How to get a wedding venue licence in England and Wales (2026)

To hold legal civil weddings in England or Wales, a venue needs "approved premises" status, often called a wedding venue licence: you apply to your council, which inspects your permanent building and advertises the application for 21 days so anyone can object, and an approval lasts at least 3 years.

The rules are in the Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) Regulations 2005. Each council sets its own fee to cover its costs. On 26 October 2026 we found fees from £326 for 5 years (Haringey) to £2,500 for 3 years (Bristol), and up to £2,896.22 for a venue for over 400 people in Royal Greenwich. A garden, lawn or marquee can host a legal ceremony only within the "linked outdoor area" of an approved building, inside the boundary of its land. A private home cannot be approved.

A 2026 government consultation proposed ending compulsory venue approval. As of 26 October 2026 there is no response and no bill, so the rules below are the law today.

This guide covers England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland are covered near the end.

What does a wedding venue licence allow?

Approval lets registrars marry couples, or form civil partnerships, in the rooms named on your approval and in the grounds around them. The legal basis is section 26(1)(bb) of the Marriage Act 1949 and section 6(3A)(a) of the Civil Partnership Act 2004. The detail is in the 2005 Regulations (SI 2005/3168) and the Registrar General's guidance for councils ("guidance" below).

Approval covers only the legal ceremony: the marriage or civil partnership itself, which the Regulations call "proceedings" (reg 2(1)). It does not cover:

• the drinks reception, the wedding breakfast or the evening party;
• selling alcohol and some kinds of entertainment, which are "licensable activities" under the Licensing Act 2003 (s.1);
• religious weddings in churches and registered places of worship, which have their own rules;
• ceremonies led by an independent celebrant, which are not legally binding in England and Wales today.

So you need approval only if couples will make their legal vows at your venue.

Can my venue be approved?

The building must pass the tests in Schedule 1 to the Regulations:

1. It is a permanent building. "Built premises" means "a permanently immovable structure comprising at least a room", or a boat that is permanently moored (reg 2(1)).
2. It is "seemly and dignified". The council looks at the building's main use, location, construction and state of repair (Schedule 1, para 1). A building whose main use could "demean" the ceremony is unsuitable (guidance, para 2.7).
3. It is regularly available to the public for weddings and civil partnerships (Schedule 1, para 2).
4. It has the fire precautions and health and safety measures the council asks for after it consults the fire and rescue service (Schedule 1, para 3).
5. It is not a religious building or a register office room (Schedule 1, para 4).
6. The ceremony room is a distinct, describable part of the building (Schedule 1, para 5).

Councils can also set local requirements for all venues in their area, such as disabled access, a private room where the registrar can see the couple before the ceremony, toilets, seating capacity, car parking, and an indoor or covered alternative for outdoor ceremonies (guidance, para 2.27).

Can couples marry in my garden or grounds?

Yes, if your building is approved. Since 6 April 2022 (SI 2022/295), approved "premises" include "linked outdoor areas": "any areas within the boundary of the land of which the built premises form part" that can be used together with the building (reg 2(1) as amended). Temporary rules allowed this from 1 July 2021 to 5 April 2022, and the Ministry of Justice then made it permanent.

What this means for you:

• Existing approved venues can use their grounds without a new application. New applicants show the boundary of their land on the plan, without marking exact spots (guidance, para 2.9).
• Marquees and other semi-permanent structures can be used in the linked outdoor area, with no 50% open-sides rule (para 2.5).
• Another building on the same land cannot use those grounds unless it is approved itself (para 2.9).
• You choose whether to offer outdoor ceremonies (para 2.17).

Schedule 2B sets four conditions for each outdoor ceremony:

1. The superintendent registrar must confirm beforehand that the chosen spot is seemly and dignified (para 1). Agree the spot before you arrange the ceremony (guidance, para 2.11).
2. The public must be able to find the spot from directions on a notice. "An obscure unmarked location in a vast field" may fail (para 2; guidance, para 2.13).
3. No food or drink may be sold to or consumed by guests while they gather or during the ceremony, except non-alcoholic drinks beforehand (para 3).
4. A notice must be shown at each public entrance from one hour before (para 4).

Councils add their own rules. Royal Greenwich limits outdoor capacity to that of the largest approved indoor room and requires an indoor fallback. Lincolnshire also asks for a bad-weather alternative.

