Apply for a venue licence to hold weddings and civil partnerships

Your venue and any linked outdoor areas must meet certain criteria. 

Appropriate for marriages and civil partnership ceremonies 

For example, a hotel, stately home or civic building. 

A permanent structure as the main built premises of the approval 

For example, it cannot be a tent or marquee. However, this type of temporary structure can be used in a linked outdoor area, with the built premises reserved for use in inclement weather. 

Readily available for marriages and civil partnerships 

 For example, not used for a one-off ceremony, a home or place of business. 

A non-religious venue with no religious connection 

For example, have no religious symbols, furniture or stained glass windows showing a religious scene. Exemptions to this eligibility include: 

• applying to hold a civil partnership ceremony in a religious venue
• some listed and historic buildings 

Contact us for advice prior to the ceremony if you believe your premises or proposed rooms have historically religious iconography. 

Freely accessible to the public 

So that anyone can attend the service or make objections. 

Appropriate capacity 

The designated capacity of any linked outdoor areas must not exceed the capacity of the largest single approved room inside the venue. This is the case even if that outdoor area could physically hold a bigger capacity. 

Sufficient indoor space 

Where ceremonies take place in linked outdoor areas, the venue must be able to accommodate the ceremony indoors in the event of: 

• inclement weather
• unseemly or undignified appearances
• for other reasons determined by the attending Registration Service representative 

Appropriate advertising of outdoor areas 

When advertising outdoor areas, account for the requirements for ceremonies and receptions. For more information email us at licensing@royalgreenwich.gov.uk   

Relevant planning permission 

Some venues may need planning approval to hold weddings and civil partnerships. Before applying for a licence, check with our Planning department that your premises has the correct approval. Email them at planningapps@royalgreenwich.gov.uk.