Traditional and elegant, 106 Pall Mall offers spectacular reception rooms and a beautiful garden in the heart of London
Grade I-listed British Museum in Central London in an impressive location for your wedding party. Our Court Restaurant under the wonderful Norman Foster roof at the heart of the British Museum.
Located in the heart of London's West End, Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill offers the perfect blend of classic elegance and unrivalled hospitality for intimate ceremonies and grand receptions for up to 180 guests.
One Aldwych, London's cultured, independent hotel, is set in Covent Garden, one of the most vibrant areas of London. The impressive architecture, gorgeous interiors and amazing central location, make it the perfect venue for a stylish urban wedding.
The grandeur of the Grade II* listed, the In & Out (Naval and Military Club) is the perfect setting for your social or corporate events and is available for private hire for members and non-members.
Historic Trinity House, the working home of the General Lighthouse Authority, offers direct views of the Tower of London and is ideal for weddings offering capacities of 180 standing and seated 130. The Corporation is a registered charity.
Wedding venue in London. Licensed for civil ceremonies this venue offers the perfect location for any wedding. The space flows beautifully from the grand entrance hall and stone staircase up to the ceremony and reception rooms and roof garden.
Standing proudly in Central London for over 200 years, Toynbee Hall is a community-loved venue, with heaps of character that will surely make for a picturesque backdrop to your special day.
Rushton Hall Hotel perfect wedding venue in Northampstonshire. Licenced for Civil ceremonies.
Wharfedale Grange is a luxury Barn Wedding venue near Leeds and Harrogate located within the Yorkshire Countryside. We are able accommodate wedding parties from 50 up to 250 guests and we always go above and beyond to cater for your every need.
Kimpton Fitzroy London has beautifully restored event spaces to host your dream wedding. We are here to ensure your wedding day is perfect so will assist with every aspect of planning, from food to flowers and every detail in between.
The mixture of classic Victorian architecture and cutting-edge technology compliments your event. Holding up to 1000 people, you will have a choice of 6 different rooms allowing flexibility to your event.
The Dickens Inn is a picturesque restyled and reconstructed 18th century pub nestled in St Katherine Docks.
Situated just a few minutes’ walk from St. Paul’s Cathedral, Stationers’ Hall and Garden offers an impressive and unique Wedding venue. Available for exclusive hire throughout the year, making it the perfect venue for all seasons.
The Mandarin Oriental is an ideally located Central London luxury wedding venue by Hyde Park. It's licensed for civil ceremonies and has the most beautiful, grand facilities for your wedding reception celebrations.
Luxury London wedding venue is perfect for an extravagant affair. Located in the heart of London near Royal Parks. Not only is Sofitel a stylish venue, but it is also practical as it is situated in central London.
The Tower of London is a stunning, unique wedding venue in Central London, now licensed for civil ceremonies. Historic Royal Palaces are able to hire out The Tower of London for your whole day, from the ceremony through to reception.
The Berkeley is located in Knightsbridge and is one of London's most stylish venues. This stunning hotel has a number of wonderful settings available for your wedding including a gorgeous, contemporary Ballroom ideal for up to 250 guests.
One of London's grandest venues, the Banqueting House’s timeless majesty promises to wow your guests. No matter what size your wedding, the Banqueting House guarantees an unforgettable setting for your big day.
The Chesterfield Mayfair sets an elegant scene for your wedding venue in Central London. The hotel itself, at the heart of London’s most exclusive district, is the epitome of Mayfair chic and traditional British old-world charm.
Claridge’s is not your usual wedding venue as this hotel is also an English institution. Since 1856, this art deco landmark in Mayfair has been adored by movie stars, fashion designers, global dignitaries and even royalty, perfect for a luxurious wedding.
Stunning wedding ceremonies and receptions in one of London's most prestigious hotels. We have a choice of very different banqueting spaces suitable for 20 to 400 wedding guests.
Nowhere surpasses the riverside views of the Little Ship Club at a Thames waterfront wedding. Your family will love the relaxed atmosphere created by the Chesterfield sofas, calm colour schemes, plentiful daylight and the easy flow of the river!
The Rosewood ensures that every experience is bespoke with a dedicated team to assist you in transforming their flexible function rooms. You will be sure to make an entrance in the Grand Ballroom, a venue fit for a fairytale.
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 Central London 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...
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 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 Central London.
The local council determine if wedding venues in Central London are suitable for a civil ceremony license. 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 Central London.
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 Central London 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 Central London. 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. You can also include religious elements in your humanist ceremony. If you’re a bride in Scotland, ask your wedding venue about what kind of ceremony would work best for you.
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.
