Where to Celebrate Your Winchester Registry Office Wedding
There once was a time where a wedding at a registry office was thought of as a bit of a quickie wedding or just a formality, in comparison to the more traditional church wedding. Registry offices weren’t always the most inspiring places for a wedding, it has to be said! But, since non-religious weddings have become the norm, registry offices all over the country have wised up to this and they’re supplying far prettier spaces for ceremonies to take place in. I’ve shot a few weddings at the Winchester Registry Office over the years, ranging from small intimate weddings with just the couple and 2 witnesses, to slightly larger ones ranging from guests between 20-40. With 3 ceremony rooms to choose from like the Basing Room, and the Castle Room, is it any wonder?
Choosing the Winchester Registry Office for your wedding is not a difficult decision. The hard part comes in deciding where to go afterwards to celebrate your marriage. So, here are my top 7 suggestions, in no particular order, for places to celebrate your intimate Winchester Registry Office wedding after you’ve said, ‘I do’!
In the heart of Winchester sits the Hotel Du Vin, a building that has stood for more than 300 years. It is full of understated elegance and luxury. It is the perfect place to celebrate your wedding with your friends and family. Whether you book a specific wedding package here or choose to dine in a private dining room with a few guests, the choices are plentiful. You certainly won’t be disappointed with the level of service here. A celebration at the Hotel Du Vin Winchester is the perfect way to mark such a memorable occasion!
Off of the main street, the Winchester Royal Hotel sits amongst beautiful historic buildings and away from all the hustle and bustle. The 16th century building is full of character and charm. It even has a beautiful Secret Garden, which would be the perfect spot for a few family photographs. The hotel has a choice of function rooms to suit your needs. The sophisticated surroundings will certainly round off your day perfectly.
For something less formal but no less impressive, you would do well to look at Bridge Street House. This boutique hotel has a rather suave bar and dining areas that would make a great spot for your contemporary wedding celebration. Situated right by the river, there’s scope to go wandering either before or after your party with this particular venue. And, with a mouth-watering menu on offer, booking this place for your wedding celebrations is definitely a great choice!
The moment you pull up outside this building, you know you’re dealing with a piece of Winchester’s history. Its beautiful tudor-esque frontage is impressive and that carries through to the stunning décor inside. The independently owned restaurant has an exceptional choice of amazing meals. That, coupled with the 600-year-old history that surrounds you, makes this a very special place to mark the occasion. I loved capturing Rebecca and Richard’s celebration here after their Winchester Registry Office wedding. I’d be thrilled to work there again, too!
The eye-catching and resplendent green frontage of the Ivy Winchester Brasserie, slap-bang in the middle of Winchester’s pedestrianised high street, is a fantastic choice for a post-Registry Office wedding celebration. You can literally walk straight down the high street, along with your guests and photographer, of course! There’s a real vintage vibe to this place, particularly in the private dining room with its green and gold décor and vintage prints that adorn the walls.
Slightly outside the city centre sits The Black Rat Restaurant. It’s an inconspicuous little building! You’d be forgiven for thinking it’s not much of a place for a wedding celebration. But the historic building, dating back to the 1700s, is a quirky little spot and is far grander inside than its exterior lets on – especially when you find out its Michelin Star rating! The private dining room looks like something out of a Dickens novel and the menu is adventurous and fun. If you’re a bit quirky, this spot is a great choice to celebrate your wedding.
This modest looking building in the centre of the city hides a lot of surprises inside its walls. You can’t fail to be impressed by the high ceilings and quirky décor, for a start. And the food, sourced from local ingredients by their highly skilled chefs, looks good enough to photograph and then eat! Forte Kitchen was named for the owner of the former tearoom. It also offers private dining, so if you’re looking for a relaxed spot with amazing looking food, then this would be an amazing choice for you.
Ultimately, these are a tiny selection of spots to hold your smaller Winchester wedding celebration. There are many other places to choose from but, lots of pubs in the area for example offer private dining room spaces. Hopefully, this will give you some inspiration to go out there and find a place that suits you and your partner for your special day.
By the way, I’ve also made a video for Youtube about walking around possible photo locations in Winchester if you’d like to get more of a flavour of what the city has to offer.
If you’d like to discuss photography for your Winchester Registry Office wedding, then please do get in touch! I offer bespoke quotes for smaller and shorter weddings all year round. I’d love to hear about your plans!
