Celebrate in Essex

It may surprise you to learn that Essex has become one of the most popular places in the country for civil weddings.

Since the law changed in the mid- 1990’s more and more couples are opting for a civil ceremony in what is known as an ‘approved premise’ in preference to a register office or church wedding. The major benefit of marrying in an ‘approved premise’, apart from the fantastic locations on offer, is the opportunity to have both the ceremony and the reception in the same location.

Across Essex there are 95 ‘approved premises’ ranging from historic houses like Audley End, Hylands House and Leez Priory to modern hotels such as the Radisson SAS Hotel at Stansted Airport. What could be more romantic than marrying at a venue like HedinghamCastle or LayerMarneyTower?

In Essex we have a wealth of historic barns which are increasing in popularity for weddings. Locations like Blake Hall near Ongar or CressingTemple near Braintree are just a couple of examples of what is on offer. There are many quality golf and country clubs to consider for your special day.

Many wedding venues are in country towns or other rural locations in the heart of the Essex countryside. Whatever type of venue you are looking for, Essex can turn your wedding dreams into reality.

To help find your perfect venue, Essex County Council has produced a new publication called Celebrate in Essex: Your Wedding. You can view the guide by following the link below or you can request the brochure through the more information section of this website.

The guide has information on all the venues in Essex where you can have a civil ceremony plus lots of practical advice on how to make your wedding day very special. Should you be considering a Register Office wedding, there are 8 offices across the County to choose from. Each office is featured in the brochure or alternatively you can take a ‘virtual tour’ of each office by visiting the Essex County Council website or by ordering a free CD Rom by telephoning 01245 430267. If you would like more information on the Essex Registration Service on civil marriage ceremonies etc please click here.

The borough of Southend-on-Sea have also produced an essential guide to help you plan for that special day. You can download the guide by clicking on the image (1.48MB) or you can request a copy by emailing registeroffice@southend.gov.uk.
You can also log on to their website www.southend.gov.uk/registrationservice for more information.