Venue guide · Oxford
OXFORD REGISTER OFFICE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
A register office wedding is twenty minutes, a signature and a lot of happy people on a pavement. It's also one of the most honest kinds of wedding there is.
Oxford's is on Tidmarsh Lane. Check the current options with Oxfordshire County Council's registration service.
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How I cover a register office wedding
I'd usually cover the ceremony, the steps outside, then follow you to wherever you're eating. A couple of hours is often plenty.
The ceremony itself is short, so there's no warming up. I'll know the room and the timings before you arrive, and I'll stay out of the registrar's way.
The result is a set of photographs that feel like the day actually did. Not staged. Not performed for the camera.
35mm film for the romance, digital for the documentary truth of it all.
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About the Oxford Register Office
The Oxford Register Office is on Tidmarsh Lane, Oxford OX1 1NS. Its main ceremony room, the Dexter Room, has Victorian oak panelling, stained-glass windows and ground-floor access.
Guest numbers depend on the type of ceremony and the day of the week, so check the current options with Oxfordshire County Council's registration service.
For a real day, the Laura & Ugo write-up follows a register office wedding and a walk through the city afterwards.
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A register office day, start to finish
Most register office weddings follow the same easy shape, and it's a good one.
The ceremony: about twenty minutes in the Dexter Room, under oak panelling and stained glass. Short ceremonies leave no time for anyone to start performing, so what you get is mostly real.
The steps: everyone spills out onto Tidmarsh Lane afterwards. That's where the hugs and the confetti happen, so I'll be outside before you are.
The walk: Laura and Ugo walked up to Radcliffe Square, under the Bridge of Sighs and down towards Magdalen. In an hour you can see most of the city without a car.
Shoes: cobbles, kerbs and a lot of steps. Wear something you can walk in.
How long: a couple of hours is often enough, which is what As Long As You Need is for.
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Oxford Register Office wedding FAQs
At a glance
Location: Tidmarsh Lane, Oxford OX1 1NS.
The Dexter Room: Victorian oak panelling, stained glass, ground floor.
Guest numbers: up to 25 on weekdays for a classic ceremony or 35 for an enhanced one, and 48 on Saturdays, including two witnesses.
Ceremony length: about 20 minutes (classic), up to 30 (enhanced).
The Tolkien Room: a short statutory ceremony for the couple and two witnesses only, with no other guests.
Also: webcasting is available, with your own equipment.
Is there time for photographs?
The council says there's an opportunity for photographs. I'll check the rules for your booking beforehand.
How much does a wedding photographer cost in Oxfordshire?
The Documentary Collection is £2,200 for ten hours, with film included. All three collections are in the Lookbook.
Do you photograph weddings outside Oxford?
Yes. I cover all of Oxfordshire, the Cotswolds and further afield. There's more on city weddings on the Oxford wedding photographer page.
Based in Oxford, travelling further when needed
Check your date
Oxford, the Cotswolds
And further afield
Send me your date, your venue and a line or two about the day you're planning. I'll reply within a day or two, usually sooner.