Rowton Castle is a wonderful venue, situated in the heart of the Shropshire countryside, close to Shrewsbury, the Midlands and on the edge of the Welsh border, it is a much sought-after exclusive use wedding venue. More info
Barn Wedding Venue with Onsite Accommodation. 3 stunning interconnected wedding barns with unrivaled waterfront setting. Licensed for barn weddings for up to 170 guests. Outdoor Weddings overlooking the Mill Pond available at this no corkage venue. More info
Bredenbury Court Barns are a collection of beautiful buildings undergoing careful restoration; including a charming 1920s Orangery for your wedding ceremony & glass-walled Oak Barn with stunning views for your feast & party. Onsite accommodation too! More info
An enchanting country estate, Davenport House is exclusively yours on your special day. More info
This Georgian Country House Wedding venue in Ironbridge, overlooks the River Severn and Dale End Park. Licensed for ceremonies inside and out. With beautiful gardens perfect for your wedding photography, our venue offers you the complete package. More info
A BEAUTIFUL VENUE IN A MAGICAL LOCATION! If you are looking for a unique and beautiful setting for your wedding – look no further than Henley Hall, a magnificent Grade II listed stately home surrounded by parkland yet 2 miles from historic Ludlow. More info
Wedding venue in Telford, Shropshire also license for civil ceremonies. More info
Lakeside Hotel Exclusive Use Worcestershire Wedding Venue & Hotel Licenced for Civil Ceremonies 16 Bedrooms 40 acres of grounds for photographs Spa Therapist on site Wedding Coordinator and Event Staff Caters for up to 90 guests seated More info
Wedding venue in Staffordshire. Licensed for civil ceremonies . A large, historic, timber-framed granary, sympathetically and luxuriously restored, whilst retaining many of its original features including a magnificent A-framed beamed ceiling. More info
Delbury Hall is one of the most magnificent wedding venues in rural Shropshire. A private family residence, its striking architecture, breathtaking grounds and contemporary facilities can be exclusively yours on your wedding day. More info
Your fairy-tale begins at the foot of the Wrekin set in beautiful Shropshire countryside. A starting point for wonderful memories with romantic gardens and lake makes a stunning backdrop for your special day. More info
Exclusive hire glamping village and wedding barns for 20 to 120 guests. All conveniences. Excellent facilities. No corkage. Free WiFi. Stunning location. More info
Wedding venue in Shrewsbury, Shropshire licensed for ceremonies; set in 400 acres of beautiful natural landscape, with the ability to cater for up to 200 guests. More info
Whether you are looking for a civil ceremony, civil partnership or a church wedding The Hundred House can offer you an intimate wedding day that will be remembered for years to come. More info
Looking for a stunning wedding venue with beautiful grounds, look no further than Hawkstone Hall in Stropshire More info
Built in 1831, Lilleshall Hall is the former home & hunting lodge of the Duke of Sutherland and stands in extensive, beautiful grounds overlooking the stunning Capability Brown inspired gardens; an ideal backdrop for those ever cherished photographs. More info
Weddings - a Sweeney Speciality. Wedding Venue, Oswestry, Shropshire. Set in our award winning grounds the Sweeney is the perfect setting. From an intimate Wedding for the chosen few to a Full blown Full house, we at the Sweeney have it covered. More info
Fishmore Hall, a Georgian House in Ludlow, Shropshire is a stunning wedding venue, with a licence for civil marriages. A stunning venue for your wedding day celebrations. And fantastic photo opportunities. More info
Wedding venue in Muxton, Telford, Shropshire. Also licensed for wedding receptions More info
A wedding venue in Whitchurch, Shropshire. Licensed for Civil Ceremonies and ample guest accommodation available. With a dedicated wedding team on hand to help you with planning your special day. More info
Brilliant Wedding Venue in Shropshire More info
Netley Hall Estate is an idyllic venue for your special event. The 160 acres of grounds, incorporating 6 lakes and idyllic gardens together with the backdrop of the 16th Century Mansion House. Shropshire wedding venue. More info
Lions Quay is a unique wedding reception venue in Shropshire also licensed for civil ceremonies. More info
The Guildhall at Newport (Shropshire) is a 15th Century building. Ideal as a wedding venue. Licenced for all Civil Ceremonies for up to 50 guests. More info
How is a venue licensed for civil ceremonies? Find out why civil ceremony licensed venues are so popular.
If you want a ceremony in Shropshire that's legally binding without getting married in a church, 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.
Most wedding venues in Shropshire will have a civil ceremony license, however some don't, so you will want to ensure that your chosen venue does before booking them. 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. It costs wedding venues money to apply for a license, so some just host humanist or spiritual ceremonies, or simply host wedding receptions rather than ceremonies.
When a venue in Shropshire 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. Due to the law, if you get married outside it still needs to be under a fixed permanent structure. 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 Shropshire.
The law does not consider marquees to be permanent structures, even ones that are up all year round. If you want to hold your wedding in a marquee, it's best to get married in a nearby church or licensed venue indoors before the reception. 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.
You can't have your civil ceremony in a religious building in Shropshire, 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. 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.
