New lower prices for winter ceremonies in Brighton & Hove
Christmas is a time when many a romantic proposal leads to wedding plans in the New Year. After the “I do”, the next stage is to decide on how to tie the knot and cost can be a factor.
Brighton & Hove City Council Register Office has now introduced a lower rate of fees for anyone planning a winter wedding or civil partnership in the traditionally quieter season for ceremonies. The discounts apply to ceremonies booked on any date from 1 January to 31 March. On average, bookings will be eligible for a discount of 25 per cent.
Trevor Love, Brighton & Hove City Council Senior Ceremonies Officer, explained why the changes have been introduced. Trevor said: “We usually see a decline in the number of weddings booked during the winter months. We know we have availability at this time of year and we really want to offer couples on a tight budget the opportunity of a winter wonderland dream wedding too.”
Brighton & Hove is a very popular location for ceremonies with about 40 venues to choose from across the city. The new winter rates are applicable to all the venues, including the popular ceremony rooms in Brighton Town Hall.
Cllr Ollie Sykes, Lead Councillor for City Services, said: “Brighton & Hove City Council Register Office has a proven record of being ready to celebrate change and making registration services available to as many people as possible. These new price options give couples with lower budgets more access to our ceremonies. We hope to be able to welcome more couples than ever before to make their vows in Brighton & Hove in the year ahead.”
One of the first couples to book a wedding in January 2015 at Brighton Town Hall is Adam Horton and Juliet Le Crerar. The couple have saved £72 by choosing to marry in the winter rather than the summer months.
Juliet said: “We used to live in Brighton and we love it. It’s such a happening place! When we heard about the discounted fees, it was a big deciding factor. We were going to go away to be married just the two of us, but now that we’re getting married in Brighton our celebration has grown and we’re able to have 25 guests.”
Fees vary depending on location and date of ceremony. The register office booking team can advise on the best options and availability to make sure each ceremony is just what the couple is looking for from their big day. Examples of how the new rates can help those on a budget include:
A ceremony on a Saturday at Brighton Town Hall is usually £350. This fee includes the use of the ceremony room, the ceremony, attending registrars and two marriage certificates. During January to March 2015, couples pay £248, a saving of more than £100.
The fee for registrars to attend an approved venue elsewhere in the city on a Saturday is usually £475. The discounted fees reduce this rate to £353, a saving of more than £120.
Bookings are now being taken for this winter and also the early months of 2016 for those who like to plan ahead.