A stunning collection of barns set in the rolling Northamptonshire countryside with a licence for ceremonies available exclusively for your wedding day.
A stunning collection of barns set in the rolling Northamptonshire countryside with a licence for ceremonies available exclusively for your wedding day.
The Engine Shed Wetherby is a stunning converted building now used as a wedding venue in Wetherby, West Yorkshire.
The Engine Shed Wetherby is a stunning converted building now used as a wedding venue in Wetherby, West Yorkshire.
Fairyhill by Oldwalls is a picturesque grade II listed Georgian house, set within acres of glorious Gower gardens. With a license for ceremonies and an option in the nicer weather to have the ceremony outside, this is a truly stunning wedding venue.
Fairyhill by Oldwalls is a picturesque grade II listed Georgian house, set within acres of glorious Gower gardens. With a license for ceremonies and an option in the nicer weather to have the ceremony outside, this is a truly stunning wedding venue.
Lainston House is a luxurious wedding venue in Hampshire. Licensed for Civil Ceremonies, this venue is also available for Exclusive Use. The 17th Century Dawley Barn is the perfect setting for your special day, with everything in one place.
Lainston House is a luxurious wedding venue in Hampshire. Licensed for Civil Ceremonies, this venue is also available for Exclusive Use. The 17th Century Dawley Barn is the perfect setting for your special day, with everything in one place.
Woodside is a beautiful country house wedding venue, situated just minutes from Kenilworth in Warwickshire. Nestled in picturesque gardens and woodlands, it offers a romantic setting for an unforgettable wedding.
Woodside is a beautiful country house wedding venue, situated just minutes from Kenilworth in Warwickshire. Nestled in picturesque gardens and woodlands, it offers a romantic setting for an unforgettable wedding.
Cain Manor is an exquisite Elizabethan oak country house wedding venue on the Surrey / Hampshire border. Exclusive use is guaranteed as Cain Manor becomes your home for your wedding day.
Cain Manor is an exquisite Elizabethan oak country house wedding venue on the Surrey / Hampshire border. Exclusive use is guaranteed as Cain Manor becomes your home for your wedding day.
Nestled within 50 acres of beautiful Welsh countryside, Oldwalls is the flagship multi award-winning wedding venue by the Oldwalls Collection, the renowned luxury wedding venue specialists based at the heart of Gower.
Nestled within 50 acres of beautiful Welsh countryside, Oldwalls is the flagship multi award-winning wedding venue by the Oldwalls Collection, the renowned luxury wedding venue specialists based at the heart of Gower.
Brympton House is an exclusive use wedding venue in Somerset, described by Country Life as the most beautiful house in the UK. The Mansion is listed as Grade I and the 33 acre gardens are listed as Grade II*.
Brympton House is an exclusive use wedding venue in Somerset, described by Country Life as the most beautiful house in the UK. The Mansion is listed as Grade I and the 33 acre gardens are listed as Grade II*.
Dodmoor House is a National Award Winning Wedding Venue in Northamptonshire and offers exclusive use, no corkage and the flexibility of being able to source all of your own suppliers for your wedding if you wish.
Dodmoor House is a National Award Winning Wedding Venue in Northamptonshire and offers exclusive use, no corkage and the flexibility of being able to source all of your own suppliers for your wedding if you wish.
Stunning 17th century hall & restored coach house. Exclusively yours for up to 150 guests and accommodation for up to 42 guests. Set in 100 acres of private estate, the perfect wedding venue. Beautiful grounds for amazing photos of your special day.
Stunning 17th century hall & restored coach house. Exclusively yours for up to 150 guests and accommodation for up to 42 guests. Set in 100 acres of private estate, the perfect wedding venue. Beautiful grounds for amazing photos of your special day.
Set in over 100 acres of glorious parkland, this exquisite Grade I listed Regency house has a timeless elegance about it. We would like you to treat it as your own, and are sure that you will feel at home in the stylish but relaxed surroundings.
Set in over 100 acres of glorious parkland, this exquisite Grade I listed Regency house has a timeless elegance about it. We would like you to treat it as your own, and are sure that you will feel at home in the stylish but relaxed surroundings.
Botleys Mansion is a grand country house wedding venue available for exclusive use for weddings, in Chertsey, Surrey. Licensed for Civil Ceremonies, this luxurious wedding reception venue is an ideal mixture of old and new.
