Worcester Register Office: Weddings, Civil Partnerships & Photography Guide

Plan a wedding or civil partnership at Worcester Register Office in The Hive: ceremony options, 2026–27 fees, legal notice, photography rules and local suppliers.

Worcester Register Office is one of the most popular choices for intimate weddings and civil partnerships in the county. If you're planning a ceremony here, you need to know that everything happens at The Hive — a striking modern library building on Sawmill Walk in the heart of Worcester.

This guide covers the practical details you need: the address, how to book, what documents to bring, how ceremonies work, current fees, the register office's own photography rules, and local suppliers to help plan your day.

Worcester Register Office at a glance

• Worcester Register Office ceremonies take place at The Hive, Sawmill Walk, The Butts, Worcester WR1 3PD. Arrive 20–30 minutes early and expect a relaxed civil ceremony lasting around 15–20 minutes.
• There are two ceremony options at The Hive. A statutory ceremony (£62, Wednesdays only) is limited to the couple and two witnesses. A ceremony in the Glass Room holds up to 60 people in total — including the couple, witnesses, photographer and registrars.
• Give legal notice at least 29 days before the ceremony. Bring original photo ID and proof of address, and book your appointment in advance through Worcestershire Registration Service.
• Photography rules differ by ceremony type. At a statutory ceremony the photographer waits outside the room until the schedule is signed; in the Glass Room they can photograph the ceremony itself.
• Book early for popular dates. Friday and Saturday ceremonies from May to September book up well in advance, both at the register office and with photographers.

Worcester Register Office Essentials: Address, Contact & Registration Services

Worcester Register Office — often searched as "Worcester Registry Office" — is run by Worcestershire Registration Service, part of Worcestershire County Council. It handles births, deaths, marriages, civil partnerships and citizenship for the area, and it is the only office in the county that hosts ceremonies: the Kidderminster and Malvern offices offer appointments but not ceremonies. Registration services are by appointment, so plan ahead.

Has Worcester Register Office moved?

Yes. For years, Worcester's register office and its ceremony rooms were at County Hall on Spetchley Road (WR5 2NP). Before that, they were at Foregate Street in the city centre. County Hall closed in June 2024 after councillors were told repairs would cost around £36 million, and the Registration Service moved to The Hive in 2024. If you're looking at older photos, reviews or directory listings that mention County Hall or Foregate Street, they're out of date. All Worcester register office ceremonies now take place at The Hive.

Address for ceremonies and appointments

• Worcester Register Office, The Hive, Sawmill Walk, The Butts, Worcester WR1 3PD
• The Hive is a modern library building in central Worcester, close to the River Severn
• Contemporary architecture with large windows and natural light — a photogenic setting for a small wedding

Contact

• Phone: 01905 768181
• Email: registeroffice@worcestershire.gov.uk
• Opening days and times: check with the register office when you book, as they can vary (bank holidays especially)

Registration services offered

• Registering births (within 42 days of the birth) and still-births
• Registering deaths
• Giving notice of marriage or civil partnership
• Civil marriage and civil partnership ceremonies
• Citizenship ceremonies
• Ordering copy certificates (birth, marriage, death)

Copy certificates

Copies of birth, marriage and death certificates for events registered in Worcestershire can be ordered from Worcestershire Registration Service; certificates for events anywhere in England and Wales can also be ordered from the General Register Office (GRO) online. The GRO currently charges £12.50 for a standard certificate and £38.50 for its priority service — check the council's copy certificates page for local fees before ordering.

Common uses: passport applications, pensions, school admissions, probate and family history research.

Changing your name after marriage

Most people who take a new surname after marriage use their marriage certificate as evidence — a deed poll is not usually needed for that. A deed poll is for other name changes. GOV.UK has official guidance on which documents each organisation will accept.

Getting there

• There are several pay-and-display car parks within walking distance of The Hive; The Hive does not have a dedicated car park for ceremony guests. Disabled parking is in nearby public and private car parks.
• Worcester Foregate Street and Shrub Hill railway stations are both close by, and local buses serve the city centre.
• The Hive is a modern public building; if you or a guest has access needs, confirm the details with the register office when you book.

Ceremonies at Worcester Register Office

There are two ways to get married at The Hive.

