As a local wedding photographer, I’m always photographing North Shields register office weddings. I’m lucky enough to live a 5 minute walk away, so thought I’d give you the low down on what to expect if you’re getting married here!
North Shields Register Office wedding ceremonys
The North Tyneside register office in North Shields is a 5 minute walk from the metro station and overlooks the mouth of the Tyne and South Shields. It’s a really pretty register office, built in the 1800s and with two different ceremony rooms inside. There’s the ‘Tyne View’ which is the main ceremony room, which can host up to 70 guests, and the smaller ‘River Suite’ downstairs which can hold 16 guests. If you’re looking to elope here, or having a larger wedding ceremony, the North Shields register office has you covered!
On the day: Getting married at North Shields register office
On the day, I also tend to arrive 15-30 minutes early to capture photos of you arriving at the ceremony. You’ll normally need to have an interview before you go into the wedding ceremony, to confirm you are who you say you are. This will take place one by one so you’ll normally need to be there at least 15 minutes before.
In the meantime, if you have guests, the registrars will get them into the ceremony room. I’ll stick with them and capture those pre-ceremony moments.
As the name suggests, the ‘Tyne View’ suite has a beautiful view of the river, so as you walk down the aisle you’ll see it in the background. I capture the ceremony as it naturally unfolds, unobtrusively capturing all the moments from walking down the aisle, exchanging vows and then the the first kiss.
Once you’ve say your ‘I do’s’, you’ll need to sign the paperwork to make it official. You’re then all done and can head out on to the terrace overlooking the photos. You’ll be given some time here to throw confetti, and we can get any portraits or group photos here too.
North Shields register office wedding photography – your portraits after the ceremony
As a local I know all the good spots for wedding portraits around the register office. The terrace is pretty and the view is great, but if you want to mix it up there’s plenty of spots within a 5 minute walk. Howard Street makes a lovely backdrop, there’s the river with the view of the Low Light, and a park just round the corner. If you have time, you can always pop down the bank to the Fish Quay and beach too. You could even pop in the car and go over to Tynemouth, or the Quayside.
North Shields wedding reception venues
Once you’ve done the legal bit, there are some awesome reception venues just round the corner! There’s The Exchange 1856 which is literally at the top of the road from the register office. It’s a gorgeous victorian building but newly renovated, with several spaces for celebrating. There’s Brown’s bar and courtyard (stunning!) and then several rooms for hire depending on your party size. The 1856 is the core space (120 guests), followed by the John Dobson (80-100 guests) and the Thomas Brown room (15 guests).
If you want something a little different and industrial, you can head down the steps outside the register office and land at Salt Market Social, a warehouse events space on the quayside. They can host 90-160 guests and know how to throw a party!
Wedding photography packages
I have both full day wedding photography and short coverage packages available for your celebration in North Shields. Take a look below to see all my options. I can also do bespoke packages, just get in touch and we can chat through your awesome plans!
If you’re having a North Shields Register Office wedding and are still looking for a local, fun and relaxed photographer, pop me a message. I’d love to hear from you and do your North Shields Register Office wedding photography 🙂
