FAQs

How do I make arrangements to give my notice of intention to marry / form a civil partnership?

For more information, and to book your appointment, please visit: www.westminster.gov.uk/giving-notice-of-intention 

You may have to give notice in your home borough. Read more here

 

I don’t live in Westminster, can I still get married in this borough? 

Yes, of course. You may still have to give notice in your home borough. Read more here

 

I have given my notice of intention. Will you let me know when it has been issued? 

No. We will only contact you if there has been a problem with your notice. If you have given notice elsewhere for a ceremony in Westminster, we will be automatically informed that you have done so - you don’t need to inform us.

 

I am having my wedding in Westminster but I live abroad. Do I still need to give notice in person? 

Yes, even if you are having a 'destination wedding' in London, you must give notice in the UK. See our blog post on how to get married for more information on this 

What are the current capacities of ceremonies at The Old Marylebone Town Hall? 

• Westminster: 100 plus couple and registrars 
• Paddington: 8 plus couple and registrars 
• Marylebone: 12 plus couple and registrars 
• Soho: 13 plus couple and registrars 
• Pimlico: 20 plus couple and registrars 
• Mayfair:  30 plus couple and registrars 
• Knightsbridge: 30 plus couple and registrars 

Please note, babes in arms/toddlers and photographers/videographers are not included toward room capacities

Click here to view our virtual tour showing all rooms

 

How long do we have use of the room for? 

You are granted access to your chosen room 15 minutes prior to your ceremony. The ceremony will normally last approximately 20 minutes and we factor in 5+ minutes departure time at the end.

 

Can we change the layout of the room/decorate the marriage rooms at OMTH?

Each ceremony room has a fixed layout. Unfortunately, we cannot remove chairs from the rooms. There are six different rooms with individual layouts to choose from.

 

I have booked the Westminster room. Will all of the chairs be in the room even if my guest number is below 100?

While we understand that 100 seats seems like a lot, we cater to several ceremonies per day and not every group will have the same number of guests. For this reason, the seats need to remain in the room as we are not in a position to accommodate for personal preferences between each party.

The chairs are laid out in 4 rows on each side so the room won't feel 'empty' even if every seat is not filled. We have done many weddings, with as little as 2 guests and the room is just as lovely! 

 

Are additional guests able to stand at the back of the ceremony room? Can we change to a large room if we need to? 

It isn't possible for extra guests to stand in the ceremony rooms but it may be possible for your ceremony to take place in a larger room to accommodate more guests. Please be aware that this will depend on room availability and an amendment fee may be applicable.

 

Are there flowers in the rooms? Can we bring our own? 

There are always floral arrangements that are replenished on a quarterly basis and the colours are seasonal. Additional flower arrangements can be brought and added to the permanent arrangements in the room as long as they are easy to put up and can be removed directly afterwards by the wedding party. Please let us know in advance if you plan to do this.

 

How many weddings take place at the same time?

Our ceremonies have staggered start times, so there is only ever one ceremony due to start at any one time. It is still important to bear in mind that no one has exclusive use of the building.

What ceremony dates and times are available? 

We are taking new bookings as usual. Click 'Book Now' to see all dates and secure your slot any time until December 31st 2023.

 

Can we visit the Town Hall before booking?

You are welcome to come along to an open evening at the Town Hall. They are held once a month on Thursdays between 5.30pm and 7.30pm. However, please ensure you book a slot via this link 

 

Can I choose a specific registrar? 

We will allocate registrars to your ceremony. Whilst we are happy to consider a request for a registrar that you have spoken with whilst making enquiries, it may not always be possible for them to attend your ceremony based on work patterns or leave etc.

We have a very diverse workforce in Westminster that reflects our community and we celebrate and are proud of this. We will not consider requests to allocate registrars based on individual characteristics.

Please be assured that all of our registrars would be delighted to be a part of your celebrations and will deliver your ceremony with utmost professionalism.

 

Can I meet my registrar before the day of the ceremony? 

We understand that you may want to meet with the registrar who’ll be conducting your ceremony. At present, this may not be possible in person as we are extremely busy conducting ceremonies. Your registrar will be in touch the week before / week of your ceremony. If you have a preference for this to be via email, telephone or Zoom/Microsoft teams, please let us know. Please note, we will only be able to schedule a telephone/virtual call once the staffing rota has been finalised and the registrar conducting your ceremony has been assigned. 

 

How long should we expect to be in the building?

