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.
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.
Set in 123 acres a unique wedding venue licenced for civil ceremonies in, Surrey including outdoor ceremony. Our dedicated wedding co-ordinator can provide ideas and quotes on receptions, guest accommodation and exclusive use for your special day.
Three Choirs is a beautiful location to hold your special wedding day or private function. With exclusive use of our stunning venue for your celebration it will create forever memories. Looking for a stunning Vineyard wedding venue in Hampshire.
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.
The perfect wedding venue in Hampshire, historic and picturesque, with rooms of various styles and sizes perfect for any celebration. Fully licensed to host civil ceremonies. This is a great wedding venue in Hampshire for your wedding day.
Set in the picturesque surroundings of the Hampshire countryside, Old Thorns is the ideal location to hold either your marriage or civil partnership.
Beautiful wedding venue at Oakley Hall Hotel is set within 315 acres of grounds in the beautiful Hampshire countryside and is the perfect venue for weddings, romantic breaks, conferences, fine dining and special occasions.
A beautiful Grade II Listed Building, with historic reference to Jane Austen. Licensed for ceremonies you can hold your wedding breakfast and reception in the same suite as Jane held her 18th Birthday Party.
A charming Queen Anne Mansion, Highfield Park offers a truly intimate surrounding for your special day and is available for exclusive use. A unique wedding venue in Nr Hook, Hampshire.
The Mercure Winchester Wessex Hotel is next to the historical Winchester Cathedral, our hotel provides a stunning unique backdrop for your wedding. Imagine turning up to our exceptional venue knowing that you have the photo opportunity of a lifetime.
DoubleTree by Hilton Southampton is a gorgeous hotel wedding venue in Hampshire licensed to hold civil ceremonies for up to 130 guests & wedding receptions for up to 200 guests, so you can hold your whole day of celebrations in one location.
Solent Hotel & Spa is a luxury wedding venue in Whiteley that offers all the small details that make weddings exceptional. From the red carpet entrance to the midnight snacks; your special day is personalised to you.
Conveniently located, yet quiet and hidden away, we are the perfect location for your wedding so come and talk to us and see how we can make your dream wedding come to life.
Whether a small Civil Ceremony or Partnership, or a large reception and celebration on the beach with drinks on the balcony, we will be delighted to help you build a bespoke wedding package tailored to your every requirement.
The Balmer Lawns is a stunning wedding venue in Hampshire & is one of the most iconic buildings in the Forest, surround by landscaped gardens, rivers, lakes, wildlife & stunning forest, you will experience a magical day in the beautiful surroundings
Get married in our beautiful 16th Century Hampshire Barn, set in a tranquil meadow, where large glass doors open onto the backdrop of the Hampshire South Downs.
Perfect wedding reception venue in Portsmouth, Hampshire. A truly unique space catering for wedding ceremonies & receptions. Host your ceremony and wedding breakfast high above Portsmouth Harbour before enjoying your reception on the waterfront.
Chilworth Manor is a perfect setting for your Civil Ceremony and Reception venue in Hampshire. A beautiful Edwardian Manor House located on the outskirts of Southampton in peaceful surroundings, and set amidst 12 acres of stunning landscaped gardens.
Set in the heart of Fleet, Hampshire The Lismoyne Hotel offers the most romantic and intimate wedding venue in Hampshire. We have a variety of Wedding packages available as well the option to create tailor made packages to make your day perfect.
Begin your timeless wedding journey at the Crowne Plaza Basingstoke. Whether you are planning a spectacular celebration or an intimate gathering, we understand that your wedding is one of the most important days of your life.
From romantic to rustic ceremonies and receptions in a picturesque setting the Woodlands Lodge Hotel provides all the inspiration, care and attention that you deserve for your special day.
Perfect for your civil ceremony in Portsmouth, Hampshire
Southampton City Art Gallery is a beautiful venue with a licence for civil ceremonies in Southampton, Hampshire. Imagine saying your vows against the backdrop of the stunning window, and beautiful paintings and sculptures.
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.
There are hundreds of wedding venues in Hampshire 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.
Take a look at our FAQ below for everything you need to know about your civil ceremony licensed wedding venue.
Not just traditional wedding venues have civil ceremony licenses. Some more unique venues including safari parks, tree houses and beach venues have this license. 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 Hampshire. Check them out.
When a venue in Hampshire applies for a civil ceremony license it needs to be assessed by the local council. 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 Hampshire.
The law does not consider marquees to be permanent structures, even ones that are up all year round. 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 Hampshire 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 Hampshire. 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. If you're wanting to have religious elements to your ceremony, whether that be a song or a reading, a humanist ceremony would work perfect for you in Scotland. Speak to a few venues around you to see what ceremonies they can offer and what would work for you
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Elaine has over 8 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.
