Wedding reception venue in South Wales ,Celtic Manor situated in the beautiful Usk Valley. The perfect backdrop for your special day. 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
Fairyhill by Oldwalls. Luxury. First class service. Fantastic food. These are the things Fairyhill by Oldwalls guarantee. More info
Exclusivity comes as standard and not an exception, award-winning food and first class wedding facilities are what we are renowned for. We are one of Wales’ only dedicated wedding venues, purpose designed and managed to deliver your special day. More info
Allow us to bring your dreams to life here at the Swansea Marriott Hotel, tailoring to your exact requirements from small, intimate events for 10 guests, to grand celebrations for up to 200 guests. More info
At Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel & Spa we'll make your wedding day unforgettable in every way. Our modern, luxurious hotel is situated in an enviable location in the centre of Cardiff. More info
A hidden treasure, this country house wedding venue in Monmouth, is available for with a civil ceremony license and can also accommodate just the celebrations, from Wedding Breakfast to Reception. More info
Welsh Wedding Awards 'Romantic Venue of the Year' 2018 Hensol Castle has opened its doors for weddings. Situated on the Hensol Park Estate, close to The Vale Resort, this Castle Wedding Venue in South Wales is an ideal fairytale location. More info
Gileston Manor is your perfect destination wedding, can create the wedding your dreams in our exquisite gardens and lotus marquee. Your Wedding, Your Dreams, Our Destination More info
Set in 650 acres of beautiful welsh countryside, the Vale Resort has long been one of South Wales' most sought after wedding venues. More info
Our vintage Banking Hall is the perfect wedding venue. Former Banking Hall, Grade II Listed Building of an impressive 4000 Sq Foot Floor Space with Marble Style Pillars, Glass Chandeliers, Arched Glass Roof and Original decorative ceiling features. More info
A Monmouthshire countryside wedding venue. With a licence for civil ceremonies & in a beautiful setting, this venue is a must for weddings. More info
A Castle wedding doesn't get much more authentic than at Fonmon Castle, with exclusive use of the property and gardens and a stunning building dating from the twelfth century full of historic treasures, you really can be a princess for the day More info
This beautiful wedding venue in Usk, South Wales has been voted as Best Wedding Venue in Wales and recognised for its excellent customer service. A perfect setting for your wedding reception the Glen Yr Afon is the perfect South Wales Wedding Venue. More info
The Heritage Park Hotel is a beautiful hotel wedding venue with a licence for civil ceremonies in Rhondda. More info
Nestled in the Wye Valley, Llangoed Hall is a truly unique wedding venue, rich in history, set in 17 beautiful acres, with views across the Black Mountains, which create the most magnificent, naturally beautiful back-drop for wedding photographs. More info
Get married in a fairytale castle in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park, with exclusive use. Our Civil Licensed wedding venue in Pen-y-cae promises to look after you from start to finish ensuring you have the most amazing wedding day! More info
Hotel wedding venue in Cardiff. Available with a license for ceremonies. More info
Wedding reception venue licensed for civil ceremonies in Cardiff, South Wales. Wedding packages in Cardiff. More info
Wedding venue on the outskirts of Cardiff, South Wales with excellent links to the M4. Licensed for Civil Ceremonies. Wedding guest accommodation also available More info
Historical coaching inn wedding venue in Neath. Licensed for Ceremonies with 29 guest rooms available. More info
All you need from a wedding venue, Maesteg Town Hall is a beautiful wedding reception venue. More info
A country house wedding venue nestled in the heart of Bryngarw Park. With 19 boutique bedrooms, this is the perfect choice for any exclusive, intimate wedding. More info
As winner of ‘Best Wedding Venue’ in South Wales,we understand the importance of every aspect of your wedding, from quality of service and location,to the small details which truly make the difference. There's no other location quite like it ! 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.
Most wedding venues in South Wales 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.
We're here to answer all of your questions on wedding venues licensed for civil ceremonies below...
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.
If a wedding venue in South Wales 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. The venue must also be regularly available to the public for the purpose of conducting marriage ceremonies. This is why private homes can’t be approved for a civil ceremony license. 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 South Wales.
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. There is a degree of flexibility within these guidelines, and you can include your own promises as part of your wedding ceremony. Your registrar can guide you on what words need to be legally included.
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 South Wales. If you would like to include religion in some way, you can have a religious blessing after 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. 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!
