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You may find this information helpful when researching the area
Getting married in Devon? Here is some useful information.
Since April 1995, the Marriage Act of 1994 has permitted civil marriages to take place somewhere other than inside a register office. Beautiful and romantic venues such as castles, stately and country homes can be licensed to allow civil marriage ceremonies to take place on and in their premises. As at March 2000, there were over 3,000 approved premises all throughout England and Wales. Understandably, the number of approved venues is growing rapidly due to their attractiveness compared to register offices.
There are many restrictions on approved premises. For example, licences will not be granted to: private residences or buildings because free public access must always be guaranteed, open spaces such as parks and sports fields; where there is a licensed bar in the marriage room (even if a shutter or folding door can be closed); mobile premises like ships, boats or aircraft (unless they are permanently fixed or moored). The building must not have any religious connections, both past and present, and it must beseen as 'fit and suitable' and not 'degenerate the solemn institution of marriage'. The designated marriage room in the building may not be used for any other purpose during the ceremony and no hymns or religious readings and music is allowed.
Contrary to what you may occasionally read in the press, it is not possible to get married by civil ceremony outdoors anywhere in the United Kingdom.
The legal requirements
The legal requirements for getting married at an approved premise will require having to arrange for a superintendent registrar and a registrar's attendance to conduct and record the service. However, your ceremony can be more romantic and leisurely than in a register office and it could be as formal or casual as you like. With the permission of the attending registrar, it may be possible to enhance the standard civil ceremony by having your own choice of non-religious music, poetry and prose readings and for the ceremony to be photographed or videoed. It is also possible to have your own choice of vows and promises that have a special meaning to both of you, although these will be in addition to the statutory declaratory and contracting words that are required to be said by the both of you for your marriage to be legal.
The advantages of using an approved premise
Approved premises offer much greater flexibility with the times and days you can get married on. Although it has always been possible for civil marriages to be conducted between the hours of 8am and 6pm every day of the week, the register office's opening hours are the problem (usually all day Monday to Friday and Saturday morning). Approved premises, however, will generally be available for the full period of time allowed which enables you to get married on a Saturday afternoon, a Sunday or Public and Bank holidays (depending on whether a superintendent registrar agreeing to be present to conduct your ceremony).
A further advantage is that your ceremony and reception can all be held in the same place. Also, most register offices can only accommodate between 20 to 40 people whereas approved premises can usually take many many more people for both your ceremony and reception. So all your family and friends can witness your marriage and then celebrate with you.
Marriages at approved premises give you tremendous scope to theme your special day, particularly if you both share an interest or hobby or you even dream of getting married in a past era. Why not consider a Regency style wedding to suit a Georgian venue? You could even get married at a castle or palace and dress up as a prince and princess or have a TV or movie theme such as Pride and Prejudice.