How much does a wedding venue licence cost?

Councils may charge for each application and renewal, but no more than the cost of the work, either for your case or as an average for a class of venues (reg 12). Separately, the couple pays the council for the registrars who attend (reg 12(6)), and that fee can be higher at weekends (guidance, para 2.60).

Council fees, checked on 26 October 2026:

Spread over the approval period, that is from about £65 a year (Haringey) to about £833 a year (Bristol). Your own costs come on top: a fire risk assessment, insurance, staff time for the "responsible person" on each wedding day, and any planning application.

The Ministry of Justice's impact assessment uses a median fee of £1,897 (range £63.25 to £4,060.64). This is an estimate based on Law Commission research from 2020 uprated to 2025/26 prices, not a survey of current council fees.

Worked example (illustrative, not a real venue): £1,800 for 3 years is £600 a year, or £30 per ceremony if you hold 20 legal ceremonies a year.

How do I apply for approved premises status?

1. Check planning first. The council will want to be satisfied that wedding use needs no planning permission (guidance, para 2.26), and the model form asks for evidence (Annex H). Bedford will not issue a licence without it and suggests allowing 3 to 6 months for a planning decision. See our guide to the 28-day rule and planning for events.
2. Gather your fire and insurance evidence. Lincolnshire, for example, asks for a fire risk assessment and evacuation plan, fire equipment service records, and employer's and public liability insurance certificates.
3. Draw a plan. Mark every room you want approved, including any spare room for bad weather, and the boundary of your land (guidance, paras 2.28 and 2.30). Indoor ceremonies can take place only in rooms marked on the plan (Schedule 2, para 8).
4. Apply to the council's registration service. Only the "proprietor" or a trustee of the premises can apply, and each venue needs its own application (reg 3; guidance, para 2.29).
5. The council inspects the premises (guidance, para 2.35).
6. The council publishes a notice in a local newspaper or on its website. Anyone can object in writing within 21 days (reg 4).
7. The council decides. It can approve, refuse or add conditions. It can also refuse if registrars are unlikely to be regularly available, given how many other venues are approved in its area (reg 5(2)).
8. Name your responsible person. Straight after approval, give the council the name, address and "qualification" (role or position) of the person who will make sure the conditions are kept (reg 6(2)).

How long it takes: Lincolnshire says about 6 to 8 weeks if there are no objections, and Wrexham gives a 6 to 8 week target. Bristol's target is 35 days. Planning, if you need it, comes first and can take much longer.

Do not take bookings early. Lincolnshire and Haringey both say you should not advertise or take bookings for ceremonies until approval is granted.

What rules apply on the wedding day?

Every approval carries standard conditions (Schedule 2 to the Regulations):

• A responsible person, or a qualified deputy, must be on site from at least one hour before the ceremony until it ends (paras 1 and 2).
• Signs at each public entrance must say the premises are approved and point to the ceremony room (para 6).
• No food or drink may be sold or consumed in the ceremony room from one hour before and during the ceremony, except non-alcoholic drinks beforehand (para 7).
• The ceremony room must be separate from any other activity at the time (para 9), and the registrar approves the content in advance (para 10).
• No religious content: no hymns, worship, religious readings or rituals, and no minister leading it. An incidental reference to God in a song or reading is allowed (para 11).
• The public can attend free of charge (para 12).
• Advertising: you may say the council has approved your venue, but not that it recommends it (para 13).
• Inspection and changes: the council can inspect at any reasonable time. Report changes to the layout, venue name or responsible person straight away (paras 4 and 5).

You cannot refuse a couple because of their sexual orientation, apart from narrow exceptions for some religious organisations (guidance, para 2.22).

Without the registrars there is no legal wedding, and each partner must give notice at their local register office at least 28 days before (guidance, paras 5.3 and 5.5). Ask couples to confirm the registrar's availability before you take a non-refundable deposit.

How long does approval last, and how do I renew it?

• At least 3 years. The council chooses the period, which must be at least 3 years (reg 7(1), as amended by SI 2011/2661). Some councils grant 5 years.
• Renew up to 12 months before expiry. If your renewal application is in before expiry, your approval continues until the council decides (reg 7(3) and (5)).
• One month of grace. If approval expires and you apply within one month, it is reinstated (reg 7(6)). After that you must start again, no ceremonies can take place in the meantime, and couples must move and give fresh notice (guidance, para 2.44).
• Selling the venue. Approval stays with the property and the new owner becomes the holder (reg 7(2)), but must tell the council. Lincolnshire charges £150 for this.

