York Register Office Weddings

Thinking About Getting Married at York Register Office?

THIS IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GETTING MARRIED AT York Register Office

York Register Office weddings can be just as beautiful and emotion filled as a big wedding in a stately home. All you need is love…

If you’re thinking about getting married in in the Bootham Suite at York Register Office , you’re joining thousands of couples who have celebrated their love and exchanged their vows in this historic building.

Situated on Bootham in York, it is a gorgeous Victorian mansion built in 1840. It’s just a short walk from the city centre and just round the corner from the Museum Gardens which is great for portrait photos afterwards. It is the perfect place to say I do in York.

Whether you choose a simple ceremony with a handful of family and friends, or opt for a larger celebration with music and carefully chosen, meaningful readings, the York Register Office is a great spot for a city centre wedding. I’ve put together my Guide to Everything you Need to Know about York Register Office Weddings.

Two brides pose in the museum garden after their York Register Office wedding

All you need are rings, some vows, and happy tears.

york register office weddings,bootham suite weddings

Reasons to have a York Register Office Wedding

First and foremost, it is a beautiful Victorian building. The garden at the rear provide a great backdrop for family photos and of course a great confetti shot! It’s also really reasonably priced and caters for tiny elopements and larger weddings up to 50 people.

Micro Weddings

If you’re looking to ‘do the paperwork’ and you’re having a humanist celebration at a later date, the York Register Office is a must. Take a handful of your family, have the quickest ceremony ever, a few photos and then head somewhere close for a pint or or a nice meal.

Excellent Location

York Register Office is on Bootham, in a great location and has two large car parks nearby, and is in walking distance of the city centre with public transport links. Plus, you have great hotels such as The Grand, or No:1 York in striking distance. Or why not try a boutique option such as Middletons, or The Churchill with its cool restaurant and beer garden.

Perfect for Photos

I might be biased but I reckon York city centre has it all when it comes to photographs. Whether you want something totally romantic, or cool and funky, there are so many great spots in the city centre for awesome wedding photos. But The Register Office does have it’s own garden at the rear for essential family photos and of course, the confetti shot!

Amazing Restaurants and Bars

I mean there are literally dozens of amazing restaurants and bars for you to choose from. Whether you fancy Italian, Greek, Argentinean steak, or pie and chips, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to places to celebrate after your York Register Office Bootham Suite wedding. Try the Star Inn The City by the river, the Pearly Cow or push the boat out for Michelin fine dining at Roots.

Elopements or Civil Ceremonies at York Register Office

If you’re planning on having a smaller more intimate wedding, or Micro wedding with just two witnesses, York Register Office has a small room for just the occasion.

This room can accommodate two witnesses plus the happy couple, for a paired down ceremony. Civil ceremonies take place late afternoons Monday to Thursday.

If you’re planning a handfasting or humanist ceremony but need to do a formal wedding before, then this is for you. Take a couple of your besties, say some vows, and then head off to a nice restaurant to celebrate. No fuss, no messin. Just a warning though, usually the room is so tiny that no photographers are allowed – unless you have them as your witness! Yep, I’ve done this before!

2 Part Ceremonies at York Register Office Bootham Suite

If you fancy having a hand fasting elsewhere, and you want to do the legal paperwork, followed by a celebration ceremony somewhere else (eg: in a marquee, a boat or on a farm), then you can do this with a 2 part ceremony.

The two part ceremony takes place in the main ceremony room, the Bootham Suite, and you can invite up to 8 guests to watch you legally ‘tie the knot’. This is perfect if you want to get married somewhere unusual but still need your wedding to be legal.

Weddings at Bootham Suite, York

I absolutely adore Bootham Suite. The light is fantastic thanks to its overhead glass roof, the coat of arms gives it a regal atmosphere, and add to that, the lovely garden outside and it is just the best spot for saying I do.

This room has space for up to 50 guests and is impressive to say the least. It’s the perfect venue if you’re having a city centre wedding and want all your friends and family with you to celebrate.

