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Licensed wedding venues in Dorset

87 venues in Dorset hold an in-date approval for civil marriages and civil partnerships on the GOV.UK approved premises list (file dated 17 Oct 2025; expiry dates checked 5 Nov 2026). A further 2 listed venues here have a licence date that has passed; they are labelled “Licence date passed”, so check with the venue and register office. Dorset here means the Dorset Council area. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is a separate unitary council with its own registration service.

Map loads when you scroll here (89 venues with coordinates).

Venue styles

Our classification from venue names. Check with each venue.

Country house & manor26
Other venue23
Hotel10
Barn10
Garden & outdoor5
Pub & restaurant4
Castle3
Museum & heritage3
Register office3
Banqueting & events2

Registrar fees at approved venues

Dorset Council’s fee for a marriage or civil partnership at a licensed venue, 2026 to 2027: £658 Monday to Friday, £729 Saturday or Sunday, £787 bank holidays. Published 2027 to 2028 fees: £690, £766 and £827; 2028 to 2029: £725, £804 and £868. (source: Dorset Council: marriage and civil partnership ceremony fees, read 26 Oct 2026)

On top of that you each pay the national notice fee. National statutory fees from 6 April 2026: notice £46.50 per person (£63 if a Home Office referral applies), register office statutory ceremony £62, certificate £12.50 (Registration Fees (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (legislation.gov.uk)). Venue hire is always separate.

Register offices and ceremony rooms on the list

Capacity, as stated by venues

Prices, as published by venues

Quoted word for word with the date we read them; not ranked, because packages differ.

No venue here publishes prices we could verify yet.

Licences expiring by Oct 2027 (54)

If your date is after the expiry, ask the venue whether it has applied to renew.

FAQ

How many licensed wedding venues are there in Dorset?

87 venues hold an in-date approval on the GOV.UK approved premises list (file dated 17 Oct 2025). A further 2 listed here have a licence date that has passed. The council’s own list may include newer approvals.

How much does a registrar cost at a venue in Dorset?

Dorset Council’s fee for a marriage or civil partnership at a licensed venue, 2026 to 2027: £658 Monday to Friday, £729 Saturday or Sunday, £787 bank holidays. Published 2027 to 2028 fees: £690, £766 and £827; 2028 to 2029: £725, £804 and £868. Source: Dorset Council: marriage and civil partnership ceremony fees.

Can we marry outdoors?

Only in an outdoor area the council has approved at that venue. Ask the venue and check the council register.

How far ahead do we give notice?

At least 28 full days before the ceremony, at your local register office (GOV.UK).

Is the register office cheaper?

Yes. The statutory register office ceremony is £62 plus £46.50 notice each and £12.50 per certificate under the national fees.

All 89 venues

Browse Dorset venue cards Comparison table

See also: register office wedding cost · how to check a venue is licensed · register office finder

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