Wedding Photography at Wandsworth Town Hall/Register Office.
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Wandsworth Town Hall’s courtyard is a perfect location for the bride’s arrival and some gorgeous wedding photography.
Wandsworth Town Hall is a grand looking building located in central Wandsworth, SW18. It houses Wandsworth Register Office (or Registry Office) where many couples have wed over the years, and the beautiful art-deco architecture and features present some lovely wedding photography opportunities.
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The top of the Marble Hall’s staircase presents as one of many great photo locations for your wedding photographer.
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I am mainly a reportage photographer, even turning moments during the posed set-ups into natural memories of your day.
Built in the 1930s and opened in 1937 by Queen Mary, it remains mostly unchanged with any minor alterations in keeping with the building’s original design and character. It now holds a grade II listed building status. Along the High Street elevation of the exterior are stone reliefs portraying key events and industries in the history of the five parishes that once made up the Borough of Wandsworth.
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The Victoria Room: the interior of the Wandsworth Town Hall ceremony rooms are just as lovely as the outside and are great for your wedding photographer to work in.
The Grandeur of Wandsworth Register Office for Your Marriage
I have photographed at Wandsworth Town Hall several times. On arrival, the building’s seemingly large scale enhanced by the considerable entrance court is immediately striking. Many a bride and groom have arrived in style over the years.
The Marble Hall, choice of five ornate rooms and handy South London location means this is a fantastic register office to get married.
Capacity at Wandsworth Town Hall varies from 10 in the Mayor’s Parlour to 100 in the Grand Chamber.
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As the groom takes his bride’s wedding ring from his son in the Victoria Room, he is oblivious to me taking photos and documenting the occasion for years to come.
Also Consider>> Chelsea Old Town Hall for Civil Marriages.
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Arriving together gave Vendula and Stan time for some wedding portraits before their ceremony.
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I love photography that gives useful context: Here, I sneaked behind two guests to capture them photographing the couple and their ‘Mr & Mrs’ balloons.
An Ideal South London Wedding Photography Location
The Town Hall is ideally located on Wandsworth High Street just opposite South Thames College. The nearest overground train station is Wandsworth Town, and the closest tube station is East Putney, about a mile away. Numerous bus routes serve the high street, but unfortunately, there is no car parking at the venue for wedding guests.
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The door at the front of Wandsworth Town Hall: Wedding parties don’t usually enter this way, but it was used to help with social distancing during Covid-19.
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I make a point of shooting a sequence in the long corridor to the ceremony room. Windows that run alongside are perfect for illuminating the happy couple.
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The groom chats with his best man: Just before the ceremony begins, I head for the ceremony room to capture the natural moments of the groom and guests interacting.
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A stunning portrait of mother and son taken just before the bride’s entrance into the Alexandra Room.
Wandsworth Register Office: Before the Ceremony
As with all civil marriages, the couple must arrive early for their meeting with the registrar. They will arrive at the beautiful courtyard with its central fountain. The early arrival is to ensure that all the legalities and paperwork is in place. Traditionally, the couple arrives separately, but you may tweak this to suit you. It’s common these days for the bride and groom to arrive at their wedding together.
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A cheeky wedding kiss before the couple go inside to meet with their registrars. This shot shows off the facade in the courtyard in the background.
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A wedding portrait Covid-19 style! The couple are allowed in without masks, but it’s fun to have fun, and some couples come fully prepared with joke face coverings.
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A wedding greeting Coronavirus style… Elbow bumps have become the norm, replacing traditional hugs.
The groom usually waits in the ceremony room for his bride to enter, as is traditional. It’s always an exciting time, and I like to capture a sequence of this moment and the moments leading up to it. Your wedding photographer needs to be at the top of their game at this time not to miss anything.
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As the groom has time to be nervous, the bride is ready to enter the Victoria Room for their ceremony.
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It’s always gorgeous when young bridesmaid leads the entrance procession. With children, there’s no hiding the nerves and excitement.
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The whole of the Alexandra Room from the front during the wedding ceremony.
Wandsworth Register Office Wedding Ceremony Rooms
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The Victoria Room is suitable for smaller weddings holding 25 guests.
**The venue conducts room tours every Saturday at 9 am. Just turn up to the Marble Hall Reception to be collected**
The Elizabeth Room:
Only seats up to 10 guests. For the most minimalist of ceremonies with no readings or music.
Victoria Room:
Accommodates up to 25 people – red-themed with a gorgeous conference table. Price includes the choice of music and reading.
Alexandra Room:
Pictured above. Seats 43 guests facing towards an unusual art-deco mirrored table, totally in keeping with the building’s décor and age. The couple is kept separate before the ceremony if required, and there is an aisle to walk down.
The Grand Chamber:
The largest ceremony room which seats 98 wedding guests. Up to 3 readings are included and live acoustic music, although you must book this separately.
The Mayor’s Parlour:
With seating for only 10 guests. Otherwise similar additions as for The Grand Chamber.
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Happily, the registrars at Wandsworth are relaxed and don’t mind the photographer moving at all. It allows for lots of different angles and good shots of the couple ‘in the moment’.
