Wedding Photography at Old Marylebone Town Hall 2025
**I’m taking bookings for weddings at this venue for 2025-26 now!**
Wedding colours pop on the steps outside Old Marylebone Town Hall. And so do the bubbles the guests are using as their confetti.
I am privileged to provide photography for weddings at Old Marylebone Town Hall regularly and have photographed in all 7 ceremony rooms numerous times. The venue is photographer-friendly, and happily, they have no restrictions on this central part of your wedding day.
Old Marylebone Town Hall incorporates the Westminster Register Office and is the perfect venue for your civil wedding. I take natural and fun images of the best moments from your day. My photography is about relationships and fun and intimate interactions between family and friends on the most special day of your life.
How special is this moment? Before her wedding, the bride poses with her sister in an alcove outside Old Marylebone Town Hall. Their close bond is evident as she gives her sibling an impromptu kiss. For the photographer, moments like this are precious, too.
Read on for information, tips, and advice on photography for your ceremony at this fantastic venue. I will also explain what to expect and provide many examples of my relaxed and friendly photographic style.
This is another special photo, as Vicky and Will pose with their children in an alcove outside after the ceremony.
Bride Jo enters the marbled hallway with her daughters and a friend before the wedding ceremony. The beautiful entrance provides the perfect backdrop for your register office marriage.
Are You Planning Your Wedding at Old Marylebone Town Hall?I photograph discreetly and unobtrusively to capture the best moments of your day. With me as your wedding photographer, your memories will be in safe hands, so please get in touch any time to discuss… |
Colourful floral displays adorn the ornate doorway where the couple exits as newlyweds—touches like this help make your day and the photography special.
My photography captures the day’s laughter, fun, and emotions. Couples tell me they liked the personal nature of my photos when booking me as their wedding photographer.
Arrival at Your Westminster Register Office Wedding
You are asked to arrive 30 minutes before your ceremony. On arrival, one of the efficient ushers greets you. Your guests may have to wait outside while you go for your pre-wedding interview. Although they allow photography of this, I prefer to stay with your guests to take images of moments that you’ll otherwise miss. Your family and friends are shown upstairs and seated when the ceremony room is ready.
The bride and groom may arrive at Old Marylebone Town Hall together or separately, as is traditional. The registrars can keep couples apart if required – many do, but some choose to enter together, especially at smaller weddings.
I like to arrive to photograph all the arrivals, but people want to see photos of the bride’s arrival most!
In the street outside, the groom shares a joke with a friend. I’ll be there to photograph many natural moments such as this.
A hug from his mum helps quell the groom’s last-minute nerves.
Useful to Know When Booking Your Wedding at Old Marylebone Town Hall
- You can contact the registrars by calling 020 7641 7500 or emailing registeroffice@westminster.gov.uk.
- You and your guests can access and gather in the venue room 30 minutes before the ceremony. I use this time to photograph your guests as they arrive and greet each other.
- The A Day to Remember website is the official site dedicated to weddings in Westminster and covers all the licensed venues in the borough.
- Open evenings are held one Thursday a month between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Contact the venue to book your place.
- In addition to civil marriages, Old Marylebone Town Hall also conducts civil ceremonies, renewals of vows, and naming ceremonies, and it allows photography of them all.
I photographed this lovely moment before the ceremony as the guests greeted each other at the entrance to the Westminster Room, Old Marylebone Town Hall’s central and most significant wedding space.
Bride Lindsay nervously waits with her father before the start of her ceremony. The doors to all seven ceremony rooms are off this long, first-floor corridor.
A beaming bridesmaid enters the Westminster Room. As the guests watch, the bride, Helen, waits in the corridor behind.
The couples’ entrance: These days, couples frequently enter the room together. There are no hard and fast rules for approaching your day, so do whatever suits you, and I’ll photograph it all!
Wedding Ceremony Photography in Westminster
Happily, wedding photographers at Old Marylebone Town Hall are not restricted. Even in the smallest rooms, I am given free movement, but I try to remain discrete and not distract you or your registrars.
