YOUR CEREMONY
A Kentish Ceremony
A step-by-step guide to booking and planning your civil ceremony in Kent
Congratulations, you’ ve chosen to marry in Kent or Bexley, in a civil ceremony at one of more than 220 approved venues in this beautiful region. But, before you get carried away in a blur of bridal boutiques, cake tasting and decoration crafting, make sure you have completed the legal formalities. The registrar will be booked by the Registration service at the point of payment. Without them, there may be a big party but you will not be legally married. So, where to start?
First things first, choosing a venue Kent County Council( KCC) is responsible for providing marriage and civil partnership ceremonies in the county of Kent and the London Borough of Bexley, as well as for licensing venues where these ceremonies can be held. These venues are known as approved premises, and the wide range of approved premises in Kent means the hardest part of planning your wedding is choosing the perfect place. With more than 220 approved venues to choose from in Kent and Bexley, you need to consider the type of celebration you are looking for. Whether it’ s a private family occasion, a day filled with entertainment for friends, or a themed wedding, there’ s something for everyone including hotels, barns, civic buildings, stately homes, castles, restaurants, theatres and wildlife parks. Ceremonies can also be held at venues with summer houses, pergolas and gazebos. For the more adventurous, there’ s even a windmill and a lighthouse.
See the latest venue listings at akentishceremony. com or turn to page 137.
Booking your venue Once you’ ve chosen a venue, you’ ll need to set a date and time. While many couples still favour the traditional Saturday ceremony, Sundays and bank holidays are also popular. The ceremony can take place on any day of the year, at any time between 8 am and 8 pm, and a booking can be made up to three years in advance. Once you’ ve chosen your venue and booked with them, the wedding co-ordinators there will inform the ceremonies team at your local register office. You will then receive a letter from the ceremonies team advising you on what you need to do next, the legal preliminaries and the documents and fees required. Your registrar and celebrant are booked when you pay your confirmation fee with KCC.
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