The statutory ceremony is the legal minimum: the couple, two witnesses and two registrars only. It costs £62 and is only available on Wednesdays at Worcester.

A ceremony in the Glass Room is a fuller civil ceremony in what the council describes as "a modern light room decorated in warm neutral tones". The room holds up to 60 people in total — that figure includes the couple, witnesses, photographers and registrars. After the ceremony you exit onto a covered walkway, and the riverside outdoor space at the rear of The Hive is available for photographs.

Both civil marriages and civil partnerships are available to same-sex and opposite-sex couples.

Worcester Register Office wedding prices (2026–27)

• The council publishes fees up to 2029–30; 2027–28 prices rise to £279 (Classic, weekday), £320 (Classic, Saturday) and £370 (Fully Enhanced).
• A deposit is taken at booking, with an advanced booking fee if you book 12 months or more ahead. The balance is due 3 months before the ceremony.
• Each of you also pays a notice fee when you give notice (currently £42 per person).
• Prices are reviewed each April — check the Worcestershire County Council ceremony fees page before committing.

Prices checked: 29 September 2026.

Personalising your ceremony

A Classic ceremony lets you choose music for seating, entrance, signing and exit, plus two additional songs; at a registration office this must be recorded music. You can have up to three readings, choose whether to be given away, pick your declaratory and contracting words and promises, and write your own ring vows (suggested up to 100 words). Everything must be non-religious and approved by the registrar in advance.

What happens on the day

• 1. Arrive at The Hive about 20–30 minutes before your ceremony time.
• 2. The registrar meets each of you separately to confirm your details.
• 3. The ceremony itself lasts around 15–20 minutes, including the legal wording, vows and any readings.
• 4. Two witnesses must be present and sign the marriage schedule (or civil partnership schedule).
• 5. The registrar gives you the chance to pose with the schedule in a folder for photographs.
• 6. The marriage is then registered, and you can order your marriage certificate.
• 7. Photographs outside — the riverside outdoor space at the rear of The Hive is the permitted spot.

How to book

• Contact Worcestershire Registration Service by phone (01905 768181), email (registeroffice@worcestershire.gov.uk) or the council's online booking system.
• Check availability for your preferred date before sending invitations.
• Pay the deposit at booking.
• Give notice of marriage at least 29 days before the ceremony. You must each have lived in a registration district in England or Wales for at least 7 days before giving notice, and you give notice in the district where you live.
• Notice is displayed for 28 days. It can be extended up to 70 days if either of you is subject to immigration control and the Home Office investigates. Notice is valid for 12 months.

If you're comparing other small venues, see Small & Intimate Wedding Venues in Worcestershire.

Documents you need

Bring originals, not photocopies:

• Valid photo ID (passport or driving licence)
• Proof of address (recent utility bill, bank statement or council tax bill)
• Evidence of immigration status, where relevant
• Proof that any previous marriage or civil partnership has ended (decree absolute, final order, or death certificate of a former spouse)
• Proof of any name change, if applicable

After the ceremony

The Hive's central location means guests can walk to cafés, restaurants and riverside paths straight afterwards. Worcester Cathedral grounds, the River Severn paths and city-centre pubs and hotels are all within easy walking distance.

Photography Rules at Worcester Register Office

Worcestershire Registration Service publishes its own guidance for photographers and videographers at The Hive (updated June 2026). The rules depend on which ceremony you book.

Statutory ceremony

• Only the couple, two witnesses and two registrars are allowed in the room.
• The photographer waits in the waiting area during the ceremony (unless they are one of your witnesses) and comes in only after the schedule is signed.
• Pre-ceremony photos must finish at least 15 minutes before the ceremony.
• Photos are allowed in the Registration Service waiting area, the ceremony room after the ceremony, and outside at the rear of The Hive (river side). Other areas inside The Hive are off-limits.

Glass Room ceremony

• The photographer can cover the ceremony. The registrar will agree where they stand beforehand.
• Pre-ceremony photos must finish at least 10 minutes before the ceremony.
• Flash is discouraged during the ceremony, and movement should be kept to a minimum.
• Signing photos are posed: the registrar gives you an opportunity to pose with the schedule in a folder.
• Videographers should ideally use static cameras and tell the registrar if they're using microphones.
• Photos are allowed in the waiting area, the ceremony rooms and the riverside outdoor space at the rear of The Hive.

