Wedding Photography at Islington Town Hall
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The Council Chamber has the largest capacity for guests out of all of the venue rooms. This is a good overview shot I took of the newly-weds as they were preparing to exit.
Islington & London City Register Office
I have photographed weddings at the venue a number of times and have found it to be a very special and accommodating wedding venue. All the ceremony rooms (listed below) are unique and photogenic. So whatever the size of your small to medium sized wedding (up to 160 guests), you’re sure it’ll be a memorable occasion and a fitting venue for your special day.
The building incorporates Islington and London City Register Office (sometimes miscalled registry) and the Assembly Hall. Both are licensed for weddings and photography is welcomed.
Classical in appearance and built in the 1920’s, it was constructed and faced largely with Portland stone. The interior has amazing art deco interiors along with the more traditional ceremonial rooms, which make it an outstanding venue for wedding photography.
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All over… the ceremony that is! The newly-wedded couple leave the Town Hall to start their new life together. I always photograph a sequence of the couple leaving the venue and I love this black and white shot.
A Fantastic Location in North London
Grade II listed, Islington Town Hall stands proudly on Upper Street (otherwise known as the A1). The venue is very conveniently situated. A ten minute walk away is Highbury & Islington train/tube station which is on the Victoria & Overground Lines. Just one stop from Kings Cross St Pancras, and served by 4 bus routes, it is ideal for your wedding guests arriving by public transport…
.jpg "Bride with Father at Wedding")
The Bride and her Father thoughtfully wait in the corridor outside the Mayor’s Parlour. This shot was totally unstaged and shows a moment of quiet pre-wedding contemplation before the ceremony.
Photography Time Constraints at Islington Town Hall
Wedding photography is encouraged at Islington but be warned that time can get a little tight especially on Saturday’s during the summer. I like to spend time both before and after the ceremony, taking couples portraits and group shots in various locations around the building. There is usually time for this, but it’s important to be guided by the register office staff.
The corridors that you will walk down at Islington Town Hall are splendid and long with large windows lining the way. Photography is all about the light so this is a real boon to your wedding photographer and will help them in producing some stunning portraits as well as natural environmental shots.
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Groom Nigel shakes hands with a guest whilst waiting for his bride to walk down the aisle. I’m always looking out for natural moments such as this to photograph.
We Love Our Photos…
My wife and I are so pleased we hired Guy Milnes to shoot our wedding: he did a fantastic job! Patient, knowledgeable and really friendly as well. We had our pictures back in good time and he even put together some bespoke thank you cards for us. Very transparent about costs and easy to work with. He put us at ease and we love our photo’s. Thank you Guy!
– Charlotte & Ryan had their wedding ceremony at Asia House
.jpg "Gay Wedding Ceremony at Register Office in London")
The Mayor's Parlour is the smallest of the wedding ceremony rooms and this wide shot shows it off well. Despite it's diminutive size, the registrars at Islington are comfortable with the photographer's presence.
The Borough of Islington Registrars
A registrar and superintendent registrar will conduct your ceremony. They are accommodating and seem keen for your photographer to get a good selection of photographs that tell the story of your time at the venue. They allow the photographer to move around during the wedding ceremony. The black and white photo above, shows how relaxed this registrar was about my presence throughout the ceremony. It's important to observe the occasion as well as getting the shot though - I'm always discrete.
.jpg "Gay Wedding Exchange of Rings")
Taken in the Mayor's Parlour, this is one of my favourite gay wedding rings exchange photographs. Most couples don't notice their photographer at this crucial time - they are too busy enjoying the moment.
Other Ceremonies and Events
As well as Marriages, the Town Hall also caters for Civil Partnerships, Renewal of Vows and Naming Ceremonies. If you are having an LGBT+/gay wedding, this venue is perfect and gay-friendly.
Contact the Islington Register Office Registrars on 020 7527 6350 to discuss your bespoke requirements.
Read More>> This Venue is Perfect for Same Sex Wedding Photography
Also Consider>> Old Marylebone Town Hall is Another Iconic Register Office
.jpg "Signing the Register at Gay Wedding")
The borough registrars are very relaxed about photographing the signing of the wedding register. I prefer natural shots such as this one taken using attractive directional daylight from the window.
Rules on Signing the Register
The marriage registrars allow photography of the actual signing of the register. Of course, the photographer has to use their common sense and not be too intrusive or close.
