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*.
Nestled at the foot of the Mendip Hill is Coombe Lodge a stunning wedding venue in the North Somerset & Bristol area. Perfect for wedding ceremonies & receptions with breath-taking views across the Chew Valley. Exclusive use wedding venue.
St Audries Park is a fairytale manor house wedding venue within peaceful deer park & boasts the most stunning sea views. The venue is offered exclusively for your special day. A Perfect country house wedding venue in Somerset for your ceremony.
With stunning views and outstanding service, Berwick Lodge is an excellent exclusive use wedding reception venue near Bristol, set in 18 acres of grounds. Make our house your home, with 14 individually designed luxurious bedrooms & suites.
Gants Mill is the perfect romantic venue for your country wedding, where you can be confident of an enchanting and memorable day. You can choose your own caterers and there is no corkage charge. Perfect wedding venue in Bristol and Somerset.
The Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel hasd been recently restored to its former glory - this 150 year old Victorian beauty is also the oldest Hotel in Bristol. At Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel we don't just host events, we make memories.
A warm welcome awaits you at the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, set in 7 acres of landscaped gardens, the 18th Century House awaits you.
A beautiful exclusive wedding venue set within 66 acres of landscaped gardens & parkland. Seats up to 120 guests and 200 for an evening reception. High quality food and beverage options available. Accommodation on site incl. Wedding suite.
Beautiful wedding reception venue in Bristol, with a license for your ceremony. Stunning surroundings that are rich in history, picturesque grounds and impeccable service where nothing is overlooked?
The Longhouse is a family run Somerset wedding venue with three romantic licensed ceremony locations to choose from & incredible views of the Somerset countryside. We can cater for up to 140 guests and guarantee a very personal service.
Elmhay Park is a beautiful venue hidden within the walls of a Victorian walled garden in the heart of the Somerset countryside. Comprising a beautiful Orangery from 80 - 300 guests, stunning Italian Garden and accommodation for up to 65.
Wedding venue set in the heart of the Quantock Hills in Somerset. Your day can be tailored to suit you, whether it be a formal 3 course dinner, or a relaxed hog roast, as we say... Your day, your way!
Our 4-star hotel is perfectly located within the Old City. With classic Victorian architecture and contemporary service, the venue is perfect all year round and provides the ideal backdrop for your dream wedding.
Our beautiful, family-owned country estate, is waiting to host your perfect Somerset wedding. Offering civil or church weddings, Pennard House is exclusively yours for a truly unforgettable wedding day.
Exclusive wedding venue at Walton Castle, in North Somerset. Licenced for Weddings & Civil Ceremonies. A great location for your special wedding day celebrations or just your wedding reception.
Priston Mill is nestled perfectly in a hidden valley just 15 minutes from central Bath. The Watermill is the smaller of our two venues, filled with historic charm and character. The Tythe Barn is impressive but cosy and can accommodate up to 200.
Wedding reception venue in Wick, Bath, Nr Somerset. Available for Receptions and also licenced for civil ceremonies and marquee receptions.
13th Century Manor house wedding venue in Somerset, which is licensed for civil ceremonies, both in the house and gardens too. The picture perfect romantic wedding venue, catering for traditional & unconventional weddings.
From outdoor ceremonies in our courtyard to large extravagant receptions; design and transform your day at this Somerset wedding venue. Wow your guests and make it a day they’ll never forget.
Grade 1 listed Crowcombe Court offers a bespoke exclusive wedding venue in West Somerset. Exclusive use for your wedding reception. Licensed for Civil Ceremonies, and with a Church at the end of the drive.
Wedding Venue in Yeovil, Somerset. Licensed for Ceremonies and also offering Wedding Reception Venue Hire. Plenty of Guest Accommodation.
Whether you’re dreaming of an intimate ceremony, a large formal wedding or a fun-filled celebration; Aztec Hotel & Spa offer a range of stylish settings for your special day. We are a civil ceremony licensed wedding venue in Almondsbury.
An exquisite English vineyard, over looked by the Mendip Hills. With beautiful views and country surrounding, Aldwick Estate is a superb venue for weddings and other special occasions near Bristol
The Manor House is a Wedding Venue licensed for Civil Ceremonies. Set in the charming village of Castle Combe, Wiltshire, the hotel is an idyllic 14th-century manor house - a perfect, magical venue for your wedding day celebrations.
How is a venue licensed for civil ceremonies? Find out why civil ceremony licensed venues are so popular.
If you want a ceremony in Bristol and Somerset that's legally binding without getting married in a church, 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.
So many wedding venues in Bristol and Somerset have a civil ceremony license, but just double check they do before booking them. If they don't you will have to find another way of getting a legally-binding marriage. 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.
There's many different types of venue that can be licensed for civil ceremonies. Anything from castles and hotels to barns and even unique venues such as zoo's! 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. Some you can only have your wedding reception at but you will have to check with the wedding venue itself. Take a look at our range of civil ceremony licensed venues in Bristol and Somerset.
If a wedding venue in Bristol and Somerset wants a civil ceremony license, it must be assessed before hand. This is done by the council, who determine whether it's suitable. 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. You can't legally have a civil ceremony in an open area such as in open woodland or under a flower archway on the beach. It must be a fixed structure like a wooden gazebo that is separately licensed. 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 in Bristol and Somerset.
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. Ask your chosen registrar about what you need to say during your civil ceremony and then you can work around this to write your own vowed and promises to your partner. Find an abundance of venues licensed for civil ceremonies in Bristol and Somerset on Guides for Brides.
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 in Bristol and Somerset. If you would like to include religion in some way, you can have a religious blessing after your civil ceremony.
If you wish to get married in Scotland, there's many more venues that you can do this is. This is because in Scotland, humanist ceremonies are legally binding and in a humanist ceremony there's a lot more flexibility on what you and your partner can say. Unlike civil ceremonies, humanist weddings do not require specific wording, or for the ceremony to be under a permanent structure. When you've chosen your wedding venue in Scotland, speak to the staff to work out what ceremony will work best for you. You can even include religious readings in your humanist ceremony!
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.
