The Legalities of Getting Married in a Hotel
The idea of getting married in a hotel can be a great way to consolidate several parts of your special day in to one location to remove elements of logistical nightmares (such as problems going from the church to the venue then to a hotel after the event).
Also, arranging the whole day, from the cake to flowers on the table to the Toastmaster as well as colour themes, should be easier, as the venue will be able to work with you to co-ordinate everything. This can be easier than having to speak to several different companies such as caterers, musicians etc.
Because hotel wedding venues are geared up to offer the full package, it can also mean that is it more cost effective to have a wedding and reception in the same location – as well as being able to have guests stay onsite.
Is The Wedding legal?
So, is getting married in a hotel legal? If you get married in a hotel, are you actually getting married in a legal sense? You do hear horror stories of people paying thousands of pounds on basically a sham that is not legal in the eyes of the law.
How do you know? All hotels that offer weddings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must have their premises approved by their local authority. The easiest way to find out if your planned venue is authorised, is to go to the local town hall and pick up a copy of their list of authorised premises. Or the Gov.Uk site has a full list of approved premises in the UK, which is viewable online. As they say, however, it is worth checking for certain with the local authority, as they will have the most up to date records.
Is the person conducting the wedding ceremony authorised?
To have a legal marriage in a hotel, the person conducting or overseeing the service/ ceremony, must be authorised to register marriages in the district you are getting married. Remember, you will need to have two witnesses sign the marriage register as well as you and your partner.
So, now the legalities are out of the way, this is where the fun starts – deciding which venue to choose!
Location, Location, Location!
Like any wedding, the venue is one of the most important parts of your special day and a hotel that specialises in wedding parties can make your day look fantastic. They could have grounds or special rooms you can use for a wedding ceremony. So your wedding photos can make it look like you were married in a country house rather than a hotel.
To give you a flavour of some of the hotels that offer civil ceremonies, here are a few different options for you to consider:
Barnsley House, CotswoldsIn the heart of the English countryside you can get married in the Temple, on the lawn or in their Potager Restaurant.
Atlantic Hotel Newquay Offering coastal views of Newquay and near the surfers paradise of Fistral Beach, this 4* hotel offers a number of packages for couples.
Ruthin Castle, North Wales Want to get married in a castle? Then look no further than the beautiful Ruthin Castle in Wales. Nestled in acres of parkland beside the Clwydian Range in North Wales and steeped in history, it also has a spa.
There are literally dozens of wonderful UK venues for a groom and bride-to-be to choose from whether you are looking for a small, intimate ceremony for just close families and friends or a big “do”. Have a wonderful day!
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