Botleys Mansion is a grand country house wedding venue available for exclusive use for weddings, in Chertsey, Surrey. Licensed for Civil Ceremonies, this luxurious wedding reception venue is an ideal mixture of old and new. More info
Award winning exclusive use wedding venue in East Sussex. Saltcote Place offers magical far reaching views, formal gardens, and exclusive use. We give you the time and tools needed to create something magical. Late checkout, early check in and more. More info
Wedding venue in Berkshire. Easthampstead Park Conference Centre is based within a Victorian Country Mansion & surrounded by 60 acres of parkland. With a great backdrop for photographs & offering Wedding packages. More info
A beautiful historic wedding venue nestled in 163 acres of surrey countryside with on-site Accommodation for up to 36 guests, the 800 capacity Royal Pavilion, and beauty and fitness facilities. More info
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. More info
Nonsuch Mansion is completely exclusive This not only means that yours will be the only wedding taking place at the spectacular mansion, but you will also enjoy the undivided attention of our expert wedding team. More info
Luxury Hotel & Country Club for your wedding venue nestled deep within 400 acres of Surrey's best countryside. Wedding Breakfast and Evening Reception, also licensed for Civil Ceremonies. More info
Luxury hotel wedding venue in Guildford, Surrey with 183 beautifully decorated rooms for overnight guests, including bridal suites. Licensed to hold weddings with up to 160 guests (plus additional evening) and packages to suite all budgets More info
Lovingly restored as a perfect barn wedding venue, Lillibrooke Manor and Barns provides a romantic and picturesque setting for your special day. More info
Perfect wedding venue in Berkshire,Complete historic wedding venue, with rooms of various shapes and size perfect for any celebration. Fully licensed to host civil ceremonies. More info
Positioned on the banks of the River Blackwater in Yateley, Hampshire, you’ll find Rivervale Barn. A wedding venue full of natural charm and elegance, built with beautiful wedding ceremonies and receptions in mind. More info
Perfect wedding venue in Farleigh, Surrey set in 350 acres, we have been hosting ceremonies and receptions for over 20 years. Start your partnership in style. Friendly wedding coordinators & menus by one of Croydon's top restaurants. More info
Set in 123 acres, Pennyhill Park is a unique wedding venue licenced for civil ceremonies in Camberley, Surrey. Our dedicated wedding co-ordinator can provide ideas and quotes on receptions, guest accommodation and exclusive use for your special day. More info
Our fabulous weddings venue on the River Thames in Egham, Surrey is just down the road from Royal Windsor and minutes from Heathrow. It's the perfect place to start your life together. More info
Set within 600 acres of stunning parkland, the club is within touching distance of the historic Hampton Court Palace, offering a unique setting for your special day. More info
Perched above the 18th green with grandstand views over the lake, fountains and course beyond, Surrey National's superb clubhouse offers the spacious and beautifully appointed Fountain Suite and adjoining Terrace Room. More info
Macdonald Frimley Hall Hotel & Spa is the perfect wedding venue. Walking through the stunning landscaped gardens to an oak wood staircase and fireplace, this picturesque Grade II listed Victorian Manor House is the ideal backdrop for your wedding More info
Chobham Golf Club provides an excellent venue for your wedding day with the Clubhouse set in an ideal location with ample parking. The Montgomerie Suite has its own private bar for your exclusive use for the day, and can seat up to 140 people. More info
For the most stylish and unique of weddings, why not consider Brooklands Hotel in Surrey. Licensed for Civil Ceremonies and wedding receptions. More info
Reigate Manor is a beautiful 18th Century manor house in the heart of Surrey. With 5 different rooms licensed for civil ceremonies and 50 bedrooms the venue can take care of your whole day. More info
Steeped in history and heritage, combined with stylish and contemporary features, Farnham Castle is a unique and exclusive venue for the wedding of your dreams. More info
Wedding Venue in Dorking, Surrey. Celebrate your Surrey wedding in the beautiful landscaped setting of the vineyard. Denbies is one the most spectacularly unique wedding venue in the heart of the Surrey Hills. More info
Situated in 17 acres of Surrey countryside, Gorse Hill is a beautiful manor house with a quintessentially English charm, you couldn't ask for a more magical setting to celebrate your special day. More info
A sporting wedding venue in Lingfield, Surrey. Available for both small and large wedding receptions and licensed for civil ceremonies. More info
Civil ceremony wedding venues are hugely popular throughout the UK. However, what exactly does it mean to be a licensed wedding venue?
If you want a ceremony in Surrey 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.
If your dream wedding venue isn't licensed for civil ceremonies, there's other options in Surrey. 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...
There's many different types of venue that can be licensed for civil ceremonies. Anything from castles and hotels to barns and even unique venues such as zoo's! 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 Surrey 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. 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. You can't legally have a civil ceremony in an open area such as in open woodland or under a flower archway on the beach. It must be a fixed structure like a wooden gazebo that is separately licensed. 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 Surrey.
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. 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 Surrey 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 Surrey. 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. 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!
