Wedding venue in Dorset , set in impressive cliff-top grounds, Highcliffe Castle is a beautiful Grade 1 listed mansion 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
Perched on the clifftop with sweeping views of Bournemouth Bay and its seven miles of golden sands, the 4* Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel is the ultimate setting for your seaside wedding. More info
With picturesque views overlooking the Avon River, Christchurch Castle and the King Arms Bowling Green, the hotel seamlessly blends tradition with exquisite contemporary style. More info
Waterside Wedding Venue in Christchurch Dorset Christchurch Harbour Hotel & Spa is a truly magical setting for a Dorset wedding. Wedding packages available for wedding civil ceremonies & wedding receptions. More info
Wedding venue in Dorset. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the 10 acres of manicured gardens at the renowned Compton Acres, The Italian Villa gives Brides and Grooms the magical day they have always wished for. More info
Private House wedding venue in Dorchester. Licensed for ceremonies both within the house and in our gardens. 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
We are a large wedding venue with a license for civil ceremonies. Offering you the chance to have your wedding in style at our historic Manor House. With 32 acres of stunning grounds to compliment your wedding photography. More info
The Orangery Suite is a wonderfully unique venue for the perfect English country garden wedding. Set within a three acre walled garden, The Orangery offers exclusive use of the beautifully landscaped grounds & extensive facilities in Poole, Dorset. More info
Nestled in the Dorset hills lies Knighton House, a stunning Georgian manor house surrounded by woods and meadows offering privacy and exclusivity for your special day. This beautiful, relaxed setting provides the ideal location for your celebration. More info
A private family country house wedding venue and grounds providing a great setting for your special ceremony in Dorset. Licensed for civil ceremonies and guest rooms available for the bridal party. More info
Chaffeymoor Grange offers a magical and unforgettable venue for your wedding day. Licensed for civil ceremonies for up to 80 guests. Exclusive use with accommodation for up to 24 guests. More info
Nestled in the hills of Beaminster, Mapperton House is a civil licensed country house wedding venue. Undiscovered and wildly romantic, you and your guests have exclusive use of the grounds, gardens, Orangery and Coach House on your wedding day. More info
Wedding venue in Bournemouth on the cliffside offering a choice of superb function rooms the hotel is the ideal wedding venue. From small intimate receptions to grand occasions we will tailour our service to you. More info
Harbour Heights offers an elegant and luxurious setting for your romantic wedding day, with the sand and sea just a stone’s throw away. The beautifully designed hotel is located in an elevated position, overlooking the famous Sandbanks Peninsula. More info
Best Western Plus Connaught Hotel, located near Bournemouth in Dorset, is the perfect choice for your wedding guests to stay after your wedding. Wedding packages to suit all budgets with spa facilities available too. More info
Wedding venue in Bournemouth, Licensed for Ceremonies. More info
Unforgettable wedding reception venue, also licensed for civil ceremonies, Dorset More info
Wedding venue in Shaftesbury with a Civil Ceremony license, The Royal Case Hotel wedding venue can offer the complete service all under one roof. More info
Wedding reception venue in Bridport, Dorset. More info
Impressive Dorset Wedding Venue in the heart of Bournemouth. This venue is licensed for Ceremonies and has plenty of wedding guest accommodation. With packages to suit your requirements. More info
Wedding Venue Dorset. Civil Ceremonies/Wedding Receptions for up to 120 guests in The Victorian Barn or up to 200 guests in The Garden Room. More info
How is a venue licensed for civil ceremonies? Find out why civil ceremony licensed venues are so popular.
If you want to have your marriage ceremony and reception all in one venue in Dorset, 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 in Dorset with a civil ceremony license, 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.
We're here to answer all of your questions on wedding venues licensed for civil ceremonies 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. 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 Dorset. Check them out.
If a wedding venue in Dorset 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. If you're wanting to have your wedding in a private home or in gardens, you will be unable to do this. The venue needs to be open to the public regularly. 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. If you're wanting to marry outside, it will need to be under a permanent structure, unlike a floral arch or an open beach setting. 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 Dorset.
The law does not consider marquees to be permanent structures, even ones that are up all year round. Due to this law, you can't legally have a civil ceremony in a marquee, even if it's permanent. 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. What you say during your ceremony can be changed to a certain degree. Ask your registrar about what needs to be included and work around that to make your own words and promises.
Unfortunately, if you want to have a religious reading or music included in your marriage ceremony, you can't have a civil ceremony. To make this happen, you would have to get married in a church building or have a religious blessing after your marriage.
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. 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!
