Plan your wedding - Dorset Council

Choose your venue

There are 3 types of venue to choose from.

Licensed venues

Venues licensed for civil ceremonies include castles, country houses and tourist attractions. You will need to book the venue and registrars separately.

The register office

Dorset Register Office is located at the Dorset History Centre in Dorchester and is suitable for small, simple ceremonies. You can book your ceremony directly with us.

Ceremony rooms

We have rooms for larger ceremonies in Bridport, Ferndown, Gillingham, Swanage and Weymouth which you can book directly with us.

Browse all venues

Book your registrars

Register office and ceremony rooms

When you book the register office or a ceremony room we will be able to book the registrars for you. They are included in the booking fee so there's no extra cost.

Licensed venues

You'll need to book the registrars separately for most licensed venues once you have a provisional booking with the venue.

Contact us to book the registrars for your ceremony.

View fees for our registrars to attend a licensed venue.

Give notice of marriage or civil partnership

By law, you must give notice in person at a register office at least 29 days before your ceremony.

Find out more about giving notice of marriage or civil partnership.

Plan and pay for your ceremony

Once you've booked your registrars, we will send you a confirmation pack. This will include a ceremony planner, which will guide you through preparing for your ceremony.

Every ceremony is unique. Our experienced registrars will design a ceremony that's personal to you.

You can:

choose your readings and music
write your own personal promises
include family members in the ceremony
choose to have a themed ceremony

Ceremony costs

Licensed venues set their own charges and you should discuss payment with them.

View the register office and ceremony room fees.

You also need to pay for:

notice of marriage or civil partnership to your local register office
your marriage or civil partnership certificates