York
21st August 2026
Civil ceremony
Friday 21st August 2026
Our civil ceremony takes place on Friday 21st August 2026, at the Bootham Suite in York (part of the York Register Office). The ceremony will be both short and informal, and will primarily be attended by our closest family and friends.
Later in the day, we'll be joined by extended friends and family for celebratory drinks and photos in a local hostelry. Our main UK reception will take place the following day in Wetherby.
To make our lives a little easier in the run-up to the ceremony, we kindly ask all guests joining us on the day to read through the information below (especially the section on timings). If you have any questions that are not answered here, please let us know!
Guest info
Venue
Where will the ceremony be taking place?
The ceremony will be taking place at the Bootham Suite at York Register Office (just 5 minutes’ walk from the city centre).
Bootham Suite
York Register Office
56 Bootham
York
YO30 7DA
United Kingdom
How do I get to the venue?
By car
York is well connected by road, however parking spaces can be both expensive and hard to come by (especially during the Summer). Please see the 'Where can I park?' section below for more info.
By bus/coach
York is well connected by coach from London and Leeds (and a number of other major cities). The local area also has a good bus network with frequent services. Travelling by bus and/or coach is probably the cheapest option, so we've listed the main coach companies serving the city below. We generally recommend taking the train though (it's more expensive, but takes about half the time!).
By taxi
You can hail a traditional Hackney Carriage (black cab) directly from the street in York, provided the roof light is illuminated. You can also hop into a licensed cab at one of the city's dedicated taxi ranks (such as the one outside York Station).
Many standard taxis operating in York are private hire vehicles, meaning they must be pre-booked and cannot legally be hailed off the street. For the fastest and most reliable service (especially during busy periods) we recommended pre-booking a taxi online or via an app (York is well served by Uber).
By train
York Railway Station is a short walk from the city centre and the register office. It is located on the East Coast Main Line (the major high-speed railway that runs between London King's Cross and Edinburgh). It is a large railway hub and acts as a key junction for several other major regional and cross-country routes, which is why we recommend taking the train where possible.
By air
Any of our friends travelling from outside of the UK will already most likely know that we recommend flying to one of our two nearest airports (Leeds/Bradford and/or Manchester). The only direct flights from our guests travelling from Łódź to the UK are via Stansted. We generally do not recommend this route due to the transfer times involved after landing in the UK.
Where can I park?
There is no parking at the register office, and the area directly outside the building is a cobbled with double yellow line parking restrictions. The nearest car parks are Marygate and Bootham, both of which are just a few minutes' walk away.
Please be aware that York traffic can get very busy and hold-ups are common. The city centre car parks can often fill up during the Summer. If you are travelling by car, we recommend either arriving early, using the park-and-ride service, or parking elsewhere (and then walking and/or taking a taxi or bus into the city centre).
Marygate car park
https://www.york.gov.uk/directory-record/418/marygate-car-park
Bootham Row car park
https://www.york.gov.uk/directory-record/397/bootham-row-car-park
York park and ride
Parking at the 'park and ride' is free, and (at the time of writing) the bus fare into the city is £4 per adult, with kids travelling free.
https://www.itravelyork.info/park-ride
Timings
What time does the ceremony start?
Please arrive:
3.10 - 3.20 pm
The Bootham Suite will be hosting multiple weddings on our special day, and will open to guests just 20 minutes before our ceremony begins. Please avoid arriving any earlier, as there is no designated waiting area available. This will be a good time to switch your mobile phone to 'silent mode'.
The ceremony starts at:
3.30 pm
The ceremony will take approximately 10-20 minutes, after which point the bride and groom can be joined by guests in the courtyard and gardens.
Depart venue:
4.00 pm
The register office rules dictate that our wedding party must depart the venue no later than 4.00 pm.
What is happening after the ceremony?
4.00 - 5.00 pm
Additional photos
This will be an opportunity to take further photos with the bride and groom. Weather permitting, we will be relocating to York Museum Gardens (approximately 5 minutes' walk away).
https://www.yorkmuseumgardens.org.uk/
5.00 - 7.00 pm
Family meal
Our main wedding celebrations will be taking place in Wetherby and Łódź. As such, there will be no reception after the ceremony at the registry office. The immediate family will instead join the bride and groom for an informal meal in a local restaurant. At the time of writing, the venue has yet to be confirmed (this will be communicated closer to the day).
