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
Welcome to Derwydd Mansion Estate. This unique Grade 2* listed 15th Century mansion and it’s beautiful grounds are the perfect backdrop for your perfect day. More info
Stradey Park Hotel & Spa is one of the finest award winning wedding venues in Carmarthenshire. Each couple is unique & wishes to make their day personal, our wedding co-ordinators work with you on every detail of the wedding, making your day special. More info
The only Hotel in Llanelli that offers Exclusive Use for your Wedding. With over 25 years experience arranging weddings we will ensure that your special day is filled with joy & happiness. More info
‘Discover the Least Discovered’ Surrounded by magnificent views over the beautiful Dau Cleddau Estuary & Pembrokeshire countryside, Slebech Park Estate provides the ideal setting for your Wedding Celebrations in Bespoke surroundings. More info
Licensed wedding venue on the beach of Tenby. An incredible choice of hotel for your wedding requirements from ceremony to reception and of course guest accommodation. More info
Give your civil ceremony a beautiful backdrop, Fishguard Bay Hotel in Goodwick, Pembrokeshire. Wedding reception venue with guest accommodation. More info
An expertly restored 16th century building surrounded by sea, the Towy estuary and acres of marshland, The Corran is truly one of the most romantic and unique wedding settings in Wales. More info
Suitable for both intimate or large weddings, this historic castle, which is the birth place of King Henry VII is now licensed for ceremonies. With the Wedding celebrations thereafter in a marquee in the stunning grounds. More info
All you need from a wedding venue, The Cawdor is a beautiful venue with a license for civil ceremonies in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire. More info
The Baltic Inn is situated in the Gwendreath Valley in the heart of the Carmarthenshire countryside. We offer a variety of affordable and bespoke wedding packages that cater for your every need. We will not be beaten on price or quality. More info
Looking for the perfect wedding venue? GELLIFAWR COUNTRY HOTEL will provide you with the best civil ceremony venue in Pembrokeshire. More info
Licensed Wedding venue in Llanidloes More info
Country House, Boutique Hotel, wedding venue just outside of Cardigan, licensed for ceremonies, with the opportunity for exclusive use. More info
Your wedding day is a very special occasion and nobody understands that better than our experienced wedding team. We are now registered for civil wedding ceremonies so that all the arrangements can take place under one roof. More info
Lovely wedding venue in Wales available for exclusive use for your wedding day with accommodation for up to 56 of you and your guests. More info
Wedding venue in Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire. Also licensed for Civil ceremonies. More info
Wedding reception venue in Sandersfoot. Also licensed for civil ceremonies. More info
We welcome you to celebrate your wedding day at Llwyn Hall on the beautiful Carmarthenshire Coast. More info
Wedding venue in LLandovery, Carmarthenshire More info
Perfect wedding venue at The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion. The Library offers spectacular view of the town and the superb building offers an unique backdrop to this most special of days. More info
Rhosygilwen Mansion, is a licensed wedding venue in Rhoshill, Cardigan. With the options of joining us after a church wedding for your wedding breakfast and reception. More info
With personalised wedding packages and a license for Civil ceremonies, this is the place for a stress-free day. Take advantage of the guest accommodation at the same time. More info
Tenby is famous for its beautiful beach, so why not get married at a venue that looks out across the bay, from an amazing location on the cliff tops. More info
How is a venue licensed for civil ceremonies? Find out why civil ceremony licensed venues are so popular.
If you want to have your marriage ceremony and reception all in one venue in West 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 West Wales. 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. 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 West Wales.
If a wedding venue in West 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. 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. 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 West 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. 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 West Wales on Guides for Brides.
Unfortunately, if you want to have a religious reading or music included in your marriage ceremony, you can't have a civil ceremony. To make this happen, you would have to get married in a church building or have a religious blessing after your marriage.
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.