Couples are usually so engaged with the registrar and concentrating on getting everything right that they don’t often notice me. They always say how quickly it goes, so my advice is to savour every moment and be assured that I am recording it all for you to look back on in the years to come.
I try to shoot from all angles for a good variety of images. Here is a series of photographs that demonstrate this:
This is a striking shot of the couple at the start of their wedding ceremony. I used black and white effectively, as it suits the image.
Who to ask to present their rings is a significant consideration, so I must capture it well. The Pimlico Room is one of the brighter and smaller ceremony rooms, its fireplace providing a stunning backdrop for the ring exchange photos.
Also Consider>> Islington Town Hall for your Wedding.
In the darker Marylebone Room, black and white works well. When this chap earnestly handed the groom his ring. I was able to move to precisely the correct position to photograph it.
Kelly’s face says it all, as I photograph from different spots to get the best shots.
This shot shows the bride ‘in the moment’ during her Soho Room ceremony as she is about to be married. Couples’ are rarely aware of their photographer’s presence.
I love ‘overview’ photographs, so I went deliberately wide to catch the two girls sitting patiently on the sofa. All seven rooms at Old Marylebone Town Hall are spacious enough to allow me to move around freely.
Having an LGBTQ+ Wedding?>> Read My Same-Sex Wedding Photography FAQs Here
The all-important first kiss: My tip – slow down and take your time. Morgan and Alex certainly did, and I took several images of their first kiss(es).
Since Covid, Zoom calls have been popular, enabling distant family and friends to be virtually there. Of course, this also presents some fun photo ops for the photographer. This was taken in the expansive Westminster Room.
We’re Absolutely Delighted with the Photos…
[We] were thrilled when we came across Guys’ portfolio – perfect for our 3.15pm wedding at The Old Marylebone Town Hall. …Guy was most definitely able to steer us in the right direction. He was professional, courteous and thoughtful in his approach to our big day, in both the build up and on the day itself.
We had a couple of conflicting requirements; “we don’t want too fake, we don’t want too posed” and “please pose people so that we all look nice in the shot”. Thankfully Guy knew exactly what I was talking about and on the day he managed to hit both requirements and took some truly wonderful shots of our wedding. He was completely unobtrusive, even in what was a very small venue for both the ceremony and reception.
Our photos were ready for us when we returned off honeymoon which was great, and we’re absolutely delighted with them. Even after the final invoice has been paid Guy continues to be responsive to extra requests and questions. From the bottom of 2 awkward photo subjects hearts, thank you for providing us with the most beautiful visual cues to our memories of our great day – we will treasure them always.
– Sarah & Chris
Photographing the Wedding Signing at Old Marylebone Town Hall
The Westminster registrars are very friendly and helpful, working with the photographer to ensure they take the best shots...
The traditional wedding register has now gone online, replaced by a schedule at the end of the ceremony. Westminster was always relaxed about the photographer taking photos of the signing, so not much has changed. The most obvious change is that the registrar sends your certificate by post after your day, so sadly, there is no more presentation.
As the witnesses sign, I often go wide to include the newlyweds and registrar looking on.
I love this photo: As the groom studiously signs the wedding schedule, his new wife chats with the registrar—a priceless moment to capture.
The Old Marylebone Town Hall registrars still set up a 'dummy' signing, which often amuses. Some couples like this, but it's not obligatory. Either way, I'm happy to photograph some posed shots.
This is a posed shot following the signing. By this point, everyone generally feels more relaxed, which can make for some fun moments.
Old Marylebone Town Hall's Wedding Photography Rooms
There are 7 rooms to choose from for your marriage ceremony. Here is a list of them, including my highlights of what makes them unique:
Newly-weds Lindsay & Greg leave the Mayfair Room following their ceremony. Greg was happier than he looked here!