Worcestershire Suppliers for a Worcester Register Office Wedding

A register office wedding is small, but most couples still want someone to capture it — and many head on to a meal or a party afterwards. These Worcestershire-based suppliers from our directory are a good starting point for a wedding at The Hive. We've prioritised businesses based in or near Worcester, and noted anyone who specifically offers register office coverage. Always check availability, and make sure any photographer or videographer has read the register office's photography guidance above.

Wedding photographers

• Once in a Lifetime Photography (Kidderminster) — documentary photography with a dedicated registry office package from £395.
• Rob & Sarah Gillespie (Bromsgrove) — husband-and-wife documentary team who offer register office wedding photography across the Midlands.
• Laura Jenkinson Photography (Worcester) — soft, romantic, emotive style.
• Paul Willetts Photography (Worcester) — warm, unobtrusive approach to capturing real emotion.
• AvaArt Photography (Worcester) — Worcester-based wedding photographer.

See all wedding photographers in Worcestershire, or read How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost in Worcestershire?

Wedding videographers

• Captured Stories Videography (Worcester) — award-winning studio making cinematic, story-led wedding films.
• Cherish Wedding Stories (Worcester) — established 2009, documentary-style films, from £950.
• Wild Revival (Worcester) — husband-and-wife team specialising in non-traditional and alternative weddings.
• Here's a Little Story (Worcester) — emotional, cinematic wedding films.

See all wedding videographers in Worcestershire.

Wedding content creators

• Wedding Day Moments (Kidderminster) — candid, social-media-ready vertical videos delivered within 24 hours. A good fit for a short register office ceremony where you want to share the day quickly.

See all wedding content creators in Worcestershire.

Hair, makeup and flowers

• Wedding hair and makeup artists in Worcestershire
• Wedding florists in Worcestershire — for bouquets and buttonholes

Wedding cars

The Hive has no dedicated car park, so agree the drop-off point with your driver in advance.

Planning the rest of the day

• Start Planning — our planning hub
• Small & Intimate Wedding Venues in Worcestershire — for a reception after your ceremony
• Best Wedding Photographers in Worcestershire: The 2026 Guide
• Wedding Photographers Worcester: How to Choose the Right Photographer — a practical guide to choosing a photographer

Frequently Asked Questions about Worcester Register Office

Is there parking at Worcester Register Office?

There's no dedicated car park for ceremony guests at The Hive, but there are several pay-and-display car parks within a short walk, including Croft Road and Cattle Market. Put parking suggestions and postcodes on your invitations, and allow extra time on busy Saturdays.

How many guests can we invite to a Worcester Register Office ceremony?

It depends on the ceremony. A statutory ceremony allows only the couple and two witnesses. The Glass Room holds up to 60 people in total, including the couple, witnesses, photographer and registrars — so in practice around 50 guests. Confirm the exact number with Worcestershire Registration Service when you book.

Can our photographer photograph the ceremony itself?

Only in the Glass Room. At a statutory ceremony, the photographer must wait outside the room and can only come in after the schedule has been signed (unless they are one of your two witnesses). In either case, photographs are allowed on the riverside at the rear of The Hive.

Can we personalise our civil ceremony with readings and music?

Yes. A Classic ceremony allows up to three readings, recorded music for your entrance, signing and exit (plus two extra songs), and your own ring vows. Nothing can be religious, and the registrar needs to approve your choices in advance. Bring backup copies of readings and your playlist on the day.

Are civil partnerships available at Worcester Register Office?

Yes. Civil partnerships are available to same-sex and opposite-sex couples in England and Wales, including at Worcester Register Office. You give notice, book a ceremony, sign the civil partnership schedule in front of your registrar and witnesses, and can then order a civil partnership certificate.

How far in advance should we book Worcester Register Office and our photographer?

Popular dates — especially Fridays and Saturdays from May to September — can book up a year or more ahead, for both the register office and photographers. Secure your ceremony time first, then book your photographer as soon as it's confirmed.

Sources

• Worcestershire Register Office — Worcestershire County Council
• Registration ceremony suites
• Ceremony fees
• Classic ceremony
• Photography guidance

Information checked: September 2026. Prices checked: 29 September 2026.