Your booking with us is 60 minutes in total. This time includes 15 minutes ahead of your booked ceremony time for your guests to settle in and be seated ahead of your entrance into the room. In that time, you will be meeting with your registrars to go over your certificate details. The ceremony has a 30 minute limit which will include any extra readings you may have and the paperwork signing at the end. We will also expect the room to be vacant again exactly 30 minutes after the start time of your ceremony so we can begin preparing it for the ceremony following yours. The last 15 minutes takes into account guests vacating the room and photos you will take leaving the building, and those on the steps i.e. your confetti shot. 

 

Can my friend conduct my ceremony? 

Your ceremony needs to be conducted by a Westminster registrar or a registrar currently working in another district. However, friends and family are welcome to give readings during the ceremony.

 

Can I personalise the ceremony or write my own vows?

Yes. As long as you and your partner exchange the required legal words (highlighted in bold in our script templates), you are free to amend the scripts and/or add your own readings, personal vows etc. Read more about this on our 'ceremonies' page or below. 

 

Can we have a reading? 

Yes, you may include up to two short readings shared by family or friends in your ceremony. They could be an extract from a book, quote or song lyric, or poem written especially for the day. There is not need to send us your reading (or music) choices in advance of your ceremony. However, please be aware that readings (and music) must not include anything that’s religious (for example hymns or readings from the Bible or the Torah). Please contact the Register Office if you are unsure about the contents of your reading choice. 

 

Do we have to exchange rings? 

No. You can leave this out of your ceremony altogether, especially if you wish to do this another day, or you can exchange other symbols of commitment, as long as your registrar is happy that it is in keeping with the solemnity of the occasion.

 

Can I/we make an entrance into the ceremony room at OMTH?

Yes, you may make an entrance into your chosen ceremony room as a couple or with another person. Full processions are also permitted.

If the bride/partner 1 wishes to make an entrance and doesn’t wish to see the groom/partner 2 before the ceremony starts then arrival times will need to be coordinated so that the bride/partner 1 arrives last in order to have the pre-ceremony interview/schedule details checked before making the entrance into the room. We ask that the groom/partner 2 arrives 30 minutes before the start time of the ceremony and the bride/partner 1 arrives 15 minutes before. 

 

Can I have my own music or hire a musician for the ceremony at OMTH? 

Yes, you are welcome to bring your own recorded music or organise a live performer/musician(s) - without amps so as not to disrupt other weddings. The acoustics in each room carry sound very well. Please ensure that any recorded music is downloaded as a playlist to a smart device i.e. phone or tablet. The device will need to be connected to our speaker via Bluetooth and you will need to designate the role of controlling the music to someone from your wedding party.

We recommend playing background music whilst your guests wait for the ceremony to begin and in three places during the ceremony: entrance, signing & exit (your registrar will advise the music cues before the ceremony). There is no need to send us your music (or reading) choices in advance of your ceremony. However, please be aware that music (and readings) cannot be religious in nature – incidental references to a god or deity is acceptable, but the piece must be essentially non-religious in context. 

 

Can we have a singer/singing?

Yes, singers are permitted. 

 

Can we have a photographer at OMTH? 

Yes, you may have a photographer/videographer present – they will not be counted as guests. 

 

Can we bring our children? 

Yes, children are welcome. They must be supervised at all times and should not be allowed to wander around the room / venue. Babes in arms/toddlers on laps will not be counted in the guest count.

 

Can we bring our dog to OMTH? 

Well-behaved dogs are welcome at the Town Hall where we are very dog-friendly. We only ask that parties ensure they are ready to clean up after a dog if necessary and must always maintain control of the dog. Please let us know in advance if you plan to bring any dogs so we can make a note on your booking. 

 

Can we stream our wedding? (Use Zoom, FaceTime etc)

Yes, of course! We understand that whilst all of your loved ones may not be there in person, they would still like to be there virtually. We are quite happy for you to bring your own devices and set them up to make livestreaming possible (using a phone, tablet or laptop). We do have WiFi to facilitate this and our 4G connection is also quite strong in all rooms. Alternatively, you may want to consider using a professional live streaming company such as Big Day 360 - you can read more about their facilities here and on the suppliers page of this website.

 

Can we have a “first toast” after our ceremony at OMTH? 

For smaller ceremonies taking place Monday-Thursday (except those in the Westminster room) it is possible to arrange a first toast following your ceremony. To book, please complete this form and a member of the team will contact you to confirm and take payment. 

The cost of the first toast service is £108, plus £25 per bottle of prosecco. Water and cordial are complimentary. We are unable to permit bringing your own drinks.

Please note: The first toast service allows for one glass per person only and any remaining drink can be taken away with you.

 

What is a “You plus two” ceremony? 

This is a brief, basic ceremony for a wedding or civil partnership held in one of our 7 beautiful rooms at the Old Marylebone Town Hall.

