Before Your Ceremony…
Timings
Weekend Ceremonies
Your ceremony has been booked to start at half past the hour.
In order for a timely start, we ask that all guests and the ceremonial couple arrive 15 minutes before at quarter past the hour.
As there may be other ceremonies booked in arriving too early may mean you will need to wait outside and arriving too late may mean having to reduce or change the time of your booking.
Your guests are to arrive at the main Hackney Town Hall reception at the front of the building on Mare Street.
As the venue is a working town hall we are unable to offer separate entrances for couples who wish to remain apart before the ceremony. If you would prefer to not see your partner or guests you or your partner (or both of you) should arrive a little after your guests at around 25 minutes past.
Your guests will be seated in the room on arrival at quarter past. When you and your partner arrive, you will be met by your Event Manager who will then introduce you to your registrar for your pre-ceremony interview.
Mid-Week Ceremonies
Your ceremony has been booked to start on the hour.
In order for a timely start, we ask that all guests and the ceremonial couple arrive 15 minutes before your ceremony start time at quarter to the hour.
As there may be other ceremonies booked in arriving too early may mean you will need to wait outside and arriving too late may mean having to reduce or change the time of your booking.
Your guests are to arrive at the main Hackney Town Hall reception at the front of the building on Mare Street.
As the venue is a working town hall we are unable to offer separate entrances for couples who wish to remain apart before the ceremony. If you would prefer to not see your partner or guests you or your partner (or both of you) should arrive a little after your guests at around 5 minutes to the hour.
Your guests will be seated in the room on arrival at quarter to. When you and your partner arrive, you will be met by your Event Manager who will then introduce you to your registrar for your pre-ceremony interview.
Parking
No vehicle access or parking is available on site
However your ceremony booking in a Hackney Venue entitles you to a parking permit for up to 2 vehicles on the day of your ceremony. You will need to apply for the permits at least 7 days in advance of your ceremony by applying for a parking dispensation on the following section of Hackney's website: Apply now
The town hall is surrounded by disabled access bays for Blue Badge holders.
Routemaster buses are welcome, however buses are only permitted to wait on Reading Lane (to the side of the town hall) and are not permitted to pull up in front of the town hall.
Music
We have a wireless Bluetooth speaker for you to play your ceremony music. We recommend using a Bluetooth enabled smartphone, tablet or laptop for this. Please allocate a member of your wedding party who will cue the music for you.
Your Event Manager will be on hand to show them how to connect to the speaker, please let us know who your nominated guest is on the questionnaire.
If your device is password protected please turn this off to avoid your guest being locked out during your ceremony.
The venue does have WiFi, however we recommend downloading your tracks in advance and saving them under separate playlists labelled as the following:
Guest arrival music
Entrance song
Signing the schedule
Exit song
We welcome live music during your ceremony however please note, in order to avoid delays, any setup/breakdown required will need to be done swiftly during your hire period.
We are only able to provide chairs and standard plug sockets, and PAT test proof will need to be provided before any electrical items are permitted.
Please note that if you are having a civil ceremony with registrars in attendance, any music chosen must not contain any religious references. A piece of music that contains an incidental reference to a god or deity would be acceptable as long as the piece of music is essentially non-religious in context.
Flowers
If you are having flowers delivered this can only be done during your hire time, access is 15 minutes before your ceremony start time.
They will need to be taken with you at the end of your ceremony.
Council Chamber Ceremonies
Over 100 guests
If your guest numbers are over 100 (max 148) an additional £132 + VAT fee will be required.
We also request that all balcony guest names are provided in your questionnaire.
Guest numbers past 100 and up to 148 require balcony seating. Please allocate in advance and provide the names of these guests on the form below in order to avoid any delays to the start of your ceremony and to ensure key wedding party members are on the main floor.
Please bear in mind that these guests will take a slightly different route to the guests seated on the main floor and will be called and then escorted by your coordinator and security. Please note, the balcony is not fully accessible to guests who require the use of a wheelchair or have prams.
After Your Ceremony…
A moment alone…
Once the ceremony is finished you and your partner will be invited to take a moment alone in one of the venues ceremonial suites. During this time your Event Manager to gather your guests onside on the steps ready for your first exit as a couple, confetti and group photos.
Confetti
Only natural plant confetti is permitted at Hackney Town Hall and no confetti can be thrown inside the building itself.
Please ensure you arrange fresh or dried petals/plant confetti for your ceremony and inform your guests ahead of time that biodegradable, cannons, rice, glitter or any other form of confetti is not permitted.
Please help us to preserve and respect the local environment and wildlife.
We can provide dried rose petals for you on the day, this must be arranged in advance and is £1 per person incl VAT if you would like this please let your coordinator know.