Civil marriages in other licensed places

Local Councils are now able to licence other places for civil marriages as long as they are suitable. This means it is now possible for civil weddings to take place in hotels, banqueting suites, stately homes and other historic buildings providing the building has been licensed.

You are now able to choose between having your civil wedding in any register office or licensed building in England or Wales. You will still have to give notice in the district in which you live. Additionally you will have to give the marriage certificates to the register office in the district where you are getting married. The fees for getting married in licensed buildings will be set by each local council and will not be the same throughout the country. It is important to remember that this facility only exists for civil weddings and does not apply to any type of religious ceremony.

You can obtain a full list of Licensed buildings from the General Register Office on payment of a fee of £5.00. However if you only require a list of places locally we will be happy to provide you with a copy.

Links to approved marriage venues