There is limited availability mainly on Tuesday mornings only between the off-peak months of November to May. However, due to popular demand we are offering some additional ceremonies on Wednesday mornings for the period of January to March 2023. There is no availability at weekends.

This ceremony cannot be personalized or enhanced with things such as music or readings. Only 2 guests are permitted, and they will need to act as witnesses. Both witnesses should be over the age of 16 and able to speak or understand English.

If you have made a booking for this type of a ceremony but would like to upgrade so that you can personalise your ceremony to include a photographer and guests, please complete an enquiry form. Please note that additional fees will apply and it may mean re-scheduling your existing booking.

 

Do I need to bring ID/paperwork on the day of my ceremony?

You do not need to bring anything on the day. As you would have provided identification when giving notice of intention, you do not need to do so again on the day of your ceremony.

 

Who can be my witness and how many witnesses do I need to bring? Do they need to bring ID? 

Witnesses are required to observe you make your verbal contract of marriage, and/or to sign the marriage/civil partnership schedule. Therefore, they need to be present throughout the ceremony, and not be involved in other roles which may distract them, such as taking photographs.

Your witnesses need to speak and understand English, and ideally should be over the age of 16. They can be friends, family members or strangers and they do not need to bring ID on the day. You must supply your own witnesses – Westminster Register Office staff cannot act as witnesses.

 

Can I reschedule the date of my ceremony? 

Yes, you can apply using the reschedule form. Please first check availability online and have a few options in mind in case it is not possible to reschedule to your first choice. A member of the team will call you after receipt of the form and discuss options with you. 

 

Can we move our ceremony to another location within Westminster? 

Yes it is possible and depends on availability of registrars.  You will be required to give your legal notice of intention to marry or form a civil partnership again if you have already given notice for the original venue. 

What is the best way to get to the Old Marylebone Town Hall?

Baker Street and Marylebone are the closest underground stations, each within a 5-minute walk of the building. There are also bus stops on the Marylebone Road and Gloucester Place. The nearest railway main line station is Marylebone, however there are good transport links from Paddington, Euston, Kings Cross and St Pancras

 

Is there somewhere for my wedding car/bus to park outside?

There is a pick-up and drop-off point at the front of the building, but vehicles are not permitted to wait here. Parking is restricted in the surrounding streets, although there is a privately owned multi-story car park found diagonally opposite to the Old Marylebone Town Hall. Parking fees will apply. If you are hiring a bus for your wedding, please discuss parking arrangement with the company.

 

Are there any disabled parking bays near the venue?

There are disabled parking bays on Upper Montagu Street, a side street very near to the Town Hall. You can check out the bays here: Blue Badge Bays (arcgis.com) and other parking rules in Westminster here: Where you can park with a disabled badge | Westminster City Council

When my ceremony takes place at The Old Marylebone Town Hall are there any restrictions and what will they be? 

All previous restrictions are no longer in place except your chosen room may no longer have the original seating capacity/layout. Please see this page for more information on the layout of each room. Please note there is no additional standing room in any of the ceremony rooms.

 

What time should I/my wedding party arrive for my ceremony? 

You should arrive for your ceremony 30 minutes before your allotted time. This is to allow for you and your partner to be interviewed prior to your ceremony. If you do not wish to see each other before the ceremony, one of you should arrive 30 minutes in advance and the other 15 minutes ahead so we can conduct your interviews separately. Guests are welcome 30 minutes ahead too, they will be shown to the ceremony room.

 

Where do I go when I arrive at OMTH? 

You and your guests will be directed to the appropriate rooms on arrival by our team of ushers.

 

Can I use the bride’s powder room to get changed/freshen up on arrival at OMTH? 

There is a powder room located in the ladies’ bathroom for quick touch-ups before the ceremony begins. However, we ask that you arrive fully dressed in your wedding /ceremony attire.

 

Is there disabled access at OMTH? 

Anyone requiring disabled access to the building; will be escorted by a member of staff through the adjoining building, the Sammy Ofer Centre, on Marylebone Road. There is access to a lift from the ground floor to the 2nd floor, where the marriage rooms are located. We ask that you complete a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP form) beforehand and email it to registeroffice@westminster.gov.uk.

Can we use areas in the Town Hall to take photos before and after our ceremony? 

You are welcome to use other areas of the Town Hall, such as the corridor, front steps and the landing, which are all good points for photos. You will only be able to take photos in other ceremony rooms if no other ceremonies are taking place within the building at that time.

 

Can we throw confetti after the ceremony?

