Budget Breakdown: What Does a Town Hall Wedding Really Cost?

When you’re planning a town hall wedding in Sussex, one of the first questions that comes up is: how much is this actually going to cost?

The honest answer? It might be less than you think — but more than just the ceremony fee.

I’ve photographed dozens of small weddings over the years, and I’ve seen couples do this brilliantly on tight budgets and others who’ve chosen to spend more on the bits that matter to them. Here’s what you actually need to budget for, with real Sussex pricing.

The legal essentials

These are the non-negotiables — the things you legally have to pay for to get married in the UK.

Giving notice (£42 per person = £84 total)

Before you can get married, both of you need to “give notice” at your local register office at least 29 days before the ceremony. This costs £42 per person depending on your local authority, so £84 for the couple. It’s a legal requirement — no way around it.

The ceremony itself (£300–£1,300+)

This is where costs vary significantly depending on which registry office you choose, when you get married, and which room you book.

Important: The total ceremony cost is usually made up of TWO parts:

1. Room hire (the space itself)
2. Registrar fees (the officials who conduct your ceremony)

Some registry offices quote these separately, others give you a combined price.

Brighton Town Hall is one of the most popular in Sussex:

• Basic ceremony rooms (Mon-Thurs): from around £150-£250 (room + registrars)
• Larger rooms (Fri-Sat): £400-£600+
• Premium spaces on weekends or bank holidays: up to £1,300+

East Sussex registry offices (Lewes, Hastings, Eastbourne) typically range from £300-£700 depending on day and room.

West Sussex (Worthing, Chichester, Crawley) registry offices also fall into the £300-£700 range for most ceremonies.

The ceremony fee usually includes:

• The registrars who conduct your ceremony
• Two statutory marriage certificates
• Use of the ceremony room for a set time (usually 30-45 minutes)

Bottom line:

Budget £300-£500 for a basic weekday ceremony, £500-£800 for weekends or nicer rooms, and up to £1,300+ if you want the most impressive spaces on peak dates.

Marriage certificates (included, but extras cost £12.50 each)

You get two certificates included, but if you need more (for name changes, visas, etc.), they’re £12.50 each.

Total for legal essentials: £380–£1,400+

The extras (where you have control)

Everything else is optional — but most couples want at least some of these.

Photography (£400–£2,000+)

This varies wildly depending on what you want. A full-day photographer for a 150-person wedding might cost £2,000-3,000. But for a town hall wedding?

Many photographers (myself included) offer shorter packages specifically for registry office weddings. My base package starts at 2 hours, which is usually enough to cover the ceremony, family photos, and a quick walk around Brighton or your local area for couple portraits.

Expect to pay:

• £600-1000 for 2-3 hours
• £1000-1,500 for half-day coverage
• £1,500+ for full-day coverage

Skip it entirely and you’ll save money now — but most couples I’ve worked with say photography is the thing they’d regret cutting.

Outfits (£100–£2,000+)

Town hall weddings give you total freedom here. You can wear whatever feels right.

I’ve photographed brides in £50 dresses and £2,000 gowns. Both looked beautiful. Wear what makes you feel like you.

Rings (£100–£3,000 per ring)

Wedding rings range massively in price:

• Simple bands (silver, 9ct gold): £100-400 each
• Mid-range (18ct gold, basic platinum): £500-1,000 each
• Platinum or diamond-set: £1,000-2,500+ each

Most couples in 2026 are spending £500-1,500 per ring, so £1,000-3,000 total for the pair.

Flowers (£30–£300+)

Even small weddings often include some flowers. The good news? You don’t need much.

I’ve photographed brides with £25 Tesco bouquets that looked beautiful, and brides with £300 florist arrangements. Both worked. If flowers matter to you, spend on them. If not, grab something simple from M&S on the morning and you’re done.

Cake or dessert (£20–£300+)

Not essential, but many couples still want something to cut (even if it’s just symbolic).