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Up to three readings are allowed during the ceremony depending on the chosen room. These add more of a personal touch to proceedings, and I advise you to make the most of them.
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I can’t remember the joke here but strive to capture every expression of happiness as the best man presents the rings.
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To add a personal touch, the couple here had their son present the wedding rings.
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George and Dave had their LGBTQ/gay wedding ceremony in the Victoria Room. They had only their two witnesses in attendance.
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During the ceremony, couples don’t usually notice my presence. They are too involved in the moment – as it should be!
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I like to take photos from various angles and positions around the room. The Wandsworth registrars don’t mind this at all and actively encourage wedding photography.
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The signing of the Marriage Register: Photography is allowed, with the only stipulation that the photographer doesn’t zoom in on the page.
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Although the registrars are relaxed about photography of the wedding register signing, they can also set up a ‘dummy’ register for some more posed photos with the pen.
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After the signing, the moment becomes all too real for the groom… It’s moments like this that help your photographer tell the story of the day.
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With the ceremony over, couples generally relax and are happy to walk back down the aisle together.
Photography at Wandsworth Registry Office
The registrars actively encourage photography throughout the ceremony so long as it isn’t distracting. Your photographer should be discrete and observe the occasion whilst taking a series of photographs to document your marriage. It is also acceptable for guests to take photos. Sometimes the couple may prefer them not to, in which case the registrar will announce before the ceremony beginning. In any case, guest photography should not hinder either the registrar or your photographer from performing their duties.
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After the ceremony, congratulations: The registrars allow a little time for hugs and kisses which make for some great photography.
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The happiness and love between friends and family is very apparent at this special time of the wedding day.
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The Marble Hall staircase is perfect for some group portraits. The best photography position is from the balustrade above.
After Your Wedding Ceremony
After the Wandsworth Town Hall wedding photography ceremony, there is time allowed for group shots on the ornate Marble Hall staircase with a good view from the high balustrade above. The time allowed on the stairs inside largely depends on how busy the registry office is at that time and on that day. I then like to photograph the couple walking along the long corridor and exiting out into the courtyard. Wandsworth allows confetti, so it’s nice to take a sequence of confetti shots outside. There’s also scope for posed photos in the magnificent courtyard with fountain.
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The couple poses on the grand staircase in the Marble Hall. On busy days, time may be limited due to other weddings finishing at a similar time.
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The newly-weds and bridesmaids spill out into the courtyard through the elegant doorway.
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The Courtyard at Wandsworth Register Office is almost Royal in size and appearance. Great for youngsters to run around in after the ceremony.
Also Consider>> Short Wedding Photography Packages to Suit Small Venues.
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This portrait of the happy couple shows more of the doorway, including the Wandsworth Coast of Arms. It includes the shields of all four parishes of the Borough: Battersea, Putney, Tooting and Wandsworth.
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A group shot of the whole wedding party is a must-have portrait. I went wide in this one to photograph more of the facade of the entrance.
Useful to Know When Booking Your Wedding at Wandsworth Town Hall
- You can contact the registrars directly by calling 020 8871 6120 or emailing registeroffice@wandsworth.gov.uk.
- The venue conducts room viewings every Saturday at 9 am. Go to the Marble Hall Reception, where somebody will collect you. Booking is not necessary.
- Provisional wedding bookings may be made up to 12 months in advance.
- You may make your formal Notice of Intention up to one year in advance.
- A non-refundable booking fee of £50 is required to secure a room and time.
- The booking fee includes the room hire, two registrars, one marriage certificate, and your music and personal vows choice.
- The London Borough of Wandsworth has many other wedding venues to hire, including Battersea Arts Centre, the London Rowing Club, the Pump House Gallery & Winchester House.
- You are allowed 15 minutes before the ceremony for guest arrivals and to set up in the venue room.
- Saturdays are the busiest day with a high turnover of weddings. There will be less time for portraits on the stairs and in the courtyard, but a few minutes are included.
- You can check availability and book your date and ceremony room via a form on the website.
- There is no parking for guests at the Town Hall, but one car is allowed to wait for your departure.
- As well as marriages, Wandsworth Town Hall also does Renewals of Vows, Civil Ceremonies/Conversions and Naming Ceremonies.
For full information including pricing visit: Wandsworth Town Hall Website
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It was dark when Vendula and Stan left the town hall, but flight lit confetti photos work well and give atmosphere.
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A shot of the bride and groom from the doorway shows the other side of Wandsworth Register Offices octagonal courtyard.
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A standard portrait of the bride and groom shows off the courtyard’s central fountain: There are many elements to include to produce some stunning wedding photography at Wandsworth Town Hall.
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But I do prefer more fun and natural shots. This one demonstrates the couple’s personalities and sense of fun.
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Part of the same sequence: I shot a few of the couple as the bride giggled with happiness.
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And finally: I sometimes ask couples to dance. If they are comfortable with this, it can produce some stunning and intimate wedding portraits.
The Town Hall,
Wandsworth High Street,
London.
SW18 2PU.
Wandsworth Register Office Wedding Photographer – Guy Milnes Photography.
