Nestled away in the City of London is one of the greatest hidden gems. Skinners’ Hall is a beautiful Grade I listed building, dating back as early as 1670. Skinners’ Hall is a wonderful space in which to spend a truly unforgettable day. More info
A stunning Grade I listed countryside wedding venue, with a fairytale castle feel about it. We are licensed for civil ceremonies and steeped in over 700 years of history. Surrounded by acres of National Trust woodland. More info
Stunning, luxury hotel on Park Lane, Central London. Available with a license for ceremonies. More info
Rushton Hall Hotel perfect wedding venue in Northampstonshire. Licenced for Civil ceremonies. More info
A stunning collection of barns set in the rolling Northamptonshire countryside with a licence for ceremonies available exclusively for your wedding day. More info
Strikingly beautiful and faultlessly elegant, Corinthia hotel in London is the perfect setting for your special day. Luxury Wedding venue in London. More info
The Lansdowne Club is located in the prestigious Mayfair in London. Offering elegance & romance this beautifully unique wedding venue is the perfect location for your London wedding. With unique & beautiful rooms for your ceremony evening reception. More info
Wedding venue in London.The One for Weddings. A memorable venue for a great day, One Whitehall Place is a stunning setting for your civil ceremony and wedding breakfast for up to 252 people, located on the beautiful Victoria Embankment London More info
Here at Andaz London, Liverpool Street we are licensed for wedding ceremonies or wedding receptions. We will ensure your wedding will be the event you have always dreamed of and will remember. More info
In the picturesque setting of Westminster, overlooking St James’s Park and iconic London landmarks and described as one of the most fashionable addresses in London, {10-11} Carlton House Terrace is the perfect setting for your wedding celebrations. More info
One of the four ancient Inns of Court, Middle Temple is situated at the heart of London, overlooking the Thames. Although just moments away from Fleet Street, The Strand and Embankment. More info
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. More info
Wedding venue in London. No.4 Hamilton Place is a luxurious London venue where you, your friends and family can relax and savour fantastic food, wonderful wines and superb service on your wedding day. More info
A Unique and Iconic London Wedding Venue offering two stylish venues, the Grade II listed Mappin Pavilion and the grand Prince Albert Suite, both licensed for civil ceremonies and offer charming outside space to enhance your complete day. More info
The Rembrandt is a stunning Edwardian venue set in the world famous area of Knightsbridge. The historic building has been beautifully modernised and is set in an unrivalled location just across the road from the Victoria & Albert Museum. More info
One of London's newest livery halls, Haberdashers' Hall houses one of the oldest livery companies. Tucked away in West Smithfield, it's one of the city's best hidden gems if you're planning a modern wedding celebration. More info
Haymarket is a luxury hotel in London owned by Firmdale Hotels. They have many rooms available to host your ceremony or reception to create you your perfect elegant wedding day. Their dedicated wedding team are on hand to help plan your perfect day. More info
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. More info
This fairytale wedding venue boasts a stunning Regency era setting. With exquisite menus and outstanding service, this luxury London wedding venue makes for an unforgettable day. More info
Chic West End style greets you in this intimate 1775 Georgian town house. Designed by the famous Adam Brothers architects, this versatile historic house will be exclusively yours for your whole day and evening. More info
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. More info
The Langham Hotel is located in the heart of London, offering luxury on your wedding day. Welcoming high society and social occasions since opening in 1865. The Grand Ballroom has established itself as a legendary venue for lavish weddings. More info
The Soho Hotel is situated in a quiet street in London’s vibrant entertainment neighbourhood. The hotel itself is stylish and modern, providing the perfect setting for a contemporary wedding celebration to remember. More info
Here at the 4 star Montague on the Gardens Hotel we offer an elegant setting for your wedding. We want to make your big day one to remember and to give it the personal touch our experienced wedding planners will work closely with you to achieve this. 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.
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.