Yes, although you may not have long on the steps to avoid being in contact with other wedding parties who may be arriving for their ceremony. We would appreciate if you used biodegradable confetti only. Unfortunately, we cannot permit rice, metallic or plastic confetti in the interest of the environment. We ask that you do NOT use confetti cannons as they are often filled with non biodegradable materials and the noise they make is disruptive to other ceremonies still taking place inside the Town Hall.

Please be aware that as a result of increased cleaning regimes inside the building, there may be a build-up of confetti on the steps as housekeeping staff have less time devoted to sweeping it away between ceremonies. 

Please fill out this form if you would like to purchase our in-house biodegradable confetti. It will be ready for you on the day of the ceremony. You are also welcome to bring your own biodegradable confetti.

 

Can we offer a token of thanks to our registrars?

Whilst we are very grateful for gifts of appreciation you may wish to give us, we are unable to accept them as a matter of council policy. We would prefer for you to share your special memories with us in the form of pictures/video. You can send these directly to the registrar(s) you have been in contact with or adaytoremember@westminster.gov.uk. Be sure to let us know if you would be happy with images being shared on our social media platforms.

 

How can we share a photo of our special day with our registrars?

You can send these directly to the registrar(s) you have been in contact with or adaytoremember@westminster.gov.uk. Be sure to let us know if you would be happy with images being shared on our social media platforms.

Is there a disabled toilet in the building? 

Yes, the disabled toilet is located on the ground floor adjacent to the ladies’ bathroom. There is also a baby changing table in both the ladies’ and gentlemen’s toilets.

 

Can our dog attend the ceremony?

We are dog-friendly at the Town Hall. Please let us know in advance if you plan to bring any dogs so we can make a note on your booking. 

 

Is there a loop system? 

No, there is no loop system in the building.

 

Can we bring helium balloons? 

Unfortunately not, as our ceilings at OMTH are very high and stray balloons are difficult to retrieve!

 

Can we have candles? 

Naked flames are not permissible, for health and safety reasons. You can bring your own faux candles – just let us know in advance.

 

Where should my guests leave pushchairs/luggage? 

They are to be left in the foyer, to save space in the ceremony rooms. These areas are open and we will not accept responsibility for the items.

 

How do I rearrange a ceremony? 

Please use this form or email us using the contact form to the right if you have any further questions.

 

What are your terms and conditions for cancelling/changing my ceremony?

Follow this link for our policy on cancelling/amending the date and/or time of a ceremony.

What time will the registrars be at my venue?

The registrars will be at the venue 30 minutes before the ceremony begins. Both parties will need be available to meet with the Registrars at the ceremony venue no later than 15 minutes before the ceremony start time, to complete the legal preliminaries. However if you would prefer to be seen separately by the Registrar we ask that one of you is available to meet him/her 30 minutes before the start time of your ceremony and the other is available to meet him/her 15 minutes before.

 

Can I meet my registrar before the day of the ceremony? 

We understand that you may want to meet with the registrar who’ll be conducting your ceremony. At present, this may not be possible in person as we are extremely busy conducting ceremonies. Your registrar will be in touch the week before / week of your ceremony. If you have a preference for this to be via email, telephone or Zoom/Microsoft teams, please let us know. Please note, we will only be able to schedule a telephone/virtual call once the staffing rota has been finalised and the registrar conducting your ceremony has been assigned. 

 

Can we have a singer/singing?

Yes, as long as the room is well ventilated and it is in line with the policy at your venue.

 

Can I have my own music or hire a musician for the ceremony at OMTH? 

Yes, as long as the room is well ventilated (if blown instruments will be used) and it is in line with the policy at your venue.

 

Do I need to bring ID/paperwork on the day of my ceremony?

You do not need to bring anything on the day. As you would have provided identification when giving notice of intention, you do not need to do so again on the day of your ceremony.

 

Who can be my witness and how many witnesses do I need to bring? Do they need to bring ID? 

Witnesses are required to observe you make your verbal contract of marriage, and/or to sign the marriage/civil partnership schedule. Therefore, they need to be present throughout the ceremony, and not be involved in other roles which may distract them, such as taking photographs.

Your witnesses need to speak and understand English, and ideally should be over the age of 16. They can be friends, family members or strangers and they do not need to bring ID on the day. You must supply your own witnesses – Westminster Register Office staff cannot act as witnesses.

When will I receive my marriage/civil partnership certificate? 

Your certificate(s) will be posted to you up to 2 weeks after your ceremony.

 

We are having a renewal of vows ceremony, will we get a certificate?

Yes, you will receive a commemorative certificate signed by yourselves and the witnesses/guide parents.

 

I got married/civil partnered with you previously, how do I get additional copies of my marriage/civil partnership certificate?

Please place your order here and it will be posted out to you.