The Soho Room:
The Soho Room is intimate but large enough for your photographer to move around. I like to capture different angles, such as this wide shot of the couple during their wedding vows.
Soho is the second most popular room in Westminster Council House and seats 13 guests. Again, it is light and airy with a carved feature fireplace and stunning chandelier. The room is painted in a muted pale green.
The Knightsbridge Room:
The colourful Knightsbridge Room shows the registration table and fireplace. In this shot, the groom seems to be in mid-flow.
This exceptionally light and airy room comfortably seats up to 30 guests. I love the blue/grey velvet seating and large windows at the back.
The Marylebone Room:
All 7 of the ceremony rooms at Marylebone have ornate wooden features outside, which makes for great exit shots of the couple and their guests after the wedding.
12 seated guests. With its deep and glossy wood panelling, this room is darker than others but no less striking. The sculpted plaster ceiling and modern chandelier finish the room nicely. I love to take wedding photos in this room.
The Paddington Room:
Just before their ceremony, this portrait of the couple shows the disproportionate fireplace in the narrow Paddington Room.
Old Marylebone Town Hall's Paddington Room holds 8 seated guests. It resembles The Marylebone Room, with dark panelling, a magnificent, matching carved wooden fireplace, and a modern chandelier.
The Pimlico Room:
In the Pimlico Room, guests can watch the ceremony on two sides.
Light, bright and fantastic for photography, the Pimlico Room seats 20 guests and is decorated in pale green with a period feature fireplace.
The Westminster Room:
This fun photo shows the front of the Westminster Room. Throughout their ceremony, Groom Perry couldn't help but show his love for his bride, Kelly.
The largest and most popular room at Old Marylebone Town Hall seats up to 100 guests, making it suitable for a larger wedding party. 'Westminster has dark wood panelling, but it is the lightest panelled room, with 3 large windows facing the couple and guests, making it fantastic for photography.
The Mayfair Room:
The registrar hands Melissa the wedding certificate at the front of the Mayfair Room. Sadly, since the register went online, this has been consigned to history, with the certificate being sent through the post a few days later.
The Mayfair Room can accommodate 30 seated guests. With tasteful modern lighting, grey walls, aubergine, and rose gold touches, it is a fantastic venue for your small wedding day. There is also plenty of room for your photographer to move around.
I love vibrant, colourful wedding photography, and this group photo is enhanced by the fresh floral displays on the Soho Room's mantelpiece. I took this portrait before the ceremony began.
This photograph highlights the detail on the back of bride Sarah's dress.
The Westminster Register Office registrars encourage photography of the signing of the schedule.
The main staircase is ornate and excellent for helping tell the wedding day's story.
The light outside Old Marylebone Town Hall is stunning and remarkable for capturing staged and natural wedding portraits.
Confetti and Congratulations at Old Marylebone Town Hall
After your ceremony, an usher will keep you inside until your guests leave. This allows me to photograph a few portraits of you in the venue before leaving the building to organise your guests into a confetti 'aisle'.
Confetti is encouraged, and I will check in with an usher to see how much time we'll have before moving on. Weekends can be hectic, so the time could be short.
Confetti photos present many colours, so I edited them to accentuate this.
How I Organise the Confetti Photography Sequence
There is plenty of space to be creative with the confetti sequence on the steps outside Old Marylebone Town Hall. I ask the guests to stand on the inside of the handrails evenly from the pillars at the top down the steps, adapting for small or large wedding parties. I then step them forward so there is less distance as the couple passes through.
When the couple leaves the old town hall and descends the steps, I ask everyone to throw the confetti up and high so that it showers down for a spectacular sequence of photos.
Moments of Celebration: Friends and family throw confetti as the newlyweds leave their wedding ceremony outside Old Marylebone Town Hall.
Important Confetti Tip:
I advise using colourful, large paper confetti rather than small dried petals, as the latter shows up more effectively in the images. The venue only allows the use of biodegradable confetti and no confetti cannons.
