Experienced Old Marylebone Town Hall Wedding Photographer
**I’m taking bookings for weddings at this venue for 2026-27 now!**
Vibrant wedding colours pop on the steps outside Old Marylebone Town Hall. So do the bubbles guests use as their confetti.
I’ve photographed 70+ weddings at Old Marylebone Town Hall and have worked in all seven ceremony rooms many times. The venue is very photographer-friendly, with no restrictions on photography during the ceremony.
The venue includes the Westminster Register Office and is perfect for your civil wedding. I capture natural, fun images of the best moments from your day. My photography focuses on relationships, emotion and the natural interactions between family and friends on one of the most important days of your lives.
As an experienced wedding photographer, I know how ceremonies at Old Marylebone Town Hall run, where the best light falls and how to make the most of the limited time available for photographs afterwards.
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.
Below, I share what I’ve learned from photographing more than 70 weddings here, including advice on the seven ceremony rooms, timings, confetti, group photographs and the best places for portraits. You’ll also find plenty of real wedding photographs showing my natural, relaxed style.
This is another special photo, as Vicky and Will pose with their children outside after the ceremony. Westminster Register Office can be exceptionally busy, but the alcoves and pillars provide space for the photography to continue, even when the centre steps are in use.
What Old Marylebone Town Hall Couples Say
Taken from reviews left on my Google profile. Read more here: Guy Milnes Photography Google Reviews
[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… 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 – Soho Room – 2013
We are so pleased that we chose Guy as the photographer for our wedding. The photos are exactly what we wanted…
He is very familiar with Old Marylebone Town Hall (our wedding venue) and really helped us make the most of photo opportunities there. He’s lovely to work with and made the whole process feel very streamlined and easy. He even went above and beyond to help coordinate our guests and the registry office on the day which we very much appreciated!
The quality and variety of the photos he produced are excellent. Looking through them we really felt that he captured the spirit of our day. Would highly recommend!
Claire & Brad – Westminster Room – 2022
I am so glad that I found Guy for my wedding at Marylebone Town Hall, he was just wonderful and super talented! Guy has a lovely demeanour that meant he just melted in amongst our wedding guests and was unobtrusive yet cleverly catching lots of lovely moments. I really can’t recommend him highly enough, I had some post wedding anxiety, did our guests have a good time, were people enjoying themselves?? Well, receiving Guy’s fabulous photos alleviated any concerns, he’d captured the fun atmosphere of the day perfectly! Thank you Guy
Holly & Andrew – Mayfair Room – 2025
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, and I’ll be there to capture every moment from arrival to departure as newlyweds.
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. Please get in touch anytime 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.
Old Marylebone Town Hall Weddings at a Glance
| Venue: | Old Marylebone Town Hall |
| Also Known As: | Westminster Register Office |
| Location: | 97–113 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5PT |
| Wedding Types: | Civil ceremonies, intimate weddings & larger celebrations |
| Ceremony Rooms & Guest Capacity: | Westminster (100), Mayfair (30), Knightsbridge (30), Pimlico (20), Soho (13), Marylebone (12), Paddington (8) |
| Ceremony Length: | Approx. 20 minutes |
| Short Wedding Coverage: | From 1 hour |
| Confetti: | Outside on the steps |
| Couple & Group Portraits: | Staircase, room, outside steps and surrounding Marylebone locations |
| Photographer: | Guy Milnes Photography |
| Old Marylebone Town Hall Weddings Photographed: | 70+ |
| Photography Style: | Natural, relaxed & unobtrusive |
| Coverage | Short ceremonies through to full-day weddings |
| Professional Photographer Since: | 2008 |
My photography captures the laughter, fun and emotion of the day. Couples often tell me they appreciate my relaxed, personal approach and how unobtrusively I work.
Arrival at Your Westminster Register Office Wedding
I arrive with plenty of time to photograph both partners and their guests arriving, as these moments are an important part of the day’s story.
Arrive 30 minutes before your ceremony, when an usher will greet you. Your guests may need to wait outside while you do your pre-wedding interview. Although the registrars do allow photography during your interview, I prefer to stay with your guests to capture moments you might otherwise miss.
