St Audries Park is a fairytale manor house wedding venue in Bristol and Somerset providing a picture perfect setting and is offered to you exclusively for your special day. Perfect wedding venue in Bristol and Somerset. Civil ceremony venue. More info
Rockbeare Manor, an exquisite Grade I listed, Regency country house wedding venue set in over 100 acres of glorious Devon parkland, just seven miles from the centre of Exeter. It's an absolutely beautiful venue – all for your exclusive use. More info
Widbrook Grange is an 18th century Georgian country farmhouse situated amid 11 acres of flowering gardens in Bradford on Avon. Discover rustic charm, country interiors, a Kitchen restaurant run by World Champion Chef, log fire lounges & a Gin Bar. More info
Brympton House is an exclusive use wedding venue in Somerset, described as one of the most beautiful houses in the UK. The Mansion is listed as Grade I and the 33 acre gardens are listed as Grade II* on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. More info
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. More info
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. More info
The Royal offers versatility for your wedding plans from the opulent and luxury to the intimate and chic, our imaginative approach ensures that every occasion is truly unique. More info
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. More info
Beautiful Victorian Hotel, refurbished to a high standard. Classic Victorian features meet contemporary design. Our Hotel is located in the historic center of the City of Bristol providing the perfect location and venue for your dream wedding. More info
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. More info
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. More info
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. More info
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. More info
As the only Tudor castle in the England which you can stay in as a hotel, Thornbury Castle is a unique and unforgettable wedding venue. The luxurious, 500 year old castle is set in the South Gloucestershire countryside, on the edge of the Cotswolds. More info
Mercure Bristol North The Grange Hotel, offer a full wedding service, from the Civil Ceremony through to your wedding reception. With 19 acres of beautify grounds, just north of Bristol, Somerset, Gloucestershire. More info
A warm welcome awaits you at the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, set in 7 acres of landscaped gardens, the 18th Century House awaits you. More info
With six function rooms of various sizes for every possible need, The Bristol Golf Club has you and your wedding covered, listed as one of the top 14 wedding venues in Bristol. More info
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. More info
The Walled Garden at Orchardleigh Estate offers the most stunning venue, beautifully hidden within in the grounds of a private 500 acre Estate near Bath. Somerset weddings. More info
Our vintage Banking Hall is the perfect wedding venue. Former Banking Hall, Grade II Listed Building of an impressive 4000 Sq Foot Floor Space with Marble Style Pillars, Glass Chandeliers, Arched Glass Roof and Original decorative ceiling features. More info
A stunning wedding venue set on the Old Down Estate within 66 acres of landscaped gardens & parkland, seats up to 120 for a wedding breakfast & up to 200 for an evening reception. 13 bedrooms including bridal suite. High quality food & drink. More info
An award winning wedding venue in Frome, Somerset. Licenced for Civil Ceremonies, this venue can give you your fairytale wedding all in one place. this venue available for wedding receptions & wedding guest accommodation. Bristol & Somerset weddings More info
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? More info
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. More info
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!
