the ceremony that you can personalise. You can write your own vows, have readings and have your own music at a registry office as long as you discuss all of these with the registrar beforehand. However anything with a religious connotation isn’t allowed so no hymns or passages from the Bible and any music or readings most be devoid of religious ideas.

When it comes to decorations, registry office ceremony rooms often have simple wedding flower decorations in them permanently. It’s not advisable to have your own decorations for the room as registry office ceremonies are quite short (around 10-15 minutes) and several weddings take place in one day so there simply isn’t time for additional decorations. However that will save you more money and you can put your own decorative stamp on your wedding reception instead!

As we’ve mentioned, registry office weddings tend to be quite short but it doesn’t mean to say they lack romance and personal touches and you can still add special touches to the ceremony.

Registry Office Weddings – The Ceremony Solution For Budget Brides?

Zoe Burke, leading wedding expert at Hitched.co.uk says: “Whilst the perfect wedding venue offers so much to couples, it’s not always suitable for everyone. Registry office weddings are a great option if you want a no-frills way to formalise your wedding, ahead of another ceremony or celebration, or you simply want to mark your commitment to each other in a low-key fashion.”

“The UK is home to some truly beautiful civic buildings, making a simple civil ceremony a chic option for a fraction of the cost – ideal if you’re working to a really tight budget, or want to save money for a big party!”

Taking into consideration the average cost of a wedding (£18,400) and the cheapest basic registry office ceremony (£57) it makes the registry office a massive 5000% cheaper. It’s no wonder registry office weddings are gaining popularity with over 8,000 searches a month on Google.

For more information on registry office weddings, please visit: https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-planning/ceremony-and-reception/registry-office-wedding/ 

Would you consider a registry office wedding? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments!

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