Tips for planning a Belfast City elopement in 2026
Are you thinking of planning an elopement wedding in Belfast? Elopements have become incredibly popular in Northern Ireland with both local couples and people from abroad. Here are some of our top tips for eloping in Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital city, from money saving tips to the best places for elopement photos.
The neon umbrellas of Cathedral Quarter aren’t great at keeping the rain off, but they look awesome.
Book a photographer
Yeah, yeah, of course we're starting with that tip, but hear us out; it makes a lot of sense. Us wedding photographers have an encyclopedic knowledge of the wedding industry. We work at every point on the wedding day and quickly build up lists of the best wedding suppliers, venues and photo locations. A Belfast-based photographer, like us, will not only be able to advise you on wedding stuff, but also the best hotels, restaurants and pubs in the city. Booking a photographer early could save you money on a wedding planner or hours sifting through the internet for advice. Oh, and you'll also get amazing photos of your elopement. So, that is why this is our first tip!
Choose your date carefully
Firstly, there's the weather to consider. On paper we have four seasons. In reality, we have the cold season where it rains, and the warm season where it rains. Surprise, surprise, if you want good weather, the best time of the year for an elopement in Belfast is from May to October. But, as like most capital cities, there are factors other than weather. In summer months, some events and celebrations can make it difficult to access parts of the city centre. Belfast City council website lists upcoming events so you can plan your date around them.
Do your legal Homework
If you're planning on having a legal wedding in Belfast City centre, you'll need to make sure you understand the legal requirements for getting married in Northern Ireland. All couples must give notice to the local registrar at least 28 days before your wedding and provide necessary documentation like birth certificates and passports. If planning a religious or humanist wedding, your celebrant will guide you in the right direction. Belfast council website has all the information you'll need to make sure you do things the right way.
Work out what best suits your budget
While an elopement isn't anywhere near as expensive as a large, traditional wedding, the ceremony itself is an unavoidable cost. So, how much does an elopement in Belfast cost? Well, that depends on a few factors. Of the three main types of ceremony, Civil, religious and humanist, a civil ceremony in City Hall on a weekday is the most cost efficient. You'll be expected to pay a marriage fee, plus a fee for your celebrant and room hire. For a Saturday wedding, the registrar's fee is different.
For religious and humanist weddings, Belfast council also requires a marriage fee, but after this you'll have to pay for your celebrant and venue, which will vary on a case-by-case basis and could be significantly higher.
There’s always room in your elopement budget for a Mr Whippy in Botanic Gardens.
IF YOU CAN, Spoil yourself silly
Eloping isn’t always about saving money. Just because you're doing it low-key, doesn't mean you can't do it in style! Get yourself a great hotel and book the best restaurant you can afford. Get yourself a chic dress or a stylish fitted suit. Book a photographer, like us, to make you look cool. You deserve a little bit of luxury on your wedding day, and what you're not spending on dinners for other people, may as well be spent on yourself.
The Merchant Hotel, a great place to stay on the night of your elopement.
The best place for a civil elopement ceremony in Belfast
Civil ceremonies are non-religious legal marriages performed by a government official, called a registrar. They are easily organised and perfect for elopements. The best place for a civil ceremony elopement in Belfast is, without question, the gorgeous City Hall. Firstly, its location is, quite literally, the middle of Belfast, which is super handy. Second, it's a Grade A listed building, easily one of the most beautiful buildings in Belfast both inside and out. From there, it's a short walk to some great photo locations. To book a wedding in Belfast City hall, just get in touch using the email address on their website.
Belfast City Hall is a landmark in itself, and is the perfect location for a Belfast elopement.
The best place for a religious elopement ceremony in Belfast
While this will depend on your religion, there are many gorgeous venues for religious ceremonies in Belfast City. Here are a couple of our favourites. Firstly, St.Anne's Cathedral, found in Cathedral Quarter (I mean, of course it is), is beautiful and teeming with history. Close to City Hall, St.Malachy's Catholic Church is one of our favourite buildings (you'll spend your ceremony staring at the ceiling) and isn't as big as some churches in the City. And finally, St George's Church on High Street, is the oldest Church of Ireland Church in Belfast. I'll be honest, we didn't even realise it was a church until we did a wedding in it, but it's lovely inside and out.
