At the turn of the 20th Century, Civil Weddings were virtually unheard of in the UK and as for Civil Partnerships, the mere suggestion of one could lead you to being ostracised from your local community!
However Civil Ceremonies have witnessed an unprecedented rise in popularity in recent times, largely due to the massive shift in society dynamics. Religion is now nowhere near as popular as it once was, and an increase in divorce rates coupled with a greater freedom of choice are perhaps the most crucial reasons for this surge in Civil Ceremony popularity. In fact, Civil Ceremonies now account for around two-thirds of Weddings that take place each year in the UK, and with recent relaxations in the laws concerning where a Civil Ceremony can take place and who (in terms of same sex partnerships) you can be joined in union with via one, we can expect to see their popularity continue to grow.
Since April 1995, couples have no longer been restrained to holding Civil Ceremonies in Register Offices and there are now thousands of premises licensed to hold them all across the UK. From stylish Country Houses and Castles through to zoo’s and football stadia, there really does seem to be an endless choice. At present, there are set rules on where Civil Ceremonies can take place in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and licensed premises do not include private homes, marquees and movable structures (boats, trains for example) – ceremonies in the open-air are also forbidden, as are those in any building which has a previous or current connection with any form of religion. In Scotland however, the rules are a lot more relaxed, and Civil Ceremonies by the shore of Loch Ness or on the top of Ben Nevis are even allowed!
Our Supplier Directory contains a comprehensive list of licensed premises from across the UK and is a great place to begin your search for the ideal Service venue. That said, licenses can be issued and revoked at any time, so we suggest that you speak direct to any particular venue you are interested in to double check if they are in possession of a valid license.
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