Wedding Photography at Wandsworth Town Hall/Register Office.
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The bride arrives in the splendid courtyard for her wedding at Wandsworth Town Hall. The venue has hosted countless civil marriages over the decades and is one of London’s most popular register offices.
Wandsworth Town Hall is a grand looking building located in central Wandsworth, SW18. It houses the Wandsworth Register Office (or Registry Office). Built in the 1930’s and opened in 1937 by Queen Mary, it remains largely unchanged with any minor alterations in keeping with the origin design and character of the building. 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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Another bridal arrival, this time with her father. I love moments of love such as this.
I have photographed at Wandsworth Town Hall several times. On arrival the seemingly large scale of the building immediately strikes me. This is enormously enhanced by the huge entrance court where many a bride and groom have arrived in style over the years. A marble hall and choice of five ornate rooms means this is a fantastic register office in which 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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Guests applaud the couple as they are finally wed in the gorgeous Alexandra Room.
Also Consider>> Chelsea Old Town Hall for Civil Marriages
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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 to illuminate the happy couple.
An Ideal South London 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 groom chats with his best man. Just before the ceremony begins, I head for the ceremony room to capture natural moments of the groom and guests interacting.
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A stunning portrait of mother and son taken just prior to 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 into the beautiful courtyard with it’s central fountain. The early arrival is to ensure that all the legalities and paperwork is in place. Traditionally the couple arrive separately, but as with all wedding customs, this may be tweaked to suite you. It’s common these days for the bride and groom to arrive together.
In any event, the groom usually waits in the ceremony room for his bride to enter. This is always an exciting time and I like to capture a sequence of this moment.
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It’s always gorgeous when young bridesmaid lead the entrance procession. With them there’s no hiding the nerves and excitement.
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Bride Liz and her mum process down the aisle towards her groom waiting at the front of the Alexandra Room.
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This shows the whole of the Alexandra Room from the front during the wedding ceremony.
Wandsworth Wedding Ceremony Rooms
**The venue conducts room tours every Saturday at 9am. 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 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 décor and age of the building. 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 as well as acoustic live music, although this must be booked 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. This allows for lots of different angles and good shots of the couple ‘in the moment’ such as this.
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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 rings are presented by the best man.
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George and Dave had their LGBT+/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 normally notice my presence. They are too involved in the moment – as it should be!
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The registrars are fairly relaxed about photography of the actual wedding register. However they also set up a ‘dummy’ register for some more posed photos with the pen.
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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 phoographer should be discrete and observe the occasion whilst taking a series of photographs to document your marriage. It is also fine for guests to take photos. Sometimes the couple may prefer them not to, in which case the registrar will make an announcement prior to 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, the 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 elevated balustrade above. 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 newly-weds and bridesmaids spill out into the courtyard through the elegant doorway.
.jpg "Girl Running by Fountain at Wandsworth Town Hall")
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. This 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 9am. Go to the Marble Hall Reception where you will be collected. Booking is not necessary.
- 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 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 choice of music and personal vows.
- The London Borough of Wandsworth has many other wedding venues to hire which include 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
.jpg "Posed Wedding Photo at Wandsworth Register Office")
This shot of the bride and groom taken from the doorway shows the other side of Wandsworth Register Offices octagonal courtyard.
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A fairly standard portrait of the bride and groom which 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 really 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.