The room has a traditional aisle, with a York stone floor, tall windows, an antique table and chairs to sign the register and private access to the garden for photos afterwards.

york register office and bootham suite weddings

YORK REGISTER OFFICE BOOTHAM SUITE WEDDINGS

How Much Does it Cost to get Married at York Register Office Bootham Suite?

If you’re thinking about getting married at York Register Office or the Bootham Suite, you’ll be pleased to know that you’re not going to break the bank. First of all you will have to pay £42 per person (midweek) or £55 per person (Saturday Weddings) to ‘give notice’ or your intention to marry. The fee includes your marriage certificate. There is also a Pre-Ceremony Consultation Fee of £48. Then you’ll need to pay marriage fees on top. See below.

York Register Office & Bootham Suite Fees:

Midweek Price for a basic ceremony for two guests – £56.
Monday to Thursday Ceremonies in the Bootham Suite: £327
Friday & Saturday Ceremonies in the Bootham Suite – £444

WHO TO CONTACT

TO BOOK YOUR YORK REGISTER OFFICE CEREMONY, VISIT THE WEBSITE USING THE LINK BELOW

BOOK NOW

york register office bootham suite wedding

ACCESSIBILITY AT YORK REGISTER OFFICE

Does York Register Office Bootham Suite have wheelchair access?

All ceremony rooms at York Register Office are on the ground floor so perfect for disabled access. Registered assistance dogs are welcome too! Wheelchair users can use the ramp at the rear entrance to the building, and the garden is fully wheelchair accessible. There are also disabled toilet facilities in the building. And the wonderful staff will do their absolute best to accommodate any accessibility issues you or your guests might have.

CAN WE WRITE OUR OWN VOWS?

Lots of couples write their own personalised vows for their York Register Office Wedding and this gives a much less formal feel to proceedings. It’s so much nicer to write something that is meaningful . Try to print it onto cards or nice paper rather than having them on your phone, otherwise it will look like you’re both browsing Instagram during the ceremony on your wedding photos!

WHAT HAPPENS IF IT RAINS?

Welcome to the Great British weather! It does rain quite often, so come prepared with lovely brollies. I’ll do my best to photograph your group shots in the rain, but please try to keep these to a minimum so you don’t end up soaking wet in your wedding outfits.

SEEING EACH OTHER BEFORE THE CEREMONY

Most couples opt not to see each other before the wedding, so the registrars will keep you separate until the ceremony if requested. I usually arrive 20 minutes before the ceremony so I can get you both arriving, along with some piccies of your guests before the ceremony.

YORK REGISTER OFFICE GARDEN

The private garden at the rear of York Register Office makes for fantastic photos. It has lots of trees and shrubs and even in the winter, it will give you a great backdrop for your essential photos. But bear in mind that a lot of weddings take place each day at the York Register Office so we only get 20 minutes to enjoy our time in the garden. Thankfully, there’s a lot of backdrops around (the Museum gardens is just around the corner) that also make for great photos. But don’t forget to bring your own confetti! Flutter Darlings is my personal fave as it stays in the air longer and you can coordinate it to your wedding colours too! As soon as your ceremony is over, we will head into the garden for a confetti shot, and a handful of family photos.

CAR PARKING FOR YORK REGISTER OFFICE

Where to park for York Register Office.

The nearest car parks to the York Register Office Boothem Suite are Marygate Car Park and Bootham Row Car Park. If you’re travelling by car, Marygate is your nearest parking to the register office which is on Frederic Street, YO30 7DT. This car park is within walking distance of the register office. Bootham Row Car Park is also pretty close and can be found at Bootham Row York YO30 7BP. Both car parks are 24 hours, and there is a Pay By Phone service. Please ensure that you give yourself plenty of time to park as York city traffic can get very busy indeed, especially at weekends. Alternatively, the Register Office is within walking distance to the city centre with lots of public transport links.

