Brighton Town Hall Wedding Photography
Everything you need to know about getting married in Brighton Town Hall!
ABOUT BRIGHTON TOWN HALL
Brighton Town Hall is an iconic Grade II Listed building in the centre of Brighton. With an exterior featuring imposing fluted columns and a grand central staircase leading up to an impressive atrium inside, Brighton Town Hall cuts a fine figure presiding over Bartholomew Square. Its bold symmetrical architecture and muted mustard colour scheme give Brighton Town Hall all the “accidentally Wes Anderson” vibes and if you are planning to get married in Brighton and Hove I bet it’s top of your list for your wedding ceremony!
There are three ceremony rooms in Brighton Town Hall that can accommodate weddings of various sizes, from small and intimate “micro-weddings” to larger celebrations.
The Council Chamber
The Council Chamber is the largest ceremony room in Brighton Town Hall and usually has a capacity of 120 guests for a wedding ceremony. Due to current restrictions, this is currently limited to 90 guests plus the couple getting married (92 people in total - not including the registrars), but this will be reviewed again on 1st April 2022. The Council Chamber is available 7 days a week and prices start at £615 for wedding ceremonies taking place in 2022/23. This room is on the top floor of Brighton Town Hall, there is a lift, but you must contact the services team there should you wish to use it.
The Regency Room
The Regency Room is on the ground floor of Brighton Town Hall. It has double doors leading directly out onto Bartholomew Square that you can exit into a cloud of confetti! The Regency Room usually has a capacity of up to 50 people (with 34 seated), but due to current restrictions this is currently limited to a maximum of 38 plus the couple (40 people in total), pending a review on 1st April. The Regency Room is available 7 days a week and prices start at £250 for wedding ceremonies taking place in 2022/23.
The Fitzherbert Room
The Fitzherbert Room is also on the ground floor of Brighton Town hall. It is the smallest ceremony room in Brighton Town Hall and is suited to more intimate weddings and elopements. The Fitzherbert Room usually has a capacity of 8, but due to current restrictions, this is currently limited to a a maximum 4 guests plus the couple (6 people in total). The Fitzherbert Room is only available on Monday and Tuesdays. You can view a full list of fees for marriages and civil partnership ceremonies on the Brighton and Hove government website.
How to book your ceremony
You will need to book and pay for your ceremony at Brighton Town Hall and secure the registrars for your wedding date by contacting them on 01273 292 016 or ceremonies@brighton-hove.gov.uk. Once you have booked the town hall you have to ‘give notice’ of your intention to get married between 12 months and 29 days before your wedding date - simply put this means that you need to sign a legal document to officially state that you want to get hitched! When you go to do this you will also be interviewed separately to ensure that you are both legally free to marry or register a civil partnership. The appointment will last approximately half an hour, cost £35 and you will need to bring the following paperwork with you: proof of ID, proof of address, proof that a previous marriage has ended if you have been married before. To give notice at Brighton Town Hall you must have lived in Brighton & Hove for at least 9 days. For full details on how to give notice and what you need, including is you are travelling from overseas or have different citizenship/residency status, check out this page on the Brighton & Hove government website.
Parking at Brighton Town Hall
OK. If I could offer you once piece of advice about having your wedding at Brighton Town Hall, this would be it: Do Not Drive In Brighton!! Most of the streets are permitted and if you are lucky enough to find a spot the parking fees are astronomical and the time is limited. Plus you will need to be able to parallel park. On a hill. With crowds of tourists watching you. Which I for one certainly can not! I recommend booking yourself a wedding car (make sure you tell Brighton Town Hall as drop offs/pick ups need to be pre-booked with them), telling your guests do take a taxi (or the number 7 bus ;)) and booking a big red bus to take you all to the wedding reception afterwards! However, if you really must drive, the nearest car park is The Lanes Car Park. There is also The NCP Brighton Theatre Car Park just 5 mins walk away and The NCP Brighton Centre Russell Road only an 8 min walk away. These are my personal preference when I am forced to drive as you can pre-book a space at a lower cost than on the day - HOWEVER! - do not let this fool you! They don’t actually reserve you a spot, so you might rock up and find that the car park is full. They get super busy, especially at the weekend. There is a taxi rank just around the corner from Brighton Town Hall on East Street.
Are you looking for a relaxed, creative wedding photographer in brighton?
As a Brighton Wedding Photographer I have been fortunate enough to photograph a number of awesome weddings at Brighton Town Hall - all completely unique, personal and full of fun! I always recommend that we grab a few quick couple portraits on the magnificent stair case that leads from The Regency Room up to The Council Chamber in the centre of Brighton Town Hall after your wedding ceremony, while your guests are exiting the venue and getting ready to pelt you with confetti!! The stairs and atrium lend themselves perfectly to some quirky Wes Anderson style portraits that really make the most of the place you chose to say “I do!” It’s a great way to use the time to sneak in a few photos with a different backdrop before we head off to one of the multitude of other great portrait location Brighton has to offer.
I will then nip down the stairs ahead of you and let your guests know you are coming, so you can exit Brighton Town Hall onto Bartholomew square into a burst of colour and confetti!
Great Reception Venues in Brighton
One of the best things about getting married at Brighton Town Hall is its proximity to loads of fantastic bars, restaurants and exclusive hire venues that you and your friends and family can head to after your ceremony and keep the party going late into the night! Whether you are after a blank canvass dry hire venue, laid back pub vibes or an intimate meal at a classy restaurant, there is something for everyone. Here are a few of my faves:
Fabrica, The Spire, Patterns, OHSO Social, The Ginger Pig, The Mesmerist, The Joker, Cin Cin, The Ivy Brighton, Plateau, The Salt Room.
How to Make The Most of your Brighton Wedding Photography
Another fantastic thing about getting married at Brighton Town Hall is that it is just a short walk away from an abundance of awesome spots for us to take some relaxed, alternative, artistic couple portraits. From colourful graffitied streets, to the beach, to Regency Square and more - there really is something for everyone. Throw in a gorgeous sunset or a moody sea and we’re sorted!
