Is it possible to get married in an English or Welsh castle hotel?
Yes! Civil ceremonies can take place at over 2,000 licensed venues, including castles, grand country homes, and hotels. Each castle hotel listing on this site has a notation if weddings are possible, but if you visit the various regional pages, you'll find links to many private great houses and castles that are phenomenal venues in which to hold a wedding.
Be aware that at a private venue you must arrange for the local superintendent registrar to attend the solemnization of the marriage. There is a fee for this in addition to the set marriage fee. You will also need two witnesses. Also, because this is a civil marriage, nothing can have any religious connotations. You may use your own vows in addition to the traditional declaratory statements.
Civil Marriages
Anybody of any nationality may marry in Britain. If you are not a resident of the U.K. and are entering for the express purpose of marriage you must:
- Contact the superintendent registrar of the area where you wish to marry to discuss the requirements. Both of you will need to meet with the registrar personally.
- A residency of 7 days and an additional 15-day wait.
- If you do not hold a U.K. passport, you will need a visa, regardless if you need one to enter the country as a tourist. For further information on the visa requirement, visit the UK visas website.
Religious Marriages
Contact the church, temple, or mosque of the district where you wish to marry for specific information on residency requirements or issues surrounding second marriages.
If you wish to marry in a building that is not licensed for marriages, a special license must be approved by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Forget about Westminster Abbey.
Documents needed:
- Passport
- Birth Certificate
- If married before, a decree absolute of divorce or a death certificate. In case of a divorce, the superintendent registrar must verify the information with the court where the divorce took place. You cannot marry until this has been completed.