YOUR CEREMONY
A KENTISH CEREMONY
A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO BOOKING AND PLANNING YOUR CIVIL CEREMONY IN KENT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY : VICTORIA CROCKER & REBECCA CARPENTER
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 and , most importantly , booked your registrar . 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 and for licensing venues where these ceremonies can be celebrated . 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 lighthouse .
See the latest listing of venues at akentishceremony . com or turn to page 145 .
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 8am and 8pm , 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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