Registry Office Wedding Cost in Devon: Fees, Registrars & a Lovely Alternative
Lots of couples who get in touch with us started out looking at the registry office. They wanted something small, simple and affordable, which makes complete sense. Then they realised it could be small and simple and somewhere lovely, without costing the earth.
So here's an honest guide to what a registry office wedding in Devon really costs, what a registrar costs if you marry at a venue, how booking works, and how our Day Wedding at Tree Top Escape compares.
Fees checked October 2026 from Devon Registration Service. Tree Top Escape is a private wedding venue and isn't part of Devon County Council. For register office bookings, contact Devon Registration Service on 0345 155 1002.
How Much is a Registry Office Wedding in Devon?
These are Devon Registration Service's ceremony fees. You'll also both need to give notice, which is £46.50 each (£93 for a couple).
| Ceremony | Guests | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory ceremony at a Devon register office | Maximum of 2 (your witnesses) | £62 |
| Register office ceremony with more guests | More than 2 | From £225 |
| North Devon Registration Office, Barnstaple | Up to 20, including your witnesses | £350 |
Ceremonies at the North Devon Registration Office in Barnstaple take place on the first, third and fourth Saturday of the month, between 9.15am and 1pm, in 45-minute slots.
How Much Does a Registrar Cost at a Venue?
If you marry at a licensed venue like Tree Top Escape, Devon's registrars come to you. Their fee is paid directly to Devon Registration Service, on top of the venue's own price.
| Day | Until 31 March 2027 | From 1 April 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | £575 | £600 |
| Saturday | £600 | £625 |
| Sunday or bank holiday | £675 | £700 |
Our Day Weddings run on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday, so you'll pay the weekday registrar fee. Changing a booking with the registrars costs £75.
Good news if you're marrying in Devon: its registrar fees are some of the lowest in the South West. A weekday ceremony at a venue costs £575 in Devon, compared with £658 in Dorset and £790 in Cornwall (2026/27 fees).
Registry Office or Something Nicer?
Here's how the options compare for a couple, including your notice fees.
| Statutory ceremony, register office | North Devon Registration Office | Day Wedding at Tree Top Escape | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total for a couple | £155 | £443 | From £1,667 |
| What that's made up of | £62 ceremony + £93 notice | £350 ceremony + £93 notice | £999 venue + £575 registrar + £93 notice (weekday, Nov to Mar) |
| Guests | Your two witnesses only | Up to 20, including witnesses | Just you two, or up to 14 guests at £50 each |
| When | Set appointment slots | Some Saturday mornings, 45-minute slots | Monday, Wednesday or Friday, exclusive use 10am to 3pm |
| Setting | Council ceremony room | Council ceremony room in Barnstaple | A glass room up in the trees, plus the Meadow Room and 15 private acres |
| Included | The legal ceremony | The legal ceremony | The legal ceremony, a wedding coordinator, a Prosecco toast, floral arch and décor |
Day Wedding price from April to October is £1,199. Registrar fees rise on 1 April 2027.
What You Get for the Difference
Yes, Tree Top Escape costs more than the register office. Here's what that extra pays for.
The register office
The cheapest ceremony allows just two guests, your witnesses, so no wider family or friends
Ceremonies run in set appointment slots, with other couples booked before and after you
In Barnstaple, ceremonies are only on some Saturday mornings, in 45-minute slots
A council ceremony room in town, with pay and display parking nearby
Once your slot ends, you'll need to go somewhere else for drinks and photos
You arrange everything else around the ceremony yourselves
A Day Wedding at Tree Top Escape
Bring up to 14 guests, or come on your own and we'll be your witnesses for free
Exclusive use from 10am to 3pm, with no other couples here that day
Your ceremony in The Nest, a glass room up in the trees with views across the countryside
A Prosecco toast afterwards in the Meadow Room, overlooking the meadow and lake
15 private acres of meadows, lakes and woodland for your photos, and your dog can come too
A dedicated wedding coordinator before and on the day, plus our floral arch and décor
Our recommended local suppliers for photography, flowers, hair and makeup
The Same Legal Wedding, Somewhere Lovely
It costs more than the register office. Here's what you get for it.
The same registrars
The Nest is licensed for legal ceremonies, and your wedding is conducted by Devon's registrars, just as it would be at the register office. Same vows, same certificate.
Time that's yours
No slot, no queue of couples behind you. The whole venue is yours from 10am to 3pm, so there's time for fizz, photos and a proper chat with everyone.
Photos you'll love
Floor-to-ceiling glass looking over the Devon countryside, then 15 private acres of meadows, lakes and woodland. Dogs welcome too.
Real Weddings at Tree Top Escape
Every season, every size, and the odd alpaca. See more in our photo gallery.
Photography: Michelle Ley Photography, Becca Roundhill Photography and Maria Broome Photography.
How to Book a Registrar for Your Wedding
The order matters: venue first, then registrar, then notice.
Book your venue
Choose your venue and date. If it's Tree Top Escape, please speak to us before contacting the registrars, and we'll walk you through it.
Book the registrar
In Devon, use the council's online ceremony enquiry form. For us, select Millbrook Estate as the venue, then Tree Top Escape. A £50 non-refundable deposit is paid to the registrars at this stage.
Give notice
You both give notice at your local registration office, at least 29 days before the wedding and no more than 12 months before. The council suggests around three months ahead.
Get married
You'll need two witnesses. If it's just the two of you, we'd love to be yours, at no extra charge.
Want to get married soon? Have a look at our last-minute wedding dates, or read how to get married quickly in the UK.
Thinking about the registry office? Come and see The Nest first.
Exclusive use, up to 14 guests, a wedding coordinator and a Prosecco toast. Or stay on afterwards with our Wedding + Stay packages.
Email UsRegistry Office Wedding Questions
How much is a registry office wedding in Devon?
The cheapest option is a statutory ceremony at a Devon register office for £62, with a maximum of two guests (your witnesses). You also both need to give notice at £46.50 each, so the minimum total is £155. Ceremonies with more guests start from £225, and a ceremony at the North Devon Registration Office in Barnstaple is £350 for up to 20 guests including your witnesses.
How much does a registrar cost at a venue in Devon?
For a ceremony at an approved venue in Devon, the registrar fee is £575 Monday to Friday, £600 on a Saturday and £675 on a Sunday or bank holiday. From 1 April 2027 these rise to £600, £625 and £700. This is paid to Devon Registration Service, on top of the venue's own price. Devon's fees are lower than its neighbours: a weekday venue ceremony is £658 in Dorset and £790 in Cornwall.
How do you book a registrar for your wedding?
Book your venue and date first, then book the registrar with your local council. In Devon this is done through the Devon Registration Service online ceremony enquiry form. Once your venue and registrar are booked, you both give notice at your local registration office at least 29 days before the wedding.
How much does it cost to give notice of marriage?
Giving notice costs £46.50 per person from 6 April 2026, so £93 for a couple. You give notice at your local registration office at least 29 days before your wedding, and no more than 12 months before.
Is a wedding at Tree Top Escape a legal wedding, like a registry office wedding?
Yes. The Nest is licensed for legal ceremonies, and your ceremony is conducted by Devon registrars, exactly as it would be at a register office. The difference is the setting, the time you have and who can come.
Do we need witnesses?
Yes, every legal wedding in England needs two witnesses. If it's just the two of you at Tree Top Escape, we'd love to be your witnesses, at no extra charge.
Sources: Devon ceremony fees · Giving notice in Devon · North Devon Registration Office · Cornwall ceremony prices · Dorset ceremony fees. Fees checked October 2026 and may change.