Many wedding venues do not allow photography of the signing, instead opting for a staged signing of a 'dummy register'. This has caused amusement and slight embarrassment with many newly-weds, but not here at Islington Register Office! The do produce a dummy though and I go through the charade, safe in the knowledge that I have some natural shots of the signing as it really happened.
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In the Council Chamber: The Bride slips the ring on her Groom's finger. A decisive moment to photograph! The registrar often asks the couple to hold the ring there for a while. This is great as it gives me time to take a good selection of photos.
Islington Register Office Wedding Photography Rooms
(*Prices are Valid for 2020*)
- There are 4 rooms to choose from for your wedding.
- Provisional wedding bookings may be made up to 12 months in advance.
- Formal Notice of Intention may also be made up to one year in advance.
- A non-refundable deposit is required to secure a room and time.
- There are lifts to all rooms for disabled guests who are attending.
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The bridal party waits outside the Council Chamber to be announced in. I took a good sequence of them preparing and lining up.
The Council Chamber:
- The Council Chamber lies at the top of the ornate main staircase and is the largest of the ceremony rooms in terms of seating. It is airy and light with a vaulted ceiling and stained glass windows. Seating is almost 'courtroom' style with guests seated on three sides on benches and chairs. There is plenty of room for your photographer to move around.
- Holds 100 guests seated in the main room with a further 60 in the balcony = 160.
- The room is not available on Sundays or Mondays and prices are £480 or £680 on Saturdays.
The Mayor's Parlour:
- The Mayor's Parlour is the smallest room and located at the end of the long corridor on the first floor. Furnished in rich red leather and oak panelling, the fireplace is the focal point. The couple sit in two large red arm chairs with guests to their left and right on a sofa and chairs.
- Just 12 guests seated on the sofa and chairs may attend a wedding in this room.
- The room is not available on Sundays or Mondays and prices are £380 or £580 on Saturdays.
The Richmond Room:
- Spatially, The Richmond Room is the largest at Islington Town Hall. Long and with high ceilings and large windows, it would make an excellent venue for your wedding.
- 60 guests may be catered for in forward facing seats.
- Only available on Saturdays (except the 2nd of the month), the price is £480.
- There are restrictions on music volume in this room to respect the close proximity of neighbours.
Room 99:
- The curiously named Room 99 is the most popular. The colour scheme is red and gold with permanent floral displays.
- Seating is available for 28 guests.
- Only Marriages and Civil Partnerships are conducted in this room.
- Prices = Monday-Thursday £180. Friday £230. Saturday £280.
- Time is more restricted in Room 99 with just the legal ceremony allowed. There is no time for extra readings, bespoke vows or even separate registrar interviews and walk-in. The cheaper pricing structure reflects this and, as a result, the room has a higher turnover of weddings. If you need a more personal wedding ceremony, one of the other rooms is recommended. This room is purely for those wanting a no frills register office wedding.
.jpg "Guests Waiting Before Ceremony")
This informal group shot of the guests waiting before the ceremony shows of some of the venue's art-Deco features well.
.jpg "Gay Wedding Couple Walking Down Long Corridor")
Islington's lengthy corridors are great for taking a walking sequence of the grooms as they approach their ceremony room.
.jpg "Couple Holding Hands at Wedding in the Mayor's Parlour")
I love this shot I took of the happy couple seated in the Mayor's Parlour. They both look so 'in the moment' as they wait to take their wedding vows..
.jpg "Wedding Couple Holding Hands at Ceremony")
There is so much space in the Council Chamber to move around in and get the shot. The Islington registrars don't mind this at all.
.jpg "First Kiss at Register Office Wedding - Black and White")
The first marriage kiss is a must-have shot and the gorgeous directional light can only enhance that. It's important for couples to slow down here to allow the photographer to get the shot.
.jpg "Group Shot at Gay Wedding in London")
This photo shows how the beautiful light coming in to the Mayor's Parlour works so well for wedding group portraits.
.jpg "Wedding Confetti on Steps of Town Hall")
Islington Town Hall allows confetti on the steps outside which always makes for a great wedding photography sequence.
.jpg "Wedding Couple Outside Town Hall After Wedding")
This smiley shot of the happy couple shows off the beautiful façade at Islington Town Hall and gives photographic context.
Islington & London City Register Office,
Town Hall,
Upper Street,
London.
N1 2UD.
