A Journey from Miss to Mrs: My Summer Civil Wedding in Chelsea

If you’re planning a simple, affordable, and intimate wedding, getting married in a registry office is a perfect option. It’s legally binding, requires minimal fuss, and allows you to keep things straightforward, or leave space for a bigger celebration later like we did. As today marks my husband and I’s two-year anniversary I thought I’ll share a clear step-by-step guide on how to legally get married in the UK based on my personal experience, but first let’s quickly get into the day itself.

It was magical and I wouldn’t change a thing. We were blessed with a hot Summers day and exchanged vows in the presence of our parents, siblings and two closest friends. So This Is Love by Sneha Prakash played as I walked down the aisle with butterflies fluttering through my stomach. Finally, after years of character building, prayer and just figuring each other out, we were committing to spend the rest of our lives together in front of the people we love most.

I found our amazing photographer, Daria on Instagram who was a breath of fresh air to work with. We booked her for two hours which allowed enough time to capture our special moment and a post-ceremony photoshoot locally. She’d done tons of weddings at our chosen registry office so she knew all the best spots and we gladly followed her lead. To say she did an amazing job would be an understatement, I cried when we got our pictures back the next day (yep, she’s that quick). We paid £450 for her 2-hour package which included:

• Coverage of our wedding ceremony followed by family portraits and a couple session
• 155 edited images delivered via a downloadable online gallery
• 15 prints of our choice (6×4 inches)
• An additional 580 raw photos which we paid an extra £125 for

If you decide to book Daria, let her know I sent you. In the meantime, here are some shots from our special day!

Now lets talk looks! I went for a minimalistic, elegant vibe and was so in love with how it turned out. I booked the lovely Beauty by Solange to style my hair (she was super sweet), and opted for a clean half-up-half-down instal using raw Vietnamese hair extensions from Kemorah London. You can shop the full look below. Please note, my dress and heels are no longer available for purchase so I’ve provided alternatives based on what I’ll get today.

So now the aesthetics are out of the way, lets go through the process of getting legally married in the UK because trust me, it isn’t as straightforward as you’d think.

How to Legally Get Married in a Registry Office in the UK

Step 1: Book Your Ceremony

The very first step we had to do was book our ceremony. My husband and I decided to get married at Chelsea Old Town Hall because we wanted a lovely Summer experience and also had a photo shoot planned.

We found that you have to book your ceremony first before giving notice of marriage, which was slightly confusing at first. However, once we secured our ceremony date, the rest of the process became clearer.

The cost for our ceremony in the Rossetti Room, which accommodates up to 14 people (including the couple), was £460. We chose this room not only because of it’s classic and elegant touch (pics below), but the capacity was just right for the number of guests we had. You can find and book a registry office near you, via the government website or if you’d like a room at Chelsea Old Town Hall, you can book one here.

Step 2: Give Notice of Marriage

This part of the process was quite tricky initially because although you have to give notice of marriage first, you can only book your appointment of notice AFTER booking your ceremony and it has to be in the district you live in.

Since I paid council tax to Bexley Council at the time, I had to give notice of marriage at Danson House (Bexley Register Office), while my husband had to do the same in his local district. I emailed my council and shortly after, a team member called me to discuss available appointment dates and take payment. It cost us £35 each (£70 total) and my appointment was booked about a month before our ceremony.

The documentation required when giving notice is very specific. Here’s what I had to bring:

• Valid passport (proof of nationality).
• Proof of address (recent bank statement no older than 1 month or a utility bill no older than 3 months).
• Proof of any previous marriages ending (if applicable).
• Name change documentation (if applicable).

Important: Your notice is then displayed in the local gazette for two weeks to ensure no one objects to your marriage. Once that period is over, you’re good to go!

You can find more information about giving notice here: www.akentishceremony.com

Step 3: Prepare for the Ceremony

Once we gave notice, everything else was pretty straightforward. We had about a month to finalise any remaining details and prepare for our ceremony. Some things I’d recommend considering:

• Double-check your documents the night before.
• Arrive at least 10-15 minutes early on the day of the ceremony.
• If you want to bring a photographer, confirm with the registry office if they have any restrictions well in advance.

STEP 4: CEREMONY DAY

Our ceremony day was short, sweet and simple — just how we wanted it.

We arrived about 10 minutes early and before the ceremony started, the registrar had a quick chat with both of us individually to confirm our details and ensure we were marrying under our own free will. The ceremony itself was about an hour long. We exchanged vows, signed the register, and were handed our marriage certificate. Having our closest family and friends there made it even more special.

Step 5: Collect Your Marriage Certificate

Right after the ceremony, we received our marriage certificate, which is your official proof of marriage and is crucial if you plan to provide proof of marriage for any legal matters. You can also order additional copies if needed which I highly recommend as things get lost in the post. If your surname changes, you’ll have to inform / update the below agencies:

• Passport
• DVLA
• HMRC
• Your banks
• Your employer

Step 6: Celebrate (Optional)

Even though we had a small, intimate ceremony, we still made sure to celebrate the moment. After the ceremony, we had a lovely lunch with our family then a games night with bridal party at a nearby airbnb and planned a bigger celebration for a year later.

Whether you want to have a quiet day or throw a big party afterward, a registry office wedding allows you to customize your day however you like.

Final Thoughts

If you’re considering getting married at a registry office, I highly recommend it! It’s a simple, affordable, and meaningful way to tie the knot without all the pressure of a large wedding.

Our total cost for the legal side was:

• Giving Notice of Marriage: £35 per person (£70 total)
• Ceremony Fee: £460 for the Rossetti Room
• Live stream and recording download: £100
• Marriage Certificate Copies: £11 per copy and we requested 6 = £66

In total, the legal aspect cost us around £696, and it was worth every penny.

Are you planning to get married at a registry office or have you already done it? I’d love to hear about your experience, feel free to drop a comment below!