Civil wedding ceremony at Berkeley Castle

The ceremony usually forms the heart and soul of the wedding and there are many choices here at Berkeley Castle.  We have a range of ceremony options so you can exchange vows in just the perfect way for YOU.

Civil Ceremony

We are licensed for both Civil Ceremonies and Civil Partnerships whether it be a large grand affair with a lot of guests or a small intimate wedding with a few close family and friends.

The magnificent Great Hall built in the 14th Century with its illustrated stained glass windows, Oudenarde tapestries and original black & white stone floor is wonderful for larger ceremonies of up to 130 guests.

The intimate Long Drawing Room with its carved gilt mirrors and beautiful mantlepiece is ideal for a smaller ceremony of up to 70 guests.

What is a Civil Ceremony?

A civil ceremony is a legal marriage conducted without any religious context. It is performed by a government official (a registrar) from the county council where you choose to get married in. In order for your civil ceremony to be legal you must give notice that you intend to get married and your ceremony must be performed in a licensed/approved building or grounds.

A civil ceremony is a standard ceremony about 20 mins long where you will declare that you are free to marry and where you will exchange vows. It must be conducted in front of at least 2 witnesses and after you have been declared married you will be asked to sign the official register.

Although you cannot have any religious or faith elements as part of your civil ceremony, you are able to have a non-religious readings or a poems included as part of your ceremony.

What is the difference between a Civil Ceremony & Marriage?

The main difference is that a marriage ceremony is religious, usually held in a church or other religious building, whilst a civil ceremony is just the legal contract you make with no religious or faith elements included at all.

Church Service

We are blessed to have St Mary’s Church next to the Castle. This church dates back to 1225 and is breath-taking in both its history and beauty. The parish vicar would be happy to talk to you about the possibility of marrying in the church.

This gives you the opportunity to be religiously married in the church before enjoying the rest of your ceremony at Berkeley Castle, over the weekend.

Outdoor wedding Ceremony

An outdoor wedding ceremony can be perfect for getting married in the spring and summer months. At Berkeley Castle we are fortunate to host huge grounds with several possible marriage locations such as The Lower Lawn, The Queen Elizabeth Bowling Lawn, The Lily Pond, The Culloden Pine and The Memorial Garden. We want to ensure every bride and groom can fulfil their dream wedding, as licensed outdoor venue, we can fulfil this by giving guests the perfect location to exchange their vows whether you choose a Registrar or and Independent Celebrant.