Your family and friends are shown upstairs and seated when the ceremony room is ready.
The bride and groom may arrive together or separately. Separately is traditional, with the groom arriving a few minutes before the bride to avoid bumping into each other. At smaller weddings, couples tend to arrive together, but these days there are no rules on this, so do whatever you prefer.
On quiet days, there may be no usher outside, so go in and introduce yourselves at the reception near the staircase. I always try to meet you outside, so I can guide you through and liaise with the staff on your behalf. Couples often tell me how nervous they are at this part of the day about what to do and where to go, but don’t be. Everyone is there to help, including your wedding photographer! 😉
In the street outside, the groom shares a joke with a friend. I’ll be there to photograph many natural moments, like this one.
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 the venue 30 minutes before the ceremony. I use this time to photograph your guests as they arrive and greet each other.
- This page from the A Day to Remember website covers a seven-step process to guide you through booking your wedding in Westminster.
- Open evenings are held on one Thursday of each month between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Contact the venue to book your place.
- In addition to weddings and civil partnerships, Old Marylebone Town Hall hosts vow renewals and citizenship and naming ceremonies, with photography permitted throughout.
I photographed this lovely moment before the ceremony as guests greeted one another at the entrance to the Westminster Room, Old Marylebone Town Hall’s central and most significant wedding space.
Old Marylebone Town Hall Wedding Photography Prices*Starting from 1 Hour Photography Coverage* 2 Hours Coverage:**£540** 1.5 Hours Coverage:**£490** 1 Hour Coverage:**£440** Extra Hours above 2 – £160/hour Prices include natural photographic coverage of all the key moments. Photos are edited in a mixture of colour & black and white and supplied via upload for easy download. For full details about my pricing, including full-day packages, please visit: |
Bride Lindsay nervously waits with her father before her ceremony begins. 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 couple’s 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.
Wedding Ceremony Photography in Westminster
Happily, wedding photographers at Old Marylebone Town Hall have no restrictions. Even in the smallest rooms, I am free to move around, but I try to remain discreet and not distract you or your registrars.
Couples are usually so engaged with the registrar and so focused 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 know I am recording it all for you to look back on in the years to come.
I try to shoot from all angles to capture a 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 presents the rings is a significant consideration, so I must capture it well. The Pimlico Room is one of the brighter, smaller ceremony rooms, with its fireplace providing a stunning backdrop for ring-exchange photos.
Also Consider>> Islington Town Hall for your Wedding.
In the darker Marylebone Room, black and white works particularly well. When this guest earnestly handed the groom his ring, I moved into position to capture the moment.
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 deliberately went wide to capture the two girls sitting patiently on the sofa. All seven rooms are spacious enough that I can 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, letting distant family and friends be virtually there. Of course, this also presents some fun photo ops for the photographer. This was taken in the expansive Westminster Room.
Photographing the 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 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.
Photography Guide to the 7 Old Marylebone Town Hall Ceremony Rooms
Having photographed weddings in all seven ceremony rooms, here’s my quick comparison of their capacity, light and suitability for photography:
| Room | Capacity | Photography Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Westminster Room | 100 | Large and impressive, with excellent natural, directional light from the three tall windows. |
| Mayfair Room | 30 | Mid-sized and spacious, with plenty of room for me to move discreetly around the ceremony and photograph from several angles. |
| Knightsbridge Room | 30 | A light, airy ceremony room with great natural light for photography. |
| Pimlico Room | 20 | Bright and attractive, with excellent natural light and an elegant fireplace that photographs well. |
| Soho Room | 13 | An intimate room that still gives me enough space to move around discreetly and photograph the ceremony from different angles. |
| Marylebone Room | 12 | A characterful room with darker wood panelling. It has less natural light than some of the other rooms but produces beautifully atmospheric photographs. |
| Paddington Room | 8 | Small and intimate, with a distinctive carved fireplace. The room is darker, so my experience working in lower light is particularly useful. |
Newlyweds Lindsay & Greg leave the Mayfair Room following their ceremony. Greg was happier than he looked here!