Botleys Mansion is a grand country house wedding venue available for exclusive use for weddings, in Chertsey, Surrey. Licensed for Civil Ceremonies, this luxurious wedding reception venue is an ideal mixture of old and new.
The Complete Wedding Venue. Intimate and warm, beautiful canal side location. We cater for small to medium size weddings and can host wedding ceremonies. A unique wedding venue for Uxbridge on The Grand Union Canal!
The Complete Wedding Venue. Intimate and warm, beautiful canal side location. We cater for small to medium size weddings and can host wedding ceremonies. A unique wedding venue for Uxbridge on The Grand Union Canal!
All Manor of Events in Henley, Ipswich, Suffolk. Stunning venue for your wedding reception and civil ceremony. Wedding packages available. The barn is able to accommodate for small and large weddings.
All Manor of Events in Henley, Ipswich, Suffolk. Stunning venue for your wedding reception and civil ceremony. Wedding packages available. The barn is able to accommodate for small and large weddings.
Notley Abbey is a exquisite country house wedding venue on the Buckinghamshire / Oxfordshire border, close to Thame and Aylesbury. Notley Abbey is licensed for civil ceremonies and is entirely and exclusively yours for your whole day.
Notley Abbey is a exquisite country house wedding venue on the Buckinghamshire / Oxfordshire border, close to Thame and Aylesbury. Notley Abbey is licensed for civil ceremonies and is entirely and exclusively yours for your whole day.
A stunning Grade I listed countryside wedding venue, with a fairytale castle feel about it. We are licensed for civil ceremonies and steeped in over 700 years of history. Surrounded by acres of National Trust woodland.
A stunning Grade I listed countryside wedding venue, with a fairytale castle feel about it. We are licensed for civil ceremonies and steeped in over 700 years of history. Surrounded by acres of National Trust woodland.
17th Century, romantic country house hotel, wedding venue in the heart of Leicester. Set on the banks of the River Soar it is the ideal venue for your special day and the perfect setting for your treasured photographs.
17th Century, romantic country house hotel, wedding venue in the heart of Leicester. Set on the banks of the River Soar it is the ideal venue for your special day and the perfect setting for your treasured photographs.
Quy Mill Hotel & Spa is a countryside Wedding venue in Cambridgeshire with beautiful Gardens. We hold a license for Civil Ceremonies, and ample Guest Accommodation so your wedding requirements are all available in one place.
Quy Mill Hotel & Spa is a countryside Wedding venue in Cambridgeshire with beautiful Gardens. We hold a license for Civil Ceremonies, and ample Guest Accommodation so your wedding requirements are all available in one place.
The Tythe Barn is an incredible wedding venue near Bicester, Oxfordshire. We cater for Wedding Receptions and are licenced for Civil Ceremonies. Our barn oozes character and our rural location allows you to enjoy life away from the fast lane!
The Tythe Barn is an incredible wedding venue near Bicester, Oxfordshire. We cater for Wedding Receptions and are licenced for Civil Ceremonies. Our barn oozes character and our rural location allows you to enjoy life away from the fast lane!
The beauty of Grittleton House is that as a family owned house it comes with the ultimate flexibility. We want your wedding day to be unique, like no other. With your vision and our expertise we can work together to make your dream a reality.
The beauty of Grittleton House is that as a family owned house it comes with the ultimate flexibility. We want your wedding day to be unique, like no other. With your vision and our expertise we can work together to make your dream a reality.
With its blend of traditional and modern facilities Brocton Hall is the perfect venue for your wedding.
With its blend of traditional and modern facilities Brocton Hall is the perfect venue for your wedding.
Thames Valley Wedding Venue of the Year 2019! A charismatic historical estate. Renovated into a rustic, picturesque and romantic venue that offers complete flexibility for you to create your dream day.
Thames Valley Wedding Venue of the Year 2019! A charismatic historical estate. Renovated into a rustic, picturesque and romantic venue that offers complete flexibility for you to create your dream day.
Bruisyard Hall is a beautiful country house and barn wedding venue in Suffolk. It is licensed for civil ceremonies and set in a peaceful and unspoiled 700 acre estate in the picturesque Suffolk countryside.