Explore York
This will be a great time for non-family members to grab something to eat. There are plenty of fantastic food options in York, from cafes and bakeries to high-end restaurants. This will also be the ideal opportunity to explore the many interesting activities (and hostelries) that York has to offer. If you need a little inspiration, the top attractions can be viewed on tripadvisor at the link below.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g186346-Activities-York_North_Yorkshire_England.html
7.00 - 11.00 pm
Celebratory drinks
We welcome guests to join us for informal drinks on the evening of our ceremony. We especially welcome those guests who (for various reasons) are unable to join us in Wetherby or Łódź.
At the time of writing, the venue is yet to be confirmed. We'll be updating this website regularly though, so please check back here periodically for the details.
Ceremony
Who will be attending the ceremony?
The Bootham Suite is relatively small (the maximum capacity is around 50 people) so it will primarily be the bride and groom and our closest family and friends who will be attending the civil ceremony.
What is the dress code?
At the ceremony
The dress code during the ceremony is 'semi-formal'.
We would ask all male guests to wear a jacket or blazer, collared shirt and smart shoes. Suits and ties are optional (no denim, trainers or sportswear please).
Ladies may opt for a flowy dress, smart separates, a wrap dress, jump suit, or similar. Heels, hats and fascinators are optional.
If you're unsure what to wear, you may find the links below useful:
https://www.hockerty.uk/en-uk/blog/semi-formal-mens-attire
https://www.paulbrownengland.com/blog/semi-formal-dress-code/
Later in the day
The dress code after the ceremony is 'smart casual'.
This will be a more relaxed affair, but we would still like you to dress up a little for our special day. Jackets are optional (but again, no trainers or sportswear please).
Will the ceremony be religious?
No. To personalise the ceremony, we will be choosing our own reading and a couple of pieces of music.
Where can/should I sit?
As the venue is relatively small, seating arrangements will be informal. There will be no ushers, and you may sit on either side of the aisle. Seats may be chosen on a first-come, first-served basis (with priority given to those with mobility issues). Please 'pick a seat, not a side' as the expression goes!
Will I be able to take photos?
Yes!
We will not be employing a professional photographer on the day, so we're encouraging everyone to take lots of photos!
Please see the 'Photos' page for guidance on viewing and uploading photos and videos.
During the ceremony
Opportunities to take photos during the ceremony will be limited (and at the discretion of the registrar). Please be aware that photography is not allowed during the signing of the marriage schedule.
After the ceremony
After the ceremony there will be an opportunity to take photos in the register office courtyard and gardens. You will need to be fairly quick though, as (in accordance with the office rules) we will need to vacate the area before the next ceremony begins (at 4 pm).
Later in the day
There will also be an opportunity to take additional photos with the bride and groom after we have left the register office.
Weather permitting, we will be relocating to York Museum Gardens (approximately 5-minutes walk away).
https://www.yorkmuseumgardens.org.uk/
If you're joining us for celebratory drinks later in the day, there also will plenty more opportunities to snap the happy couple.
Can I bring confetti?
Yes, biodegradable confetti is allowed at the register office.
Accommodation & onward travel
Can you recommend any accommodation?
York accommodation can get extremely busy during the summer, and often gets fully booked. The best advice we can give is for you to do your research and book as early as possible. We'd perhaps also suggest looking a little further afield. Prices tend to drop significantly outside of York city centre, and it may be cheaper to stay a few miles away (and travel in/out by taxi).
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotels-g186346-York_North_Yorkshire_England-Hotels.html
York is a major tourist destination and can be expensive when it comes to accommodation. Ultimately, what's right for you will depend on your budget and personal preferences.
The bride and groom will be staying at an Airbnb on the evening of the ceremony.
How do I travel from York to Wetherby?
If you're attending both the ceremony and our celebration in Wetherby, we recommend booking an Uber (or a York-based private hire taxi). The celebration in Wetherby will not be taking place until the early afternoon, giving you plenty of time to further explore York and enjoy lunch before you depart.
It takes approximately half an hour to make the journey and the trip should cost in the region of £25 - £35 (one-way).
General
What do I need to bring on the day?
If you're going to be taking a lot of photos, we'd recommend bringing a backup battery/charger for your mobile phone. York is a very walkable city, so you may also wish to bring a pair of comfortable shoes. Finally, you might also want to bring an umbrella and a sun hat (well, it is the UK after all!).
Can I bring a card or gift on the day?
We will only be at the register office for a short period of time (and then moving around quite a bit), so we would prefer it if you could refrain from bringing any cards, gifts or flowers. Please see our 'Gifts' page for more info.
I have a question not answered above!
If you have any questions that are not answered above, please give us a call or send us a message via Whatsapp.