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 way it should be!
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 sent by post a few days later.
The Mayfair Room can accommodate 30 seated guests. With tasteful modern lighting, grey walls, aubergine accents, and rose gold touches, it is a fantastic venue for your small wedding. There is also plenty of room for your photographer to move around.
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 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 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 a stunning chandelier. The room is painted in a muted pale green.
The Marylebone Room:
All 7 of the ceremony rooms at Marylebone have ornate wooden features outside, which make for great exit shots of the couple and their guests after the wedding.
12 seated guests. With its deep, glossy wood panelling, this room is darker than most of the 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.
A word of warning: The room has limited comfortable seating (i.e. chairs). I have been in a wedding before where the arrangement didn’t suit the more mature guests, so consider this when booking.
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 the bride, Sarah’s dress.
The Westminster Register Office registrars encourage photography of the signing of the schedule.
The main staircase is ornate and perfect for telling the wedding day’s story.
The directional light outside the Town Hall works particularly well for both posed portraits and natural photographs.
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, and time may be limited.
Confetti photos display many colours, so I edit them to accentuate this.
How I Organise the Confetti Photography Sequence
The Town Hall steps offer plenty of space to be creative with the confetti sequence. I ask the guests to stand along the inside of the handrails, evenly spaced from the pillars at the top down the steps, to accommodate small or large wedding parties. I then step them forward to reduce the 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 high so it showers down for a spectacular photo sequence.
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 larger pieces show up much more effectively in photographs. The venue only allows 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 small-group wedding portraits, especially of the bride and groom.
Depending on the day, couples have time for their photographer to arrange and take some group shots on the steps. Wedding turnover on Saturday is high, so there is less time before you are politely asked to move on. Ideally, you’ll have 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 offers many photography opportunities, 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!
Where to Take Group Photos if the Town Hall Steps Are Busy
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.
For older couples, simple hand-holding works, though these two did kiss, too, and their love was clearly evident.
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. HOW LONG SHOULD I BOOK A PHOTOGRAPHER FOR AN OLD MARYLEBONE TOWN HALL WEDDING?
A. Your allocated time at the venue is around an hour. I use what I call the 30:20:10 rule: arrive 30 minutes before the ceremony, allow 20 minutes for the ceremony itself, and 10 minutes for confetti and photos on the steps. Of course, this may vary a bit depending on the day and how busy it is, but generally an hour should be enough. 1.5 hours allows for an extended photo shoot afterwards.
Q. IS CONFETTI ALLOWED ON WESTMINSTER REGISTER OFFICE’S ICONIC STEPS OUTSIDE?
A. Yes. 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. The venue encourages using biodegradable confetti to finish your Westminster nuptials. The Day to Remember website even has a form 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. CAN WE HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS INSIDE OLD MARYLEBONE TOWN HALL AFTER THE CEREMONY?
A. On quieter days, the wedding party can stay in the room for photos, though this is unlikely on busy Saturdays. The couple can usually have photos in the corridor outside the rooms, on the staircase, and in a couple of locations on the ground floor.
Q. CAN OUR DOG ATTEND OUR OLD MARYLEBONE TOWN HALL WEDDING?
A. Yes, the venue is dog-friendly, and your furry friends 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.
Q. DO WE NEED A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO HAS WORKED AT OLD MARYLEBONE TOWN HALL BEFORE?
A. No, but it does help. Westminster Register Office is an exceptionally busy wedding venue, with a high turnover of ceremonies. Your photographer should know exactly where to be, when to be there, and how to work quickly to take the required images. The staff at Marylebone are exceptionally efficient with tight time constraints, and it helps if your photographer can work with them to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Q. WHAT HAPPENS IF IT RAINS ON OUR WEDDING DAY?
A. I have photographed many rainy wedding days, and have to say that, although not ideal, rain has never spoilt the day for any of my couples. If the weather looks inclement, I suggest bringing clear or white umbrellas that let light through for any outdoor portraits. Rain can even create interesting photographic opportunities, with wet pavements producing attractive reflections and richer colours.
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.adaytoremember.london/
