Widbrook Grange is an 18th century Georgian country farmhouse situated amid 11 acres of flowering gardens in Bradford on Avon. Discover rustic charm, country interiors, a Kitchen restaurant run by World Champion Chef, log fire lounges & a Gin Bar. More info
The beauty of Grittleton House is that as a family owned house it comes with the ultimate flexibility. We want your wedding day to be unique, like no other. With your vision and our expertise we can work together to make your dream a reality. More info
Located in the heart of Cirencester the Kings Head re-opened in September 2014 as a modern and elegant boutique hotel offering 45 stylish bedrooms, a collection of event spaces for 400 guests, restaurant serving modern British food & Subterranean Spa More info
Gray Manor is a brand new unique boutique wedding venue & hotel set in the heart of the countryside on the Hampshire/ Wiltshire border. If you’re looking for the perfect beautiful & romantic location for your big day, Gray Manor is the perfect. More info
Wrag Barn Golf & Country Club licensed to hold Civl Ceremonies and Civil Partnerships, is the ideal venue for your truly memorable Wedding Reception. More info
Cricklade House is an idilic country house licensed for weddings set in over 30 acres of peaceful, secluded grounds provides a fabulous setting for your wedding day with panoramic views of the Wiltshire countryside. More info
At The Wiltshire we realise how important your wedding day is. Whatever your dream, whatever you need we will organise a day that is tailor-made for you in a style that is both memorable and trouble free. More info
The Longhouse is a family run Somerset wedding venue with three romantic licensed ceremony locations to choose from & incredible views of the Somerset countryside. We can cater for up to 140 guests and guarantee a very personal service. More info
Thank you for considering the Swindon Marriott Hotel for your forthcoming Wedding Celebrations. Here at the Swindon Marriott Hotel our tailored packages starts from only £36.00 per guests! More info
Silver Pear weddings at Friars Court offer the perfect wedding venue in Oxfordshire. The 17th century house & barn are available for wedding receptions and civil ceremonies with exclusive use of the beautiful grounds during your hire. More info
Sudbury House Hotel is a wedding venue on the Oxfordshire/Wiltshire border. Having been completely refurbished in 2015 the hotel is one of the best hotel venues in the area for your civil ceremony and wedding reception. More info
The Manor House is a Wedding Venue licensed for Civil Ceremonies. Set in the charming village of Castle Combe, Wiltshire, the hotel is an idyllic 14th-century manor house - a perfect, magical venue for your wedding day celebrations. More info
White Hart hotel, Salisbury, Wiltshire. A delightful wedding venue with four elegant licensed ceremony rooms and well appointed guest accommodation. More info
A Victorian House, surrounded by amazing countryside garden, ideal setting for your wedding in Salistbury, Wiltshire. This wedding venue holds a license for civil ceremonies, can cater for your wedding reception. More info
Steeped in over 400 years of history, having been at the heart of the English village of Purton since the 16th-century, this private house is evolving to become one of the counties finest Civil Licensed Wedding Venues. More info
The Stones Hotel is set in the Wiltshire Countryside on the outskirts of the City of Salisbury. We are a fully licensed venue and can accommodate up to 300 guests. We offer a range of Wedding Packages or can also create you a bespoke package. More info
The Cotswolds' most unique venue, with the world's only Boeing 747 party plane & Control Tower, both licensed for civil ceremonies. The sky is literally the limit at this incredible jet setting venue, offering weddings beyond your wildest dreams. More info
Take a closer look at Chiseldon House! Wedding venue in Chiseldon, Malborough Downs,Wiltshire. Licenced indoor and out for civil ceremonies. This wonderful venue can cater for all your special day requirements. More info
Wedding Venue in Swindon, Wiltshire, licenced for civil ceremonies. Offering bespoke wedding package to suit your budget. With beautiful grounds and guest accommodation available. More info
Stanton House is a wedding venue in Stanton Fitzwarren, Wiltshire. With stunning countryside setting, the hotel has plenty of Guest Accommodation. With a licence to perform civil ceremonies, in a choice of four rooms inside the venue to choose from. More info
The White Horse Country Park is on the outskirts of Westbury with the club house being situated within 247 acres of beautiful Wiltshire parkland, overlooked by the Westbury White Horse. Now licenced to hold weddings indoor or outdoor. More info
Set in the heart of Devizes, Wiltshire, lie the imposing Corn Exchange & majestic Town Hall, wedding reception venues, licensed for civil ceremonies. Cotswolds finest wedding venues for your special day. More info
Our exquisite stately home offers you exclusive use of both the house and grounds for your special day. Licensed for civil ceremonies. No corkage! Exceptional service from our professional wedding planner. Wiltshire country house weddings. 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 to have your marriage ceremony and reception all in one venue in Wiltshire, 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.
So many wedding venues in Wiltshire have a civil ceremony license, but just double check they do before booking them. If they don't you will have to find another way of getting a legally-binding marriage. 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...
It’s not just mansion houses or castles that can be approved wedding venues - approved premises can include everything from hotels and restaurants to zoos, aquariums, treehouses and caves! 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.
Every venue in Wiltshire is assessed and researched before they are approved for civil ceremonies. This is done by the local council in which the venue is based. 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. Due to the venue needing to be regularly open to the public to be an approved venue, you aren't able to legally marry in a private home or estate. 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 Wiltshire.
The law does not consider marquees to be permanent structures, even ones that are up all year round. 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.
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 Wiltshire. 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. If you're wanting to have religious elements to your ceremony, whether that be a song or a reading, a humanist ceremony would work perfect for you in Scotland. Speak to a few venues around you to see what ceremonies they can offer and what would work for you
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