FAQs

What ceremony dates and times are available? 

Click 'Book Now' to check availability, fees and book your ceremony. 

Please be reminded that if your ceremony is taking place at a venue other than the Old Marylebone Town Hall or Mayfair Library, you will also need to book directly with the venue as well as booking the registrars via the above link.

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 your ceremony. If you need to reschedule a ceremony, please email us on registeroffice@westminster.gov.uk 

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 to attend via this link 

What is the difference in forming a Marriage and a Civil Partnership?

The biggest difference in the ceremony is that marriage is a verbal contract and signing the marriage schedule is confirmation that these words have been spoken by the couple and heard by the registrars and witnesses. In a Civil Partnership, it is the signing of the schedule that brings about the formation. For more information, see more on the gov.uk website

You will get a certificate when forming both a Marriage and a Civil Partnership.

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

Yes, of course. You will need to give notice in your home borough. Read more here

If you live abroad and 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.

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

If you live in Westminster, please see here to book an appointment. 

If you do not live in Westminster (or live abroad and will be establishing residency in a different district to Westminster) please contact your local register office.

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.

Do I need to give notice again if I move house between giving notice and the day of my wedding/civil partnership?

No, you do not need to give notice again as long as your ceremony is taking place at the same venue within 12 months of giving notice. 

Can I choose a specific registrar? Can my friend conduct my ceremony? 

Your ceremony needs to be conducted by a Westminster registrar or a registrar currently working in another district. 

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 specific registrars or change registrars based on individual characteristics, gender, race or sexual orientation.

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. 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.

When will I hear from my registrar? How can I let them know my ceremony choices?

Your registrar will be in touch within 4 days of your ceremony once the staffing rota has been finalised and the registrar conducting your ceremony has been assigned. You can let them know your ceremony choices by completing this form ahead of your registrar making contact.

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 photos. Be sure to let us know if you would be happy with images being shared on our social media platforms.

What time do I need to be available to meet with my registrars pre-ceremony?

If you would prefer to be seen separately by your registrars we ask that one of you is available to meet them 30 minutes before the start time of your ceremony and the other is available to meet them 15 minutes before. If your preference is to meet with your registrars together, we ask that you both be available 30 minutes before your ceremony start time to complete the legal preliminaries.

What time can our guests enter the ceremony room?

Your guests may be seated in the ceremony room 30 minutes before your ceremony start time. If you have a particular preference for seating arrangements, please ensure you advise your guests accordingly. 

Do we/our witnesses need to bring ID on the day of our ceremony?

You do not need to bring anything on the day and neither do your witnesses.

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. 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 by recorded delivery. Please let us know if you need the certificates to go to an alternative address if you will not be available to sign for them .

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.

How long should we expect to be in the building?

Your booking with us is 60 minutes in total. This time includes 30 minutes ahead of your booked ceremony time for your guests to settle in and be seated ahead of your entrance into the room. The ceremony itself (including signing of the paperwork) will be around 20 minutes. The last 10-15 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. 

Are registrars included in booking?

Yes, registrars are included in the booking for The Old Marylebone Town Hall.

Does building have air conditioning?  

We do not have air conditioning in the building, but in each ceremony room we have Dyson humidifying fan.

Will we have exclusive use of the building? 

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. There will never be a ceremony happening in the room next door to yours.

Can we change the layout of the room or customise it?

Each ceremony room has a fixed layout. Unfortunately, we cannot remove/add any chairs. 

We are happy for couples to bring their own flowers but they must not be large, extravagant arrangements or on stands. Only small table arrangements may be added. If you would like flowers to be removed from the mantel piece, please speak to our usher team.  The winter arrangements cannot be moved from the rooms.

Are children/photographers/videographers/musicians counted towards the ceremony room's maximum capacity?

While the capacities of each room are fixed, babes in arms and toddlers able to sit on a parent's lap are not counted. Older children do count towards maximum capacity.

Photographers and videographers are not counted towards maximum capacity. 

In all ceremony rooms except the Westminster room, musicians are counted towards maximum capacity.

Are additional guests able to stand at the back of the ceremony room? Can we change to a larger 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.

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.

Is there disabled access/a loop system? 

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. We ask that you complete a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP form) beforehand and email it to ceremonysupportservices@westminster.gov.uk

Please be aware that while the step-free access is an available and welcome option, due to its proximity to the main building, it does require more walking than using our main staircase which some guests may find more difficult. Once inside there is a lift that takes guests directly to ceremony rooms.

There is no loop system in the building.

Can we have confetti/petals/bubbles?

You are very welcome to do so on the external stone steps after your ceremony. As this is not permitted within the building, flower petals cannot be thrown ahead of brides when making their entrance into the ceremony room. 

We would appreciate if you used biodegradable confetti only. We ask that you do NOT use confetti cannons as the noise they make is disruptive to other ceremonies still taking place inside the Town Hall.

Please fill out this form if you would like to purchase our in-house biodegradable confetti (pictured below) - an exquisite blend of Icing Sugar, Candy Floss and Amethyst delphinium petals. It will be ready for you on the day of your ceremony.  

Can we bring flowers/candles/helium balloons?

It is not possible to bring candles/helium balloons. However, you can bring faux candles.

Floral arrangements in the ceremony rooms 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 bring additional floral arrangements and/or faux candles.

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

Yes, if you have a ceremony with 30 guests or less on Monday to Thursdays (unless otherwise agreed). Please see here for drinks menu, fees involved and to order.  

Please note that the first toast service allows for one glass per person only and any remaining drink can be taken away with you. We are unable to permit bringing your own drinks.

Can our dog/cat attend the ceremony?

Yes, as long as they are kept on a lead/in their carrier. We ask that parties ensure they are ready to clean up after their dog/cat if necessary and must always maintain control of them. Please let us know in advance if you plan to bring your dog/cat so we can make a note on your booking. If the dogs are of a particularly large breed, you will need to be mindful of who looks after it during the ceremony and how differently your pet may behave in unfamiliar surroundings/a confined space. For this reason, it may be worth choosing a bigger ceremony room. Please note, our staff reserve the right to ask for the dog to be taken outside if it causes disruption or is out of control.

Can we play music or hire a musician for the ceremony? 

Yes, you are welcome to bring your own recorded music or organise live musician(s) - without amps so as not to disrupt other weddings. 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 ceremony party. 

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

Yes, we have WiFi to facilitate this. Please bring and set up your own devices/make arrangements with a professional live-streaming company. 

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 belongings are left at their own risk.