How to Get Married at the Brisbane Registry (and Make It Feel Like You)

I’ll be honest, I love Brisbane Registry weddings. There’s something so effortlessly cool about walking into a city building, saying your vows with the skyline as your backdrop, and walking out hand in hand, married. No stress, no chaos, no production. Just the two of you and the start of something real.

The Brisbane Registry might not sound romantic at first, but once you step outside, the city becomes your playground. Think old architecture, hidden bars, vintage alleyways, rooftop views, and that feeling of this is us.

Here’s how to plan your Brisbane Registry elopement — and how to turn it into something that feels as cinematic as it does meaningful.

Why Couples Choose a Brisbane Registry Elopement

Traditional weddings aren’t for everyone, and that’s the beauty of it. A registry elopement strips everything back to what matters: two people promising their lives to each other, with no expectations, no pressure, and no huge price tag.

Maybe you don’t want to spend $40k on a day that goes by in a blur.
Maybe you’re overwhelmed by the idea of planning a full-scale wedding.
Or maybe you just want to do it your way, quietly, intentionally, and full of heart.

That’s why I love registry weddings. You can make it official in a modern, light-filled space, and still have time to slow down, celebrate, and turn it into a whole experience. Stay in a beautiful hotel like The Calile, Crystalbrook Vincent, or W Brisbane, order room service, soak in the tub, and let it feel like the start of something special.

How to Book Your Brisbane Registry Ceremony

You can book your date directly through the Queensland Government website.

The Registry is located on Level 32, 180 Ann Street, in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD.
There are two ceremony rooms , one small, one large, and both are modern, minimal, and surprisingly beautiful in photos.

You’ll need to lodge your Notice of Intended Marriage at least one month before your date. Ceremonies are short (usually 10–15 minutes), but the energy in the room is unmatched, it’s real, it’s simple, and it’s often emotional in the best way.

What to Expect on the Day

Things move quickly once you’re upstairs. The staff are warm and organised, you’ll sign paperwork, chat with your celebrant, and before you know it, you’re saying your vows.

If you’re getting married on a weekend, everyone enters through the Turbot Street side (since the Ann Street lobby is closed). On weekdays, both entrances are open, and there’s even a cute café downstairs for a pre-ceremony coffee.

Parking is easiest at 179 Turbot Street (Secure Parking) or King George Square, but I usually recommend rideshare so you’re not stressing about tickets.

After the ceremony, we’ll step outside into the city for portraits, that’s where the storytelling and adevnture really begins.

My Favourite Photo Spots (aka where the fun starts)

This is where your day comes alive , the part where we ditch the formality and start creating the story. The ceremony might be the legal bit, but what happens after? That’s the part you’ll remember.

Here are some of my favourite spots for those cinematic, movie-like moments:

• The Treasury Building – timeless and golden, with architecture that makes you feel like you’ve stepped onto a film set.
• Donna Chang’s – the prettiest interiors for a post-ceremony cocktail or long lunch.
• Rothwell’s Bar – moody lighting, velvet booths, and the perfect place to toast being newlyweds.
• City Hall – classic Brisbane elegance; the light here is insane, especially in the late afternoon.
• The Gresham – old-school charm, character, and whisky if that’s your thing.
• Ovolo or The Calile rooftop – incredible for a champagne spray, golden hour portraits, or just watching the city below.
• Hidden laneways – where all the raw, real, cinematic frames happen.
• The Subway near Central Station – trust me on this one. It’s gritty, golden, and gives off “scene from a movie” energy.
• Brisbane Riverwalk – soft, open light and romantic movement shots as you walk hand in hand.
• Or , go full fun mode, jump on scooters and cruise the city streets, hair flying, champagne in hand, laughter echoing off the buildings.

You could even book a tattoo together to mark the day – matching symbols, initials, or something that captures this chapter of your story. I’ve seen couples do it right after the ceremony, and it always feels like the perfect little full stop to the day.

When you book, we’ll hop on a planning call so I can hear all about your story, how you met, what this day means to you, and what kind of energy you want it to have. From there, we tailor everything: the timing, the locations, and the moments in between.

We could even plan an after-elopement hotel shoot, something slow, romantic, cinematic. Champagne on the balcony, dancing barefoot, that post-wedding glow still all over you. It’s not about posing. It’s about capturing how it feels.