In my experience, most town hall weddings skip the traditional big cake. A small cutting cake or a stack of something delicious works perfectly for 10-25 people.

Small reception (£200–£2,000+)

This is where costs can really vary depending on what you want.

Pub or restaurant meal (10-20 people):

• Casual pub meal: £20-30 per person = £200-600 total
• Nice restaurant: £30-60 per person = £300-1,200 total
• Upscale dining: £60-100+ per person = £600-2,000+ total

Private dining room hire: Many Brighton and Sussex restaurants have private spaces. Some have minimum spends (£500-1,500), others charge per head.

Just drinks and nibbles: If you’re keeping it super casual, you could do drinks at a pub for £200-400 total.

Three realistic budget scenarios

Let me break this down into three different approaches I’ve seen work for couples in Sussex.

Bare minimum (under £1,500)

This is “we’re doing this for us, keeping it tiny, spending smart.”

• Notice fees: £84
• Weekday ceremony (basic room): £300
• No photographer (ask a friend with a decent camera)
• High street outfits: £200
• Simple rings: £400
• Simple bouquet from supermarket: £30
• Pub meal for 10 people: £250

Total: £1,264

This absolutely works. It’s legal, it’s meaningful, and you’re married at the end of it.

Comfortable middle ground (£2,500–£4,500)

This is the sweet spot for most couples I work with.

• Notice fees: £84
• Weekday ceremony (nice room): £500
• Photographer (2-3 hours): £750
• Outfits (dress + suit): £600
• Rings: £1,500
• Flowers (bouquet + buttonhole): £120
• Restaurant meal for 15 people: £750

Total: £4,304

You’ve got professional photos, you look good, you celebrate with your closest people. No stress, no waste.

With a few extras (£5,000–£8,000)

This is still miles cheaper than a traditional wedding, but with a bit more.

• Notice fees: £84
• Weekend ceremony (premium room): £800
• Photographer (half day): £1,200
• Outfits (proper bridal + tailored suit): £1,500
• Rings (platinum or with diamonds): £2,500
• Flowers (bridal + bridesmaid bouquets, buttonholes): £300
• Cake or dessert (small tiered cake, donut stack, etc.): £250
• Private dining for 25 people: £1,500

Total: £8,134

You’ve got the room that feels special, the photos you’ll treasure, and a proper celebration meal.

What people actually regret

Over the years, I’ve had conversations with couples months or years after their town hall weddings. Here’s what they wish they’d spent money on:

Photography. This comes up again and again. Guest photos are almost always disappointing. If you can only afford one “extra,” make it this.

Decent rings. You’re wearing them every day for decades. Cheap rings wear badly and need replacing sooner than you think.

What they don’t regret cutting:

• Fancy invitations (they texted people or sent a simple email)
• Flowers (bought a small bouquet from a local shop for £20)
• Expensive outfits they’d only wear once
• Favours, decorations, all the “stuff”

The bottom line

A town hall wedding in Sussex costs whatever you want it to cost, but realistically:

• Absolute minimum: £1,200-1,500
• Comfortable and meaningful: £2,500-4,500
• With some lovely extras: £5,000-8,000

Compare that to the UK average wedding cost (£20,000-30,000+), and you can see why town hall weddings are so appealing.

Note: All costs in this guide are based on my research in early 2026 and are meant as helpful estimates. Registry office fees, supplier pricing, and other costs can vary, so always check directly with your chosen venues and suppliers for current accurate pricing.

The money you save can go toward a house deposit, a honeymoon, or just… not being in debt. And at the end of the day, you’re just as married as someone who spent £30,000.

Photography packages for town hall weddings

This is exactly why I offer photography packages starting at 2 hours — because most town hall weddings don’t need (or want to pay for) 8 hours of coverage. Two hours covers your ceremony, family photos, and some couple portraits without the pressure of paying for a whole day you won’t use.

If you’re planning a town hall wedding in Sussex and want someone to document it without the traditional wedding price tag, let’s talk about what would work for your day.