Can the council refuse or take away approval?

Yes. The council can revoke approval if you break a condition or the building is no longer suitable (reg 8(1)). It must first give you at least 14 days to make written representations (reg 8(2)). The Registrar General can also direct revocation if the law on ceremonies has been broken (reg 8(6)). If approval is revoked, you must immediately tell every couple with a booked ceremony (reg 8(11)). You can ask for a refusal, revocation or extra conditions to be reviewed by people not involved in the first decision (reg 9).

Is approval worth it for your venue?

In 2023 there were 224,402 marriages in England and Wales: 191,833 civil ceremonies, of which 171,930 were on approved premises. That is about 77% of all marriages and about 90% of civil ones (ONS, Marriages in England and Wales 2023, tables 1a to 1c).

The Ministry of Justice's impact assessment puts the number of approved premises at about 7,155, from HM Passport Office's national list updated in October 2025. Dividing 2023 approved-premises marriages by that count gives roughly 24 ceremonies per venue per year. This is our own rough average across two different years, not an official figure, and real venues vary widely.

Without approval, you can still take wedding business:

• Reception only. The couple marries at a register office, where gov.uk lists the registrar fee as £62, or at another approved venue. They then hold the meal and party with you.
• A celebrant-led ceremony. An independent celebrant can lead a ceremony at your venue, but in England and Wales it has no legal effect, so the couple must also marry at a register office or approved premises.

What else changes once you are approved?

Business rates. The rating manual used by the Valuation Office (VO), published by HMRC, says a civil wedding licence "would be firm evidence of non-domestic use" (Section 6, Part 3, para 5.5). Venues that include a home are "invariably" rated as composite (part home, part business) properties (para 5.2). Wedding use may be left out of the rating list only in "very exceptional circumstances". The manual's example has all of these features: a relatively small venue with no adaptations, probably 5 or fewer single-day weddings or functions a year, licensed rooms used by the family between weddings, all catering brought in, restricted guest numbers and no marquees (para 4.11.2). Treat it as an example, not a safe limit. Our guide to business rates for event venues covers England.

VAT. Room hire can be exempt from VAT as a licence to occupy land (Value Added Tax Act 1994, Schedule 9, Group 1), but HMRC lists wedding facilities, including rooms for the ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening party, as not a licence to occupy land (VAT Notice 742, para 2.7). Hiring out an approved ceremony room on its own has also been held not to be exempt: in Blue Chip Hotels Ltd v HMRC [2017] UKUT 204 (TCC), the Upper Tribunal held that a hotel which held approval for its ceremony room was supplying more than land, so the hire was standard-rated. This matters only if you are VAT-registered or close to the threshold. Our guide Is venue hire VAT exempt? covers wedding packages.

Alcohol and entertainment. Approval does not let you sell alcohol. That needs a premises licence or a Temporary Event Notice (Licensing Act 2003, ss.1 and 2). The model application form asks whether you already hold a Licensing Act licence (Annex H, question 7).

What is the 2026 weddings reform, and what would it mean for venues?

The Ministry of Justice consultation "Tying the knot: reforming weddings law in England and Wales" ran from 16 July 2026 to 11:59am on 24 September 2026. It follows the Law Commission's 2022 report, Celebrating Marriage: A New Weddings Law, and a government commitment in October 2025 to reform the law "when parliamentary time allows". As of 26 October 2026 the Ministry is "analysing your feedback". No response or bill has been published.

What the consultation proposes:

• From buildings to officiants. The person conducting the wedding would decide whether each location is safe and dignified, under a new "dignity framework".
• No compulsory venue approval. The government "agrees that the law should no longer require weddings to take place in pre-approved venues".
• Voluntary pre-authorisation for a fixed period, with renewal and revocation. The consultation asked whether the period should be 1, 2, 3 or more years.
• No "open doors" rule, which the government calls impractical.
• Private homes: the government is "minded to permit" them, but only with robust safeguards. Weddings on inland and coastal waters are also proposed.