PHOTO LOCATIONS FOR YOUR BOOTHAM SUIT WEDDING

BEST PLACES FOR WEDDING PHOTOS NEAR YORK REGISTER OFFICE

If you’re getting married at York Register Office, you don’t need to travel far for incredible wedding photo locations. Right on the doorstep you’ve got the grand York Minster, the cobbled charm of the Shambles, and the peaceful greenery of the Museum Gardens. But that’s just the start! Wander a little further and you’ll find tucked-away medieval alleyways, the historic city walls with views across the rooftops, and riverside spots along the Ouse that are perfect for a quieter moment. Whether you’re after something dramatic, romantic, or a little more laid-back, York city centre has endless backdrops for your photos, all within a short stroll of the Register Office.

The Museum Gardens

Just a short walk from the Register Office, the Museum Gardens is one of the most stunning backdrops for your wedding at York Register Office. As well as the botanic gardens, the Abbey ruins look great for wedding photos.

The Shambles

The Shambles is one of the most iconic backdrops you could possibly choose for your wedding photos. The cobbled streets and leaning medieval buildings give it such a distinctive character – it’s instantly recognisable and full of atmosphere. Whether you want something timeless and romantic, or a touch of that old-world drama to fit a more editorial style, the Shambles delivers.

York Minster

Wedding photos by York Minster are hard to beat – it’s one of the most breathtaking landmarks in the city and makes for an incredible backdrop. The scale of the architecture, with its gothic stonework and stained glass, gives your images a dramatic, timeless feel. And it’s location means it’s just a short walk from the York Register Office.

GOT SOME QUESTIONS?

My Mid-week York Register Office package includes two hours of coverage – enough time for your ceremony, a handful of family photos, and some nice portraits. If you’d like me to capture some getting ready photos, or a bit of your celebration, feel free to add on extra hours.

The registrars will happily let you play your own music so you’ll need a song to go down the aisle, one for during the signing of the register and one for going back down the aisle as a married couple. Get your best friend on music duty! And don’t forget to walk SLOWLY down the aisle. Milk it for all it’s worth!

Gone are the days when photographers were relegated to the back of the room. These days, we’re allowed to photograph you as you come down the aisle, and during the vows. But I always shoot silently and discreetly as possible so as not to distract you from actually saying I do! But I will be there to capture all the moments as they unfold.

Of course! I’ve done this before for couples. The small room at York Register Office is really tiny though, so check that the registrar is ok with bringing a photographer along as the witness.

I’ve shot lots of weddings at the Bootham Suite and each one runs to a similar time. I arrive 15 minutes before the ceremony to get you and your guests arriving. The ceremony can take anything from 20 minutes to half an hour, and then we have time for confetti, and 8-10 family photos. These always take much longer than you think! I always send you a questionnaire before the big day so I know your group shots beforehand, but it pays to have someone who knows both sides of your family to help round everyone up. Once they’re done, we can send your guests onto your venue whilst we take a stroll through York for some portraits. If there’s any time left at the end, I usually pop into your venue for ten minutes to get some nice relaxed images of everyone enjoying themselves before I leave you to party.

Of course! Lots of my couples have me around to shoot their wedding reception or after party. Just let me know in advance that you would like me to stay more than my usual two hour package.

READY TO MEET YOUR

YORK REGISTER OFFICE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Register Office weddings come in all shapes and sizes but for most couples, they are usually intimate affairs with a handful of family and friends, which is why I have a mid-week package for those who are running off to get hitched in a little register office wedding.

They are a no-fuss approach with a few photographs as you arrive, ceremony coverage, a handful of family photos, and some relaxed portraits.

To discover more about my York Register Office Wedding photography package and to check availability, fill in the form and you’ll get my pricing straight away!

WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY

You are by far the best decision of our wedding. My only regret – not having you hang with us all night!
Rach and Ray
We are absolutely in love with them and in awe of how stunning they are ❤ I have never felt so comfortable having my photo taken and been so happy with the outcome before. So many compliments from family and friends too. I could gush about them for days. Thank you again for everything.
Kath and Telyn

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