Your Bristol & Somerset Wedding - August/September 2023 (Issue 96)

How to do it The Oakhouse Hotel Adam Rumble Photography The Old Milking Parlour at Cavokay House Our fabulous venues are really something else. We have over 110 locations across the region licensed for civil ceremonies, and there is something for every style and budget. Country houses and historic castles, rustic farms and boho barns, cosy inns and boutique hotels. What takes your fancy? There are some really quirky gems too, like Secret World Animal Sanctuary, Haynes Motor Museum, Wookey Hole Caves and the iconic piers at Weston and Clevedon. Browse the full list in our online directory to make sure you don't miss out on that perfect spot, and check our supplier directory for all the extras that will complete your day. Booking is really simple. Just fill in a request form on our website when you know when and where you want to have your celebrations. We'll call you back to check the details and run through next steps. Even better, our fees are simple and straightforward too - no hidden extras like cancellation fees, amendment charges or non-refundable deposits. We understand how complicated organising a wedding day can be, so we aim to make it as easy as possible. Say I Do In Somerset We really do. Which is lucky, because we conduct around 3000 every year. With a team of over 100 registrars, ceremony officers and support staff, you can relax knowing the essential "I Do" part of your day is covered. Each of our 6 districts across Somerset & North Somerset has its very own ceremony team, so we all get to know our local venues and how they like to run their events. Our professional celebrants are fully trained to make sure all the legal aspects of your ceremony are carried out. Not only that, they also adapt our beautiful ceremony script to add those special personalised elements that will make your day unique. You want to be given away by your mum, pause for a moment of remembrance for a loved one who can't be there, or exchange necklaces instead of rings? No problem - it's your day and we want it to be truly memorable. We get so many queries about what to do and where to start - don't worry! Most people have never done this before either, and we're happy to walk you through it all. Marriage or Civil Partnership - work out which one is the right fit for you. We are happy to perform either ceremony, and there's more info about the differences on our website if you're unsure. Choose your venue. This really is key. You'll need to book a registrar in the district where the venue is, even if you live elsewhere. We'll need to know exactly where the venue is to book the right team. Pick a date and time. We do normally have teams available, even on our busiest days, but it might need to be a little earlier or later than you were planning. That said, the vast majority of our couples do get their first choice Book that registrar! We take bookings up to 2 years in advance here in Somerset, though other districts may vary. Fill in our request form online and we'll phone you back to make sure it's in the diary and you know what to do next. We know you'll be busy contacting florists and bakers and DJs and caterers for a while but put a reminder on your calendar to give notice a bit nearer the big day. This is the appointment where you visit your local registrar in your home district with your ID documents to sort out the legal stuff. It needs to happen at least 28 days in advance, but we recommend between 3 and 6 months before. If it's with us, you can book your own appointment on our website. If it's in another district, just get in touch with the registration service through your local council website and they will send us the paperwork when it's all done, ready for your ceremony. Ceremony planning is the final step. We need your choices around 1 month before the big day so we can get to work personalising your ceremony. Readings, music, vows and any special requests - just download the form along with our guidance pack and email it back to us. It really is simple. Our main requirement is that there can't be any religious content at all. There's just a couple of lines that you have to include to make it all legal, but otherwise you can get creative with your own ring vows. Turn up on the day and say yes - Congratulations!!! We love weddings! Farleigh House Venetia Norrington Photography www.somersetweddingservice.org.uk

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