Bruisyard Hall is a beautiful country house and barn wedding venue in Suffolk. It is licensed for civil ceremonies and set in a peaceful and unspoiled 700 acre estate in the picturesque Suffolk countryside.
Award winning exclusive use wedding venue in East Sussex. Saltcote Place offers magical far reaching views, formal gardens, and exclusive use. We give you the time and tools needed to create something magical. Late checkout, early check in and more.
Award winning exclusive use wedding venue in East Sussex. Saltcote Place offers magical far reaching views, formal gardens, and exclusive use. We give you the time and tools needed to create something magical. Late checkout, early check in and more.
Civil ceremony wedding venues are hugely popular throughout the UK. However, what exactly does it mean to be a licensed wedding venue?
If you want a legally-binding wedding ceremony with no religious affiliation, and you’re getting married in England or Wales, then a civil ceremony is the best match for you. You can either get married in a register office, or you can have a civil ceremony at an approved wedding venue. To be an approved civil ceremony venue, wedding venues need to apply for a civil ceremony license.
There are hundreds of wedding venues with a civil ceremony license in the UK, but it’s important to check that your dream venue has one if you’re wanting a legally-binding ceremony. The alternative is marrying in a humanist or spiritual ceremony, which will allow you to marry in any venue (or in an unlicensed part of an otherwise licensed venue, such as a garden or private beach), but will need to be followed by a legal civil ceremony in a register office at another date.
Have questions about your civil ceremony wedding venue? Take a look at our FAQ below…
It’s not just mansion houses or castles that can be approved wedding venues - approved premises can include everything from hotels and restaurants to zoos, aquariums, treehouses and caves! If they’re on our civil ceremony venue list, then you can legally marry there. However, don’t assume that more traditional venues always have a civil ceremony license. It costs wedding venues money to apply for a license, so some just host humanist or spiritual ceremonies, or simply host wedding receptions rather than ceremonies.
The local council determine if wedding venues are suitable for a civil ceremony license. This includes whether or not they’re in a safe and reasonable state for members of the public, and if they meet fire safety regulations. The venue must also be regularly available to the public for the purpose of conducting marriage ceremonies. This is why private homes can’t be approved for a civil ceremony license. If you’re hoping to marry on private land, in a back garden or a large home that isn’t available to the public, you’ll need to hold your legal ceremony in a register office instead.
If you want to tie the knot in an outdoor wedding ceremony, then your wedding venue will need a separate civil ceremony license for this. The legal elements of the ceremony must also take place in a fixed and permanent structure, such as a wooden gazebo or pagoda. This means that you can’t legally marry under a floral arch, on an open beach or in woodland, for example. Don’t presume that any permanent fixture in a wedding venue’s garden will be automatically covered by a civil ceremony license. Venues need to purchase licenses for separate structures. If you want to know if you can get married in a garden, search our ‘Outdoor wedding ceremony’ filter or simply enquire with your chosen wedding venue.
The law does not consider marquees to be permanent structures, even ones that are up all year round. As a result, it can be difficult to have a civil ceremony in a marquee. One way to get around this is to have your ceremony over the threshold of a doorway. This way, your guests can be seated in the marquee while you are technically indoors.
A civil wedding ceremony has certain legal requirements. You must have two witnesses over the age of 18, and you will need to exchange contractual words of marriage. There is a degree of flexibility within these guidelines, and you can include your own promises as part of your wedding ceremony. Your registrar can guide you on what words need to be legally included.
By law a civil ceremony cannot include any religious element, including readings or music. You also cannot hold a civil ceremony in a religious building. If you would like to include religion in some way, you can have a religious blessing after your civil ceremony.
The above requirements only apply to weddings in England and Wales. In Scotland, humanist ceremonies are legally binding, so brides in Scotland have more flexibility when choosing their wedding venues. Unlike civil ceremonies, humanist weddings do not require specific wording, or for the ceremony to be under a permanent structure. You can also include religious elements in your humanist ceremony. If you’re a bride in Scotland, ask your wedding venue about what kind of ceremony would work best for you.
Elaine has over 15 years of experience working with wedding venues, and advises many of the top hotel and venue brands on their wedding marketing. She has a deep understanding of statistics that can accurately predict the online populaity of a particular venue and she is happy to share that knowledge with wedding couples and venues.