The impact assessment's central estimate is that venues would save about £13.58m a year in approval fees. Its preferred option needs primary and secondary legislation.

For now, the law has not changed. A garden, field or private home still cannot host a legal civil wedding, apart from narrow exceptions such as a partner who is housebound or at the end of life. Renew your approval on time.

What are the rules in Scotland?

Scotland has no approved premises system. A civil marriage can take place in a registration office or at an "appropriate place": a place the couple and the local registration authority agree on, which is not religious premises (Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977, s.18(1A), in force since 1 September 2014). National Records of Scotland says ceremonies "may take place at any indoor or outdoor location, as long as it's accessible to your chosen celebrant or registrar".

Religious and belief ceremonies, including humanist ones, can be solemnised only by approved celebrants; independent or private civil celebrants are not authorised. So a venue owner has no wedding licence to apply for: couples agree the place with the registrar or celebrant.

What are the rules in Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland has its own approval system. A civil marriage can take place only in a registration office or in a place approved by the council (Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, art 18). The Order lets regulations provide for approval for one occasion or for a period (art 18(4)(d)).

Unlike England and Wales, approval is not limited to buildings. Mid and East Antrim Council says the law is meant to allow civil ceremonies at any approved location, including temporary structures and land. It offers two approvals:

• a "Place Approval", valid for 3 years, applied for by the owner or a trustee;
• a "Temporary Place Approval" for one event, applied for by one of the couple.

Each costs £460, and renewing a 3-year approval costs another £460. The council says no place licence is needed when a minister, priest or humanist conducts the ceremony. Its page shows no date, so confirm fees with your own council.

What we don't know

• When, or whether, the reform will happen. There is no timetable as of 26 October 2026. We do not know whether existing approvals would carry over, or what voluntary pre-authorisation would cost or how long it would last.
• Your council's current fee. Most council pages we checked show no date, and councils can change fees. Denbighshire's page still says ceremonies cannot be held in the open air or under a marquee, which predates the April 2022 change, so its fees may be out of date too. Confirm with your council before you budget.
• Local conditions. Councils add their own rules, even on religious imagery. Royal Greenwich generally bars religious symbols such as stained glass showing a religious scene, while the national guidance says that alone should not lead to refusal.
• Planning and rates. Whether you need planning permission, and how your property is rated, depend on your council, the Valuation Office and the facts of your case.
• The Budget. The Budget on 28 October 2026 does not set approval fees, but it can change the VAT and business rates rules mentioned here. We will re-check this guide after it.

This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a licence to hold weddings at my venue?

You need approved premises status from your council only if couples will make their legal civil vows at your venue in England or Wales. Receptions, wedding breakfasts and celebrant-led ceremonies with no legal effect do not need it. Selling alcohol needs a premises licence or a Temporary Event Notice under the Licensing Act 2003.

Can my garden or field be licensed for outdoor weddings?

Not on its own. In England and Wales, outdoor ceremonies are allowed only in "linked outdoor areas" within the boundary of the land that an approved permanent building is part of. A bare field, a garden with no approved building, or a private home cannot host a legal civil wedding today, apart from narrow exceptions such as a partner who is housebound or at the end of life.

How much does a wedding venue licence cost?

Each council sets its own fee. Examples checked on 26 October 2026 range from £326 for 5 years in Haringey to £2,500 for 3 years in Bristol, and up to £2,896.22 for a venue for over 400 people in Royal Greenwich. The Ministry of Justice uses a median fee of £1,897, an estimate based on Law Commission research from 2020.

How long does it take to get approval?

Lincolnshire says about 6 to 8 weeks if there are no objections, and Wrexham gives a 6 to 8 week target. Bristol's target is 35 days. If you need planning permission, that comes first, and Bedford suggests allowing 3 to 6 months for a planning decision.

How long does approval last?

Approval lasts at least 3 years, and some councils grant 5. You can apply to renew up to 12 months before it expires. If it lapses, an application within one month reinstates it; after that you must apply from the beginning.

Will the 2026 reform mean I no longer need approval?

Possibly, but not yet. The government's consultation, which closed on 24 September 2026, proposes ending compulsory venue approval and offering voluntary pre-authorisation instead. As of 26 October 2026 there is no response and no bill, so the current approval rules still apply.

