Getting married on Grand Place

The town hall on Grand Place, a unique location in Brussels

If you’re getting married in 1000 Brussels, you’ll get to do your vows in one of Brussels’ most unique locations. With its high tower and gothic-style façade, the City Hall is internationally known as a UNESCO heritage site. Getting married in this unique location will give you the opportunity to make some amazing wedding photos from the balcony and enjoy the panoramic view over Grand Place. The only thing is… it comes with a price tag. Read on to find out more.

Make an appointment

Booking a appointment needs to be done online via the website of the City of Brussels.

All weddings take place on Friday and Saturday.

Can anyone get married in the city hall of Brussels?

One of both partners has to be registered in the municipality of Brussels.

The price tag

There are 2 formulas to choose from, and only of them includes access to the balcony.

The standard formula takes about 15 minutes. It costs 25 EUR for the marriage declaration and additional 25 EUR for the marriage booklet (optional)
The courtyard formula takes 20 minutes, because you get 5 extra minutes to access the balcony which allows for some exceptional couple photos with Grand Place on the background. You will also be able to spend more time on the inner courtyard. This is the little courtyard that is also open to the public, but during weddings no tourists are allowed there so you’ll get to enjoy this quiet spot to make some family photos after the wedding.

The only downside is that at 250 EUR those are some expensive 5 extra minutes, so make sure to pick a photographer who’s been there before in order to get the most out of it. If you want to have more time to enjoy the view, you can extend your time with 20 minutes for an additional 250 EUR.

Where to make wedding photos around Grand Place?

The balcony of the city hall is a great place to make outstanding couple photos. Even if you only have 5 minutes, that’s enough to make photos that will stand out in your wedding album. For the best outcome, make sure to pick a photographer that has already been on that balcony before and knows about the best perspectives to make the most out of your 5 minutes balcony time.

Around the city hall, there are plenty of photogenic locations. Grand Place and Mont des Arts for example are some of the most beautiful spots in Brussels. The only challenge will be to avoid the crowds.

Personally, I love Brussels and its unnumerable shooting locations. You’ll find many tips on my website Everything Brussels and its Instagram page. I would be happy to suggest you my favorite spots and could even arrange you have access to another exceptional balcony on Grand Place.

A Brussels-based wedding photographer

As a local and Brussels-based photographer, I’ve photographed a large number of weddings in the town hall of Brussels. Over time I’ve acquired quite some knowledge about the common procedures and I’d be happy to share this information with you to help you prepare your wedding. I’d also gladly take you to my favorite shooting locations in and around Grand Place. Feel free to check out my wedding packages.

Visit the Town Hall on Grand Place

Visit the city hall of Brussels

The city hall occasionally opens to the public. Every Wednesday and Sunday you are able to visit the City Hall with a local guide. During the visit you will learn more about the history of this prestigious building and its political functions. You’ll also discover its grandiose rooms that are full of stunning paintings, sculptures and tapestries that evoke various episodes in the history of Brussels.

Another opportunity to visit the townhall are the Flower events that take place during Summer. The Flower Carpet is a biennial event where Grand Place is covered with a flower carpet of over 500.000 begonias, dahlias, grass and bark. Every other summer, in alternation with the Flower Carpet, the Town Hall of Brussels receives Flower time. For four days, the Brussels City Hall and the Grand-Place will be transformed into a garden of paradise in which visitors will be able to stroll surrounded by a thousand and one colours and fragrants. Whereas during the Flower Carpet you will only have access to the balcony of the town hall, Flower Time is the opportunity to stroll through its different chambers.