Some weddings prove you don’t need two hundred guests or a country estate to feel grand. This autumn wedding at Arundel Town Hall had just thirty of the couple’s closest family and friends. Even so, the ceremony room felt fit for royalty, and a downpour outside didn’t dampen a single moment. As an Arundel Town Hall wedding photographer, this is exactly the kind of day I love. In fact, it’s intimate, relaxed, and full of the small details that make an intimate wedding so special.
Perhaps you’re planning a small wedding in West Sussex. You might be wondering whether an intimate celebration can still feel like a proper wedding. If so, let this day answer that question for you.
Why Arundel Town Hall is a hidden gem for small weddings
Arundel Town Hall sits in the heart of Arundel, tucked beneath the castle. It’s set in one of the prettiest market towns in West Sussex. In fact, the building is Grade II listed, and the ceremony takes place in the Atherley Chamber. In addition, this Georgian room has soaring arched windows, ornate chandeliers, and portraits of Arundel’s town mayors lining the walls. Couples reach it by a sweeping stone staircase. On this day, the staircase was dressed with a garland of white roses and fairy lights.
A quick note on terminology, because couples often ask: Arundel Town Hall isn’t a register office. It’s a licensed wedding venue, and registrars travel here to conduct civil ceremonies. In practice, that gives you the intimacy and simplicity of a registry office wedding. However, the setting is far more beautiful than most people expect.
For this wedding, the room was styled with a white aisle runner and cross-back chairs draped in soft white fabric. Pillar candles and clouds of gypsophila decorated golden arches on either side of the ceremony table. Overall, it felt simple, elegant, and completely in keeping with the room.
The ceremony
The couple married surrounded by their children, parents, and closest friends. Indeed, it was the kind of guest list where every single person in the room truly mattered. Their little ones sat in the front row, dressed in miniature suits and a lilac flower dress. For me, there’s something wonderful about photographing a ceremony where children are part of the story. They’re never tucked away at the back.
After the vows and the ring exchange came my favourite moment of any ceremony. First, the walk back down the aisle as newlyweds. Then, a kiss beneath the chandelier with everyone they love around them. The Atherley Chamber gives that moment a real sense of occasion. High ceilings, dramatic light from the arched windows, and history on every wall all add to it.
We then used the room for family photographs. The large window bays, with their gilded detailing, make a beautiful, evenly lit backdrop. Because everything happens in one place, group photos at a small wedding are quick and relaxed. Within twenty minutes, we had every combination the couple wanted, including a full set with the children. As a result, nobody was left standing around waiting.
Rain on your wedding day — and why it genuinely doesn’t matter
It rained. Properly rained. Yet the portraits from this wedding are among my favourites of the year.
First, armed with a white umbrella, we stepped out into Arundel’s streets. We wandered past the castle walls, along Tarrant Street, and through cobbled lanes lined with brick cottages and painted doors. Rain deepens the colours of stone and brick, and adds a soft shine to the cobbles. Best of all, it gives couples a reason to walk close together under one umbrella. The Norman arched entrance of the Town Hall gave us shelter for a laughing portrait between the wrought iron gates.
If you’re worried about rain on your wedding day, I’d say this. Some of the most romantic wedding photography happens under an umbrella. A good photographer plans for the weather, rather than around it. Fortunately, Arundel offers covered doorways, arches, and characterful corners at every turn.
An intimate reception on Tarrant Street
From the Town Hall, the couple and their guests walked to their reception at Butlers on Tarrant Street. There were no cars and no convoy, just a five-minute stroll through town as a wedding party. Notably, this is one of the quiet advantages of marrying in Arundel: the town itself becomes part of your day.
The reception was everything a small wedding meal should be. Picture one long table, dressed with jute placemats and bud vases of garden roses, peonies, and daisies. Candlelight lit a backdrop of book-lined walls. Meanwhile, there were toasts and laughter across the table, plus children happily working through their plates. To close the celebration, the newlyweds cut a two-tier white cake.
There was no evening reception, and no formalities that didn’t matter to them. Instead, it was a full afternoon of the things that did.
Planning a small wedding in Arundel or West Sussex?
I’m Ania, a wedding photographer covering Arundel, Chichester, and the whole of West Sussex and Hampshire. I’ve been photographing weddings since 2006. Intimate celebrations like this one are close to my heart. That’s because they allow me to document every guest, every glance, and every detail without a moment feeling rushed.
My wedding photography is offered as a simple flat fee with everything included. As a result, you’ll always know exactly what your day will cost.
You might be planning a wedding at Arundel Town Hall, or somewhere else in West Sussex. Either way, I’d love to hear about your plans. Simply get in touch here or email info@aniaphoto.co.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Can you have a small wedding at Arundel Town Hall?
Yes. In particular, Arundel Town Hall is ideally suited to small and intimate weddings. The Atherley Chamber seats up to 85 guests for a ceremony, but it also works beautifully for much smaller numbers. For example, this wedding had around thirty guests, and the room felt perfectly proportioned.
Is Arundel Town Hall a register office?
No. Arundel Town Hall is a licensed civil ceremony venue, and West Sussex registrars travel to the venue to conduct marriages. You book the venue and the registrars separately. As a result, it feels like a registry office wedding in terms of simplicity, but in a far grander Georgian setting.
What happens if it rains on your wedding day in Arundel?
Arundel is full of covered arches, doorways, and characterful streets that photograph beautifully in the rain. With the right umbrella and a photographer who knows the town, wet weather often works in your favour. In fact, it can produce some of the most atmospheric portraits of the day.
Do you photograph small weddings and civil ceremonies in West Sussex?
Yes. I photograph weddings of all sizes across West Sussex and Hampshire. This includes small weddings, civil ceremonies, and intimate celebrations at venues like Arundel Town Hall. Everything is offered as a flat, all-inclusive fee.