Sources

• The Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) Regulations 2005, SI 2005/3168, legislation.gov.uk — legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/3168, accessed 26 October 2026.
• The Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) (Amendment) Regulations 2011, SI 2011/2661, legislation.gov.uk — legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/2661, accessed 26 October 2026.
• The Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) (Amendment) Regulations 2022, SI 2022/295, legislation.gov.uk — legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/295, accessed 26 October 2026.
• Registrar General's guidance for the approval of premises as venues for civil marriages and civil partnerships, HM Passport Office — gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-registering-a-venue-for-civil-marriage-and-civil-partnership, accessed 26 October 2026.
• Civil marriages and partnerships: approved premises list, HM Passport Office — gov.uk/government/publications/civil-marriages-and-partnerships-approved-premises-list, accessed 26 October 2026.
• Outdoor civil weddings and civil partnerships made permanent, Ministry of Justice — gov.uk/government/news/outdoor-civil-weddings-and-civil-partnerships-made-permanent, accessed 26 October 2026.
• Tying the knot: reforming weddings law in England and Wales (consultation), Ministry of Justice — gov.uk/government/consultations/tying-the-knot-reforming-weddings-law-in-england-and-wales, accessed 26 October 2026.
• Tying the knot: consultation document, Ministry of Justice — gov.uk/government/consultations/tying-the-knot-reforming-weddings-law-in-england-and-wales/tying-the-knot-reforming-weddings-law-in-england-and-wales-consultation-document, accessed 26 October 2026.
• Weddings Reform Consultation: Impact Assessment (16 July 2026), Ministry of Justice — assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a563b682f6185941a9a6499, accessed 26 October 2026.
• Marriages in England and Wales (dataset, 2023 edition, tables 1a to 1c), Office for National Statistics — ons.gov.uk/.../marriagesinenglandandwales2013, accessed 26 October 2026.
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• Approved premises licences, Haringey Council — haringey.gov.uk/.../approved-premises-licences, accessed 26 October 2026.
• Premises approval for marriage or civil ceremonies, Wrexham County Borough Council — wrexham.gov.uk/service/licensing/premises-approval-marriage-or-civil-ceremonies, accessed 26 October 2026.
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• Apply to hold marriages and civil partnerships at your venue, Royal Borough of Greenwich — royalgreenwich.gov.uk/.../marriage-civil-partnership, accessed 26 October 2026.
• Apply to hold marriages and civil partnerships at your venue: licence fees, Royal Borough of Greenwich — royalgreenwich.gov.uk/.../marriage-civil-partnership/fees, accessed 26 October 2026.
• Apply to hold marriages and civil partnerships at your venue: meeting the criteria, Royal Borough of Greenwich — royalgreenwich.gov.uk/.../marriage-civil-partnership/criteria, accessed 26 October 2026.
• Approved premises: weddings and civil partnerships, Bedford Borough Council — bedford.gov.uk/.../approved-premises-weddings-and-civil-partnerships, accessed 26 October 2026.
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• Rating Manual section 6 part 3: civil ceremony, wedding and function venues, HM Revenue & Customs — gov.uk/guidance/rating-manual-section-6-part-3-valuation-of-all-property-classes/civil-ceremony-wedding-and-function-venues, accessed 26 October 2026.
• Licensing Act 2003, sections 1 and 2, legislation.gov.uk — legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/17/section/1, accessed 26 October 2026.
• VAT on land and property (VAT Notice 742), HMRC — gov.uk/guidance/vat-on-land-and-property-notice-742, accessed 26 October 2026.
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• Marriage and civil partnership celebrants, National Records of Scotland — nrscotland.gov.uk/registration/marriage-and-civil-partnership-celebrants, accessed 26 October 2026.
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• Marriage and civil partnership place approvals, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council — midandeastantrim.gov.uk/.../marriage-and-civil-partnership-place-approvals, accessed 26 October 2026.

If you run a barn, manor, hotel, restaurant or any other space that hosts weddings, with or without approval for ceremonies, you can list your venue on HostList.uk for free until 1 April 2027 (after that, publishing needs a paid plan). Organisers message you directly. The site takes 0% commission, so you keep the full hire fee, and it does not handle payments. There is no minimum term and no notice period. To start, paste a link to your own website or an existing listing page and the listing is imported in about 30 seconds; you type in the guest count yourself. One owner can publish up to 10 venues.