The best place for a humanist elopement ceremony in Belfast
Humanist ceremonies are also non-religious, but unlike civil ceremonies, the registrars aren't government employees and don't have to be in approved buildings. You can, provided you have the owner's permission, have a humanist ceremony practically anywhere. Still, our favourite place for a humanist elopement ceremony has to be The Ulster Museum in Belfast's Queens quarter. Set on the edge of Belfast's Botanic Gardens with great photo opportunities in all kinds of weather, the Belfast room at the Ulster Museum is the perfect size for an elopement ceremony.
The Ulster Museum is not just a great place for a Humanist elopement in Belfast, it’s a super spot for wedding photos.
The short and gorgeous walk from the Ulster Museum into Botanic Gardens.
Have witnesses for hire
For a legal wedding in Northern Ireland, you need two official witnesses to sign documentation. They do not, however, have to be family or friends - they can be absolute strangers! The only legal stipulation is that they're over 16 years old and are there for the duration of the ceremony. It is best to have this figured out in advance, but as long as we're there to photograph your wedding you'll have two witnesses - we've signed loads of marriage certificates as official witnesses. And you know what, after a couple of pints of Guinness, I'm pretty sure Deci will happily deliver a best man's speech...
Plan your attire
The best thing about an elopement in Belfast City centre is that there are no rules on what you have to wear! So, if you don't fancy a suit or white dress, you don't have to wear one. But it is a good idea to keep in mind that Belfast’s weather can be unpredictable, so have an umbrella or coat on hand, just in case. Comfortable shoes are also a must if you're exploring the city on foot during your portrait photos. For brides, it's worth considering a short dress or maybe even a jumpsuit. Think style, for sure, but think comfort too.
Comfy shoes are a must in the City. Marvel socks are optional (but encouraged).
Choose your favourite photo location
The wonderful thing about a Belfast elopement is that you can have really urban wedding photos, pictures in gorgeous manicured gardens, or just a short drive away, forests, hills and open fields. You might want to have your photos taken in one of our many historic pubs, like the Duke of York or The Crown. A local photographer will know the city well, so just have a conversation with them about what you like, and they'll help you pick the best spots.
Being a local photographer can get you into places (and onto rooftops) that normally aren’t accessible!
A Belfast elopement wouldn’t be complete without a pint of Guinness.
Choose how much photography time you need to book
Photographers, like us, are pretty flexible when it comes to elopement photography in Belfast. Generally we offer coverage of 2 or 4 hours, but extra time can be booked if needed. The time required will depend on a number of factors. If you're having a civil ceremony in City Hall, it can last as little as 10-15 minutes, so 2 hours of coverage is ample to cover the ceremony and some portraits around the city. If you're having a religious or humanist ceremony, it might be somewhat longer. Also, if you plan to visit more locations on the outskirts of the city, it might be wiser booking 4 hours of coverage. While elopement photography is less expensive than a full wedding day, two hours of coverage will result in an extra 8-10 hours of editing, so you might have to budget a bit for good photography.
The cobbled streets of Cathedral Quarter are a popular place with couples eloping to Belfast.
Book a black cab
If you want to get around all the best spots in the shortest time, while experiencing a bit of authentic Belfast culture, hire a black cab for an hour. Not only is it a quick way of seeing the city, a traditional black cable is a photogenic photo prop that we can use in your portrait session. With room for 6 people, they're perfect for elopements. Some drivers even have special white taxis (or is that, white black taxis?) especially for wedding hire.
Consider a live stream
There's two of us shooting your wedding, so feel free to hand us a phone and we can livestream your ceremony. This is especially good if you're travelling to Belfast for your wedding ceremony and you want to share the experience with people back home.
Make a DINNER RESERVATION IN BELFAST
We do have a McDonald's if you're stuck, but if you fancy having a nice meal together after your elopement, it's a good idea to book somewhere nice in advance. There are so many great options and we're happy to give you advice on the best spots to get food (and a drink) in the city.
Jump in our Car
With most elopements we photograph, there are no guests, only the couple. In those cases, we're happy for you to jump in the back of our car to get to photo locations outside of walking distance. Just a short drive south takes you to Botanic Gardens, Lagan Meadows, Shaws Bridge and Lady Dixon park. And to the North West you have Cave Hill, overlooking all of the city. Maybe you're a Titanic fanatic (hey, that rhymes!) and would like to drive out to Titanic Quarter for some pics? We're happy to take you there.