I don't often convert confetti photos to black and white, but this photograph captures the moment perfectly. It says what the couple and their fun wedding day were all about as they celebrated their 'Just Married' status on the steps of Old Marylebone Town Hall.
I love the greeting and congratulatory photos after the ceremony. It is one of the best times for capturing the atmosphere.
Posed Couple and Group Shots
Outside, the area between the front door and the two central pillars offers stunning directional light. This makes an excellent location for some small group wedding portraits, especially of the bride and groom.
Depending on the day, couples are allowed time for their photographer to arrange and take some group shots on the steps. The turnover of weddings on a Saturday is high, so there is less time before being asked politely to move on. Ideally, there will be time for all the required family photos, a large group shot of everyone present and some of the couple on their own.
The local area provides many opportunities for photography, including Baker Street Station and Regent's Park...
The splendid facade of Westminster Council House makes a perfect backdrop for the group and posed photography.
I love it when everyone has fun with the posed shots. Not much was posed here, but the bride and bridesmaids looked fantastic!
A Handy Photography Dodge
If your posed wedding photographs are cut short, there is a little cheat:
The London Business School is just next door and is part of the same building. If the wedding party has to move on prematurely, I often finish the group portraits there. It's handy to book a photographer who knows how the venue runs.
I deliberately went wide for this shot to show the London Business School next door to the old town hall—a perfect backup group photo location on busy days.
I never micro-manage the posed portraits, as many couples don't want this. Instead, I ask them to show their love for each other and have fun.
For older couples, simple hand-holding works, although these two did kiss, too, and their love clearly showed.
I'd generally shoot this photo on the steps, but it was getting dark. Using an alcove allowed me to bounce some flash and light the scene.
I often photograph the bride independently if she's up for it, which can produce some fun shots, too!
Old Marylebone Town Hall Wedding Photography FAQs
Q. WHAT IS THE LIGHT LIKE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY INSIDE OLD MARYLEBONE TOWN HALL?
A. Natural light varies across the 7 ceremony rooms. All rooms have window light, but some are darker than others due to their original features. A good wedding photographer can cope with extreme lighting, so the dark panelling of a couple of the venue rooms will pose no problem. The decoration is tasteful, with light and neutral tones or darker panels in the 7 ceremony rooms.
Q. IS CONFETTI ALLOWED ON THE ICONIC STEPS OUTSIDE?
A. An Old Marylebone Town Hall wedding wouldn't be the same without a chance for your photographer to capture the sequence as you exit the building and descend the steps in a shower of confetti. So, yes - the venue encourages using biodegradable confetti to finish your Westminster nuptials. There is even a form on the Day to Remember website to order confetti, ready for collection on your day.
On their exit from the town hall and in a shower of confetti, groom Dave punches the air with excitement.
Q. HOW LONG DO WE HAVE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AFTER OUR CEREMONY?
A. You are allowed a few minutes to do portrait photography after the ceremony. The time allowance largely depends on the venue's busyness, and the photographer is sometimes rushed. On quieter days, the wedding party can remain for photos in the room, although this is unlikely on busy Saturdays.
Photography can take place inside or outside, but confetti happens on the steps outside the venue. If confetti is essential to you, prioritise it and ask your photographer to organise it first to avoid disappointment. Venue staff are amicable and helpful, and it's always worth checking in with them for guidance on time rather than rushing.
Q. CAN MY DOG ATTEND OUR OLD MARYLEBONE TOWN HALL WEDDING?
A. Yes, the venue is dog-friendly, and they are allowed to attend. Mention this before your day so they can note that a dog will be present.
Bride Lindsay can hardly contain her excitement during the posed shots at the top of the entrance steps.
Some wedding photographs are more serious but never more heartfelt than when these newlyweds kissed on Old Marylebone Town Hall's iconic steps.
...and finally... 'nuff said!
The Old Marylebone Town Hall,
Westminster Council House,
97-113 Marylebone Road,
London NW1 5PT.
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/