Make It an Experience (After the Ceremony)
Once the ceremony’s done and you’ve officially said “I do,” it’s time to let it all sink in — that beautiful, “we actually did it” feeling.

This part of the day doesn’t have to be big or elaborate. It’s about slowing down and being present. You could:

• Check into a beautiful hotel and order champagne and room service, no timelines, no noise, just the two of you.
• Book a massage or spa treatment to unwind and start your marriage in total calm.
• Head to your favourite restaurant or somewhere you’ve always wanted to try – make it a long, slow dinner where you replay every moment of the day.
• Open letters from loved ones, if you kept your elopement small or private.
• Go for a walk along the river at night, just you two, soaking it all in.
• Or, if you want to keep the storytelling going, we can plan a post-elopement session the next morning, something slow, intimate, and cinematic. Think morning light spilling through hotel windows, coffee in bed, dancing barefoot.

Because eloping isn’t just about the ceremony and the photos it’s about creating a memory that lasts long after the paperwork is signed. The day doesn’t have to end when we finish our session.

Photography Packages

Your Brisbane elopement might start at the Registry, but what happens after, that’s where the story really unfolds. The laughter in the elevator, the champagne on the rooftop, the walk through the city lights , those are the moments you’ll want to hold onto.

My packages are designed to capture that feeling, not just the ceremony itself, but the way the day actually felt. Whether we spend a couple of hours wandering through the city, or make a half-day adventure of it, every collection is crafted to tell the story of your Brisbane elopement in full.

• Cinematic photography coverage — capturing every look, touch, and detail in my signature storytelling style.
• A content creator filming short-form clips and crafting a highlight reel delivered within 24 hours, so you can relive it before you’ve even unpacked your overnight bag.
• A pre-elopement planning call — where we dream, map, and design your experience together.
• Polaroids on the day, then a few surprise prints sent as a keepsake afterward — something tactile to hold while you wait for your full gallery.
• Sneak peeks within 48 hours, so you don’t have to wait to see the magic.
• Access to your personal online gallery, ready for download and sharing.
• Your own print store and fine-art album design service, so your memories live beyond a screen — on your walls, in your hands, and in your story.

Elopement collections start from $1,900, with custom options for multi-day experiences, after-elopement hotel sessions, and destination elopements.

Explore the full elopement packages →
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Because this isn’t just about photos, it’s about preserving how it felt.

The Closing Scene

Brisbane Registry weddings have this effortless kind of beauty, proof that simple doesn’t mean small. The moment you walk out of that building, married, the whole city seems to hum a little differently. The light hits the buildings in a softer way. The world feels calm, and for a second, it’s just you two, right where you’re meant to be.

That’s what I love most about photographing Brisbane elopements. They’re honest, cinematic, and full of quiet, powerful emotion. Every story is unique, and every couple brings something different, but they all have that same feel, the one that says we actually did it.

If you’re planning a Brisbane Registry wedding and want it captured in a way that feels timeless and true I’d love to help you bring it to life.

Brisbane Registry Elopement FAQs

How far in advance should we book?
The Registry requires you to lodge your Notice of Intended Marriage at least one month before your date. But I always recommend booking your photographer and hotel as early as you can — the best dates go quickly, especially weekends.

Can you photograph inside the Registry?
Yes! The Brisbane Registry’s ceremony rooms have beautiful light and modern interiors that photograph really well. I know both rooms intimately and will guide you through where to stand, how to hold each other, and when to slow down for those in-between moments.

Do you travel for elopements?
Absolutely. While Brisbane Registry elopements are some of my favourites, I also photograph across the Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Maleny, and destination locations across Australia and beyond.

How long should we book you for?
I always recommend 4 hoursm it gives us time to breathe, wander, and capture more than just the ceremony. We can explore a few of my favourite Brisbane locations, stop for a drink, pop champagne on a rooftop, and create a full storytelling experience instead of rushing through portraits.

If you want to make it even more of an experience, we can add multi-day coverage or extended hours perfect if you’re staying in the city for a weekend, having dinner with friends, or planning a relaxed post-elopement shoot the next morning.

Can we include video?
Yes, a content creator is included in my packages. They’ll film all the short-form clips and create a 24-hour highlight reel so you can relive the energy before your gallery even arrives.

Ready to plan your Brisbane Registry elopement?

Let’s make it feel like you — cinematic, emotional, and beautifully simple.

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