Yesterday, Dua Lipa married Callum Turner at Old Marylebone Town Hall in London. She wore a Schiaparelli Haute Couture ivory blazer, an asymmetric skirt, and a wide-brimmed white hat. There were confetti, close family, and a black cab waiting outside.
It was, by every measure, the chicest wedding so far this year.
Why It Matters
Dua Lipa is one of the most visible women in the world. She could have had any wedding, anywhere. She chose a Sunday morning at a London registry office — quietly, with the people she loves most, in an outfit that felt entirely her own.
That's not a compromise. That's a choice.
And it's one that 85.7% of couples in England and Wales are making. In 2023 alone, nearly 192,000 weddings were civil ceremonies. Civil isn't the alternative anymore — it's the norm.
About Old Marylebone Town Hall
Old Marylebone Town Hall is one of London's most iconic registry offices — and Dua and Callum are in excellent company. Paul McCartney has married there. So has Liam Gallagher. The venue's grand staircase and period interiors make it one of the most photographed registry offices in the country.
It's located on Marylebone Road, W1 — right in the heart of central London.
If you're dreaming of a London registry wedding, Marylebone is the one. But it's not the only one worth knowing about.
The Best Registry Offices in London
London has some extraordinarily beautiful civic buildings. Here are the ones worth considering:
- Old Marylebone Town Hall — The iconic choice. Grand staircase, period interiors, central location. The registry office with a genuine legacy.
- Chelsea Old Town Hall — Elegant and light-filled, with a beautiful ceremony room. A favourite for couples who want something intimate but architecturally stunning.
What Dua Lipa Actually Wore
The outfit deserves its own moment.
Dua chose a Schiaparelli Haute Couture look by designer Daniel Roseberry — a tailored ivory blazer with a matching asymmetric skirt. She paired it with a wide-brimmed white hat and gloves.
No traditional bridal gown. No veil. Nothing expected.
The lesson for your own registry wedding: a civil ceremony gives you complete freedom with what you wear. A suit. A slip dress. A jumpsuit. A hat. A colour.
There are no rules — only what feels like you.
How to Plan a London Registry Office Wedding
If Dua's wedding has you thinking about your own, here's what you need to know.
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Give notice first. Before you can marry in England, both of you must give notice at your local register office — even if you're marrying elsewhere in London. You'll need to do this at least 28 days before your wedding. Book your notice appointment as soon as you have a date in mind.
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Book the registry office early. Popular venues like Marylebone and Chelsea book up months in advance, especially on Saturdays. If you have a specific date or venue in mind, move quickly.
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The ceremony itself is short. A standard civil ceremony is typically 20–30 minutes. You can personalise it with readings, music, and your own vows — as long as nothing is religious.
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Guests are welcome. Registry offices accommodate guests, though numbers vary by venue and room. Some rooms hold just a handful of people; others can take 50 or more.
- The cost is genuinely reasonable. A basic register office ceremony in London starts from around £127 for the legal requirements alone. Venue fees vary, but even the most beautiful rooms are a fraction of the cost of a traditional wedding venue.
The Civil Ceremony: A Different Kind of Wedding
What Dua Lipa did yesterday isn't a new idea. Civil ceremonies have been legal in England since 1837. But something has shifted culturally — couples are increasingly choosing the registry office not as a backup plan, but as the plan.
Simple. Intentional. Completely their own.
That's what The Civil is here for. We're a guide to the London registry wedding — the venues, the outfits, the details, and everything you need to know to make the day feel as special as it looks.