Two Bridges Hotel, Dartmoor a perfect wedding venue for a Country House Wedding in South Devon. Indoor & outdoor wedding ceremonies with picturesque views of Dartmoor National Park, idyllic setting for memorable wedding photos. 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
Set in the heart of East Devon's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, we offer a fully licensed venue for your wedding or civil ceremony. More info
Deer Park offer a stylish country house experience in Devon, where rural simplicity meets impeccable hospitality and modern thinking. From the casual to the extraordinary, weddings at Deer Park are a sensory experience. More info
For a stylish Devon wedding venue Salcombe Harbour Hotel & Spa is truly magical. Devon weddings don't get better than this… Following a multi-million pound refurbishment in 2012-2013 the hotel re-opened with a purpose built function room More info
Beautiful refurbished wedding venue, with a civil ceremonies license and guest accommodation available in a beautiful coastal setting, the Sidmouth Harbour is able to cater up to 100 guests. The venue also has a stunning exclusive outdoor terrace. More info
Luxury Wedding venue near Plymouth in Devon. Wedding packages and guest accommodation available. Country House wedding venue in Devon. More info
Future Inn Plymouth offers a fresh and contemporary ambiance for your wedding celebrations. Whether you chose to have an intimate gathering or a large lavish celebration with all your family and friends, we have modern and stylish suites to suit all. More info
Surrounded by the untamed beauty of Dartmoor National Park, Gidleigh Park offers an air of tranquillity within a Tudor-style country house. Perfect for an exclusive use wedding or an intimate day wedding celebration with evening reception. More info
The planning of your wedding should be an enjoyable experience and we would like to invite you to visit Dartmoor Lodge and see the facilities available to you, we believe we have the perfect Devon Wedding Venue, on the edge of Dartmoor. More info
Northcote Manor wedding venue in Devon the perfect stage for an unforgettable wedding celebration. Weddings here at the Manor take precedent and enjoy run of the house. More info
The Kingston Estate near Totnes is the ultimate weekend wedding venue in Devon and it has recently been highly commended in the 2016 Wedding industry Awards, finalists at South West Wedding Awards 2017. Indoor / Outdoor & barn weddings in Devon More info
The Imperial Torquay commands a unique cliff top position, overlooking Torbay and the beautiful Devon coast. A historic property, built in the Victorian era, the hotel is a reminder of why this part of Devon became known as the English Riviera. More info
Escot house is the perfect wedding venue for brides wanting an exclusive use venue at an affordable price. Located in Ottery St Mary in East Devon, Escot is a stunning Georgian stately home surrounded by 250 acres of tranquil parkland. More info
In the heart of historical Exeter, it's the perfect venue for a truly special wedding day in the South West. Able to hold intimate and large weddings, the team's flexible approach will tailor your day to you, either bespoke or all-inclusive packages. More info
Beautiful Victorian wedding venue in the heart of Exeter Devon. Unique period function rooms and historic stained glass windowed staircase make a stunning backdrop for your wedding celebrations. This venue holds a civil ceremony license for up to 250 More info
Cornwall’s most unique wedding venue. A truly romantic setting for your wedding ceremony or reception in Cornwall. Castle weddings & receptions situated in beautiful Cornish countryside. Luxury weddings at Pentillie Castle on the River Tamar. More info
China Fleet is a stunning Wedding Reception Venue located in Saltash, Cornwall. We offer a personal service and advice on anything relating to your big day - civil ceremonies, wedding catering, wedding make-up, and accommodation. More info
Holne Park House is one of the most romantic, stylish and unique wedding venues. Our wedding team offer a flexible approach for your day. Perfect wedding venue in Dartmoor National Park, South Devon. More info
Award winning Country House wedding venue on the Devon/Cornwall border. With stunning views overlooking the Tamar Valley, The Horn of Plenty offers a romantic & highly flexible venue for your wedding. Your dream wedding venue in Devon. More info
Beautifully romantic wedding venue in Devon licenced for civil ceremonies and wedding parties. More info
Tucked amid rolling Devon hills, in Axminster, our farm is one of the most unique & popular wedding venues in the South West. Licensed for Weddings, River Cottage HQ is a fantastic setting for your ceremony & wedding, close to the Jurassic Coastline. More info
A bespoke wedding venue with 6 farm cottages sleeping up to 35 guests on site, a licensed Barn for Civil ceremonies and stunning countryside views. Available for 1 night weddings or a full weekend, camping also welcome. Plan your own dream wedding! More info
Situated in the heart of Exeter, the Guildhall is an unmistakable piece of the Devon's identity. With a history dating back more than 800 years, its grandeur and elegance would make the ideal setting for your wedding day. More info
What does it mean to be a licensed venue for civil ceremonies?
Having a civil ceremony is the perfect option for those of you who want a legal ceremony but without having to get married in a church or with a religious connection, 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.
If your dream wedding venue isn't licensed for civil ceremonies, there's other options in Devon. 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.
We're here to answer all of your questions on wedding venues licensed for civil ceremonies below...
Civil ceremony licensed wedding venues can range from a classic country house or barn to more unique venues including caves and safari parks. 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 venues, you can only have a humanist or spiritual ceremony at, or just have your reception there. This is because they haven't paid for a civil ceremony license. We have all of the top venues licensed for civil ceremonies in Devon. Check them out.
Every venue in Devon is assessed and researched before they are approved for civil ceremonies. This is done by the local council in which the venue is based. 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. Due to the venue needing to be regularly open to the public to be an approved venue, you aren't able to legally marry in a private home or estate. 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 Devon.
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. One advantage of a civil ceremony is there's the option to say what you wish as part of your wedding vows. There are some things that need to be legally stated for it to be legally binding but you can work around this. Find an abundance of venues licensed for civil ceremonies in Devon on Guides for Brides.
You can't have your civil ceremony in a religious building in Devon, such as a church. It applies the same way round - you can't have a religious aspect to your civil ceremony. Therefore, unfortunately you are not allowed to have